Celebrating the Classic That Changed Christmas

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, in just six weeks. Dickens started writing his novella in October and finished it at the end of November – just in time for Christmas in 1843.  The holiday tale was sold out by Christmas Eve that year.  Today, we know the beloved classic, A Christmas Carol, as a notable part of our modern holiday tradition.

“From the first words of ‘Marley was dead,’ to the last, ‘And so, as Tiny Tim observed, ‘God Bless Us, Every One,’ Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a masterpiece of prose, plot, and purpose,” said Great Hearts Chief Academic Offer Jake Tawney. “There is a reason it has been read and dramatized more often than any other Christmas story. For my own part, I read it in its entirety to my children every year. If you have not read it in a while, you should. And Dickens deserves to be read aloud. His style sings, and therefore the term “Carol” is fully appropriate.”

Dickens himself often performed public readings of A Christmas Carol.  He enjoyed performing and often gave his readings with a theatrical twist.  It was not long before the book was adapted for the London stage by Edward Stirling.  Adaptations of the classic continue today and range from stage productions, television specials, movies, and even video games.  It is arguably the most adapted piece of literature in Western culture with more adaptations and reimagined motifs of the story being crafted to this day.

Great Hearts Anthem seniors recently produced a class performance of A Christmas Carol. The script was adapted for the stage from Dickens’ book directly by Anthem Prep Drama Teacher Peter Wilson.

“I really enjoy working with the seniors at Great Hearts Anthem. I look forward to producing their plays every year. This year when the schedule permitted us to perform in December, I leapt at the chance to adapt Dickens’ classic fo r the stage,” said Wilson. “I knew that it would be done justice by our cast, crew, and wonderful student director, Christiana DePiazza.”

“It was an honor to see my peers grow in something I have so much passion for. I truly believe everyone should have at least one drama class,” added DePiazza. She led the cast and crew of high school seniors through the rehearsal process and a successful performance.

A Christmas Carol is also an esteemed part of the Middle School Reading List at Great Hearts.  A 7^th grader at one of our academies who recently finished the book was impressed by the richness and relevance of the original piece.  “I have been watching versions of the story every Christmas for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I was surprised how much [of the book] is left out of movies I’ve watched.  There is so much more to the story.  It is such a great story. I can see why everyone keeps trying to retell it.”

Aside from the many adaptations, the classic has made a profound impact to how we celebrate the holidays today.  Many scenes depicted in the book are commonly found on holiday cards, tree ornaments, and wrapping paper.  It inspired the inclusion family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, and festive parties as staples to our holiday traditions, which were not as common before the book was published.  Even how we greet one another has been influenced.  Prior to 1843, it was more common to say, “Happy Christmas,” but throughout the book, Dickens repeats the phrase “Merry Christmas.” When Dickens’ novella became wildly successful, the phrase “Merry Christmas” was popularized and became the standard Christmas greeting.

Most of all, this classic tale that has stood the test of time, is a story of redemption, humanitarianism, and the spirit of generosity that we feel every holiday season.  If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of the Dickens’ classic and start the tradition of reading it aloud to your family this year.  Welcome the rich characters of Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, and of course, Tiny Tim, into your home.

You might expect me to conclude this article the same way that Dickens ended his book when he penned the now famous words of Tiny Tim.  But to avoid the cliché, I will leave you with the heartfelt proclamation of Ebeneezer Scrooge that captures Dickens’ hope for his readers and humanity. “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.