The winter street scenes around British Columbia, with colourful lights and festive displays, are far removed from the wintery images of 19th-century London depicted in Charles DickensB次元官网网址檚 novella, A Christmas Carol.
The novella was first published 175 years ago, on Dec. 19, 1843, and since that time it has never been out of print.
The story, set on a Christmas Eve night, is well-known as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser, is visited by three ghosts during the night. In the morning, he discovers what it means to celebrate Christmas.
In the story, Christmas is downplayed, but here it is the biggest celebration of the year and from late November until early January, the signs of the season are everywhere.
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Imagine if Dickens and Scrooge could visit us here this year and observe the Christmas season here.
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From their table at the rear of the coffee shop, the two men, now retired, sipped their tea in the late afternoon.
For a time, neither man spoke. Finally the slender man broke the silence. B次元官网网址淓ach year I dread this season a little more,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲hy, Ebenezer?B次元官网网址� Charles Dickens asked. B次元官网网址淎t the end of our story, you promised to observe this season.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.B次元官网网址� Scrooge recited the lines found near the end of the novella. B次元官网网址淭he story is told every year. People read the book, or see movies or stage plays.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淧lease, Ebenezer,B次元官网网址� Charles Dickens replied. B次元官网网址淪ome of the movies and stage adaptations have been quite accurate.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵es, thatB次元官网网址檚 true. But thereB次元官网网址檚 also the animated Disney version and the Flintstones version. The Muppets took a turn at it. And letB次元官网网址檚 not forget those Canadian Tire commercials in the 1980s and 1990s. Give like Santa and save like Scrooge.B次元官网网址�
Dickens sipped his tea. B次元官网网址淚 had never intended for you to become an advertising gimmick. I am sorry,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪till, the story and its message are known.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎re they really?B次元官网网址� Scrooge asked. B次元官网网址淗ave you read the news? Controversy over the lyrics of Baby, ItB次元官网网址檚 Cold Outside made the headlines. ThereB次元官网网址檚 outrage because a city councillor in Victoria, B.C. wants to remove Christmas displays. And somehow the song Santa Baby, the movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas all generated some anger.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址淚 suppose such things are to be expected when Christmas is such a big celebration,B次元官网网址� Dickens said with a sigh.
B次元官网网址淎nd here,B次元官网网址� Scrooge flipped through the pages of a newspaper. B次元官网网址淧ictures of gift drives and donations to food banks.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淢uch better than in our day,B次元官网网址� Dickens says to Scrooge.
B次元官网网址淚f these people understood and believed your message, then they would show generosity all through the year, not just in December.B次元官网网址�
Scrooge turned the page and pointed to another story. B次元官网网址淭he richest in this province have a net worth nearly 6,000 times that of the median middle-income homes,B次元官网网址� he said. Then, pointing to another story, added, B次元官网网址淭here are almost 8,000 homeless people in British Columbia. How can a society with such inequalities claim to honour Christmas?B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址淵es I know,B次元官网网址� Dickens said. B次元官网网址淪till, I choose to find hope in the fact that there are food banks and gift drives. There is a spirit of charity. And perhaps in future, that spirit will show itself throughout the year. I shall never stop hoping.B次元官网网址�
Their tea finished, the two men slowly stood up, put on their coats and hats and left the coffee shop. The streets were dark now, illuminated by street lamps and Christmas lights.
B次元官网网址淪hall we meet here again next year, my friend?B次元官网网址� Dickens asked.
Scrooge nodded. B次元官网网址淥f course, Charles. Merry Christmas.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淢erry Christmas to you too,B次元官网网址� Dickens said.
* * *
As the two men disappear into the darkness, I am left wondering how I, like Scrooge, can B次元官网网址渉onour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.B次元官网网址�
John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.
