Charles Dickens and Christmas

[Townsend]

Interesting article from the BBC.

I guess I don't really think of Christmas having to be revitalized.

Modern commentators have described Dickens as "the man who invented Christmas". Not obviously the religious festival, but the wider popular culture phenomenon that surrounds it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16184487

Dickens was an outspoken critic of slavery and wrote extensively against social inequality In the early 19th Century, Christmas had become "scarcely worth a mention", according to critic and writer Leigh Hunt.

As an example, the committee of the Carlton Club, which ran the Conservative Party at the time, arranged ordinary business meetings on Christmas Day itself.

While Prince Albert is often credited with the revival of Christmas and the introduction of the Christmas tree, many believe that Dickens's popular depictions of the festive period became a blueprint for generations to come.

Specifically, the idea of a white Christmas - which was and still remains a relatively uncommon occurrence in much of the UK - appears in the Christmas Carol as if it happened each and every year.

In his biography of Dickens, Peter Ackroyd wrote: "In view of the fact that Dickens can be said to have almost singlehandedly created the modern idea of Christmas, it is interesting to note that in fact during the first eight years of his life there was a white Christmas every year; so sometimes reality does actually exist before the idealised image."

Writer and renowned Dickens expert GK Chesterton perhaps best summed up how the great author's romantic view of Christmas has permeated throughout the world.

"Whether the Christmas visions would or would not convert Scrooge, they convert us," he wrote.

[nathanm]

I've read claims that the only reason Christmas became a thing in the 20th century US is Coca-Cola and their Christmas advertising. I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, but I haven't tried to verify the claim.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I've read claims that the only reason Christmas became a thing in the 20th century US is Coca-Cola and their Christmas advertising. I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, but I haven't tried to verify the claim.

It was a big influence.

[custosnox]

I've read claims that the only reason Christmas became a thing in the 20th century US is Coca-Cola and their Christmas advertising. I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, but I haven't tried to verify the claim.

The primary thing that the Coca-Cola ads brought to us was the current version of Santa Clause.  It did, however, usher in a new age of marketing Christmas.  Christmas was always a big holiday, it was just more of commercial thing after Coca-Cola

[Conan71]

The primary thing that the Coca-Cola ads brought to us was the current version of Santa Clause.  It did, however, usher in a new age of marketing Christmas.  Christmas was always a big holiday, it was just more of commercial thing after Coca-Cola

Or after Sears or Toys R Us...

[custosnox]

Or after Sears or Toys R Us...

Pretty sure Coke opened the can of worms, sears just jumped on the band wagon.  Toys r us was a late comer to the game.