A Christmas Carol

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The well known holiday of Christmas today is far from what it was in it’s former being. Many aspects led to the change in Christmas, however Charles Dickens, a Victorian era author was arguably the most influential in the change. There was a time when christmas was not much more important than your average holiday. Without the work of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Regency Christmas would not have changed to be the way it is today. As we examine the Regency Christmas, the Christmas events in A Christmas Carol, new Christmas ideas, and today’s new christmas we will form the true Christmas. Before we examine the new Christmas celebration during the Victorian era in England- due to Mr. Dickens, we must review the pre- victorian, or Regency Period Christmas (1811-1820). The Regency Period was the contrary to popular belief, early Christmas celebrations were very much different than the Christmas we all know and love today. This Christmas was much more boring with “Simple decorations” according to Paula Wrightston. Unfortunately for the younger people Wrightston says that a Regency Christmas was more of an adult affair. Not only were traditions and age requirements different, but the actual dates differed as well with the first day of the season being the 24th of December running through the 6th of January making the Christmas season 12 days in length (Wrightston). So far it seems as if dickens’ made Christmas much more enjoyable for future generations most definitely. Although the early Christmas was different, some traditions never change. One example of this is the Christmas puddings, Wrightston says that although the Regency era people did not specifically have Christmas Pudding, they had a more liquified version of this t... ... middle of paper ... ... http://www.eauk.org/culture/statistics/christmas-facts-and-quotes.cfm “History of Christmas” BBC 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/history.shtml Mann, Stephanie A. The Impact of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation, December 19, 2012, http://supremacyandsurvival.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-impact-of-dickens-christmas-carol.html. Standiford, Les. The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits Teixeria, Dr. Ana, “Regency Christmas Traditions” An Evening at Almacks 24 December 2008 http://an-evening-at-almacks.blogspot.com/2008/12/regency-christmas-traditions.html Wrightson, Paula, “Christmas Past- Paula Wrightson, Brighton & Hove Museums Describes A Regency Christmas” Preston Pages 2014 http://www.prestonpages.com/history_christmaspast.php

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