thesis for christmas

Miss Huttlestone's GCSE English

Because a whole class of wonderful minds are better than just one!

Model Grade 9 ‘ACC’ essay: Christmas as a Joyful Time

Starting with this extract, explore how far Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time. (30 marks)

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, his aim is to passionately highlight how such a joyful season can create positive role models for Scrooge. The constant succession of images relating to joy around Christmas may well have been utilised to demonstrate how readers too can learn and improve from the inspirational characters during the novella.

Primarily, within stave 1 of the novella, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fred as the embodiment of the Christmas spirit with all the positive virtues associated with Christmas. This is evidenced when Fred is described as coming in ‘all in a glow’ with ‘his face ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled.’ Here the use of the noun ‘glow’ connotes light and warmth which is strongly linked to hope and purity. This highlights the contrast between Fred and his uncle Scrooge, who was described as ‘hard and sharp as flint.’ Structurally, introducing Fred immediately after Scrooge focuses the reader’s attention on the clear variation between the two and all of the positive qualities that Scrooge lacks. Furthermore, Fred highlights the belief that Christmas is a time for unity within the social hierarchy although it ‘never puts a scrap of gold or silver’ in his pocket and he frowns upon his uncle, completely consumed in the greed for money. Dickens may have done this to foreshadow Scrooge’s transformation into a better man as a result of the inspirational role models around him during the novella. Alternatively, Dickens may have used Fred and Scrooge together to challenge the situation in Victorian Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Scrooge highlights all of the negative traits of upper class men during this time and Fred is a caring and benevolent character, who cares for people lower down on the social hierarchy.

Secondly, within the extract, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fezziwig to suggest a clear contrast in the two employers. This is evidenced when Fezziwig ‘laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence.’ The use of the abstract noun ‘benevolence’ suggests the joy and love Fezziwig has for Christmas time. Fezziwig’s kind, caring personality is another role model and catalyst for Scrooge’s transformation. Furthermore, Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time through Fezziwig’s Christmas party. ‘Fuel was heaped upon the fire’ and the warehouse was transformed into a ‘snug, and warm’ ballroom filled with light. The use of the adjective ‘warm’ connotes kindness and comfort. The detail here in Fezziwig’s scene overwhelms the senses; his generosity is physical, emotional and palpable. As an employer he is the foil of Scrooge and presents all of the positive virtues that Scrooge lacks. Dickens may have done this to highlight a different side to capitalism. Alternatively, presenting Fezziwig as the embodiment of Christmas suggests the importance of Christmas and all of its positive qualities on everyone in society.

Thirdly, within the novella, Dickens utilises the Ghost of Christmas Present to personify Christmas itself. When the ghost appears it has set up an impressive feast of lights and food. This is evidenced when Scrooge’s room is filled with ‘the crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there, and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney.’ The scene is hyperbolic and creates a clear contrast with the frugal state of Scrooge’s past Christmases. The use of the light imagery here provides a clear and undeniable tableau of the joyful Christmases Scrooge can afford but chooses to shun. Dickens may have done this to portray Christmas as a bright and familiar celebration which everyone should celebrate in harmony. A modern reader may feel hope that Scrooge will use his wealth to celebrate Christmas with all of the festivities that Christmas should include and celebrate it with the people that care for him, like his nephew Fred.

Finally, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ Dickens reinforces the theme of Christmas spirit through the Cratchit family. Dickens utilises Bob Cratchit to symbolise the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of family. This is evidenced at the Cratchit’s dinner where nobody remarked that it was ‘a small pudding for a large family’. The adjective ‘small’ emphasises the Cratchit’s lack of luxury and yet their enthusiasm in the scene is palpable. This highlights that this ‘small’ pudding was seen as an indulgence to them which is something Scrooge takes for granted. Furthermore, the Cratchit’s ‘four roomed house’ is filled with an overwhelming sense of energy and excitement, which exists as an antithesis of Scrooge’s ‘old…dreary’ abode. This is evidenced as the youngest Cratchit children ‘danced about the table’ this suggests the sense of energy despite their lowly status in society on this festive day. Dickens may have done this to suggest the importance of Christmas to all members of society. Although the Cratchit family are less fortunate than Scrooge or Fred their Christmas is filled with the love they have for each other. A reader may feel delighted to see this family enjoying Christmas day, contented with what they own and hope that Scrooge will see this family as a role model for his transformation.

Share this:

Published by.

gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

Secondary English teacher in Herts. View all posts by gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

Leave a comment Cancel reply

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• 168,891 literary resources
• 172 content providers
• 53,470 books

A Christmas Carol Thesis Statements and Essay Topics

Below you will find four outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens can be used as essay starters. All four incorporate at least one of the themes found in “A Christmas Carol” and are broad enough so that it will be easy to find textual support, yet narrow enough to provide a focused clear thesis statement. These thesis statements offer a short summary of “­­­­­­­A Christmas Carol” terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Using the essay topics below in conjunction with the list of  important quotes from “A Christmas Carol”  on our quotes page, you should have no trouble connecting with the text and writing an excellent essay.

Topic #1 Varieties of Disabilities

Compare and contrast societal views on “handicaps “or disabilities with the handicaps presented in the story. Tiny Tim has health problems. The Cratchits are very poor. According to society, they would be considered needy. However, the family is happy. In that sense, they are wealthier than Ebenezer Scrooge. Because Scrooge has more money and is healthy, he is viewed as successful. He is also very unhappy. Who has the greater handicap in Dickens’ story? Is it Tiny Tim or the Cratchit family in general? Or is the neediest character actually Scrooge?

Topic #2 The Ability to Change One’s Personality

Ebenezer Scrooge goes to bed a miser and wakes up with a generous heart. Discuss the possibility of such a phenomenon. Include information on personal reflection and self-examination. Could a close look at one’s life and direction really bring about such a drastic transformation in a short amount of time? How does the time period affect this viewpoint? Contrast the time period of the story with modern times. Cynicism is prevalent in many cultures when it comes to changing oneself. How does that affect the moral of the story?

Topic #3 Thinking Positively in the Face of Grave Uncertainty

Tiny Tim exhibits a positive and humble attitude in spite of his physical affliction. He manages to bring joy to others in his family while he suffers through his illness. He does not get angry that his parents cannot afford the right doctors. He does not lash out at others to have companions in his misery. Explore the belief that a positive outlook improves one’s ability to overcome the symptoms of illness. How does that theory apply in the case of Tiny Tim?

Topic #4 The Value of Money

Ebenezer Scrooge and his late partner, Jacob Marley, are consumed with making and keeping their money. After Marley dies, he comes back to warn Scrooge of the folly of money and greed. When Scrooge is being shown his life by the Christmas ghosts, he sees how his decisions have shaped his life. He sees what his life will become if he does not change his lifestyle. His greed over money made him who he is. Money is painted as one of the evils of life. How does Scrooge’s attitude about money become what it is? How have his choices and decisions affected his life? Are these choices and decisions to blame, or is money the culprit?

Christmas Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on christmas essay.

Christmas is a well-known Christian holiday set in December, celebrated the world over and famed for its decorations and Santa Clause. The Christmas means  “Feast day of Christ”.It is a yearly celebration marking Jesus Christ’s birth; it is observed on the 25th of December as a cultural and religious celebration among a lot of people all over the world. Christmas is celebrated in all Christian countries but there are differences in the way each nation celebrates this date.

History Behind Christmas

The history of Christmas is one that dates back to a very long time; the first Christmas was celebrated in 336 A.D. in Rome. It played a very important role during the famed Arian controversy that took place in the 300s. During the early years of the middle age, epiphany overshadowed it.

Christmas was brought back to limelight around 800 A.D. when the emperor Charlemagne received the crown on Christmas day. During the 17th century, the Puritans had Christmas banned because it was associated with drunkenness and different other misbehavior.

It was made a proper holiday around 1660 but was still quite disreputable. Around the early 1900s, the Oxford movement of the Anglican Communion church started and this led to the revival of Christmas.

Preparations for Christmas

Christmas is a cultural festivity that entails a lot of preparations. It is a public holiday and so people get a Christmas break to celebrate it.

Preparations for Christmas start early for most people so that celebrations begin on the eve of Christmas. Preparations for Christmas involves a lot of activities. People usually buy decorations, food, and gifts mostly for children in the family and friends. Some families shop for matching Christmas outfits for everyone.

The common preparations include decorations of the place with Christmas trees, lighting. Before decorations begin, the house must be deep cleaned. The Christmas tree brings the Christmas spirit in homes.

Presents are placed under the Christmas tree in wrapped gift boxes and are not to be opened until Christmas day. The church is also decorated for the special event. Thorough cleaning of the churches is also done to usher in Christmas. Songs and skits to be performed on Christmas day.

People usually spend a lot on Christmas and so saving money for these plans should be the earliest preparation among all these. Families also plan to travel to stay together during this celebration period. Traditionally turkey is the common meal across the world in this day. Cards are also written to friends and family to wish them a happy holiday and to show love.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Christmas Day Celebration

Christmas carols are played on radios and televisions to mark the day. Most families start by going to church where performances and songs are done. Then later, they join their families to exchange gifts and celebrate with food and music. Happiness during Christmas is like no other.

Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, and muffins are the special treats on Christmas. Kids are showered with lots of presents and new dresses. They also get to meet the ‘Santa Claus’, dressed in a fluffy red and white costume, who greets them with hugs and gifts.

Conclusion:

Christmas reminds us of the importance of giving and sharing with friends and family. Through Christmas, we know that Jesus birth is the beginning of great things in the world. It is generally an opportunity to think about nature and the reason for our existence. Christmas is such a festival which people from all religions and faith celebrate worldwide despite it being a Christian festival. It is the essence of this festival which unites the people so much.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

A Christmas Carol by Dickens Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

A Christmas Carol by Dickens was first published on December 19, 1843. Since its publication, this book, arguably one of his most famous works, has made its mark on American culture and literature. It is difficult to underestimate the significance of A Christmas Carol , which was made into numerous TV and stage versions. Some would even argue that this Dickens’s work invented or rather reinvented Christmas, while others underline the importance of his work for the development of the new forms of literature. This essay aims to discuss the theme and the characters of the book. It starts with a summary of the plot, then examines the main characters and the themes and concludes with the personal opinion on the novella.

Dickens offers a story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy and selfish older man living alone in his London house, whose only concern is money. Scrooge hates Christmas and is indifferent to other people’s suffering, including his workers. However, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his business partner and by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. The first ghost takes him on a journey through his past Christmases: one of a miserable and lonely little boy and others of a young man, more interested in gold than in his fiancé. The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge his clerk’s family Christmas, a Christmas evening of a poor, but loving family, and his nephew’s celebrations, where guests mock him for his unfriendliness and greediness. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future shows him his own death, which would bring more joy to people who knew him than grief. The terror of this night magically transforms Ebenezer Scrooge into a generous and good-hearted man, kind to his neighbors and eager to help those in need.

The main hero of the book, Ebenezer Scrooge, is characterized mainly by his greediness and by the fear that he creates among people who know him. Charles Dickens describes (1843, 4) him as such: “No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man […] inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge”. Even his clerk is terrified of him and barely dares to speak in his presence.

According to Thompson (2017, 269), the descriptions of Scrooge’s personality allude to the Old Testament figure of King Belshazzar, the ruler who loves wealth and who is punished by God for his greed and pride. However, unlike Belshazzar, Scrooge takes advantage of the warning delivered by the Christmas ghosts and changes, fearing the dreadful end that is awaiting him. He accepts to change and declares: “I will not shut out the lessons that they [the Spirits of the Past, the Present and the Future] teach” (Dickens 1843, 57). Thus, he is a sinner, but the night that he goes through makes hem find the strength to change. This magical and radical overnight transformation becomes central to the figure of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Other central figures are the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. The Ghost of Christmas Past is the first ghost to visit Scrooge; he is quite and rather compassionate towards Scrooge, to whom he shows the pictures of his childhood. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a joyful and vibrant character, wearing a green robe and symbolizing joy and happiness. The third Ghost is the most fearsome one; he wears a black cloak and remains silent during their journey. Although the ghosts have distinct personalities, their common characteristic is their role as the messengers. Their figures also reflect Dickens’ interest in “the narrative possibilities of the communication between the living and the dead” (Wood 2018, 412). Dickens’s interest in the supernatural urges him to experiment with the forms of expression and create the figures of these Spirits to deliver the message to Scrooge.

Another prominent figure is Tiny Tim, who is the most significant figure of childhood in the book. He is a son of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s clerk. He has a disability, but is full of cheer and love and brings a lot of joy to his family. His words – “God bless us every one!” – mark the end of the novella (Dickens 1843, 92). The figure of Tiny Tim reflects the conception of childhood as the stage of innocence, although it is not the only way children are represented in the novella (Robinson 2016, 8). For instance, the readers observe frightening figures of children clinging to the clothes of the Ghost of Christmas Present. Contrary to this image of “figures which are a product of a fallen world (Robinson 2016, 2), Tim is a constant reminder to everyone of the courage in the face of difficulties.

The characters of A Christmas Carol serve to express Dickens’s Christian humanistic views and attitudes. According to Newey (2016, 12), A Christmas Carol is one of the most important works of Charles Dickens in a sense that it “brings into focus many of Dickens’s core concerns and attitudes of mind.” Dickens demonstrates the transformation of a greedy lender with no sympathy to others, which symbolizes capitalist and rationalist values, into the embodiment of Christianity and humanism.

The contrast between Dickens’s characters furthers strengthens the differences between two ideologies, the humanistic and the capitalist one. The family of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s clerk, is a model of a loving family, poor in money but rich in heart, while Scrooge himself reflects utilitarian, purely rationalist values. The values of family loyalty, humanism, kindness, are confronted with the rationalism and greediness of the protagonist.

Another theme of the novella is the relationship between the supernatural and the living. As stated above, Dickens’s works have significantly contributed to the development of the Victorian ghost story. His fascination with the supernatural makes him create the powerful figures of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, who communicate with the protagonist and act as the messengers of the divine. This communication between the living and the supernatural is central to the plot. This theme reoccurs in Dickens’s works, for instance, in “The Signalman,” although in total, it is present in about 18 Dickens’s stories. The critical result of the supernatural intervention is that it leads to change and transforms the protagonist.

Although often presented as a children’s story, Dickens’s novella A Christmas Carol tells a reader a lot about Dickens’s attitudes and views about the world. This novella promotes the humanistic ideology based on Christian values: love, empathy, and generosity. Moreover, the author experiments with literary forms and contributes to the development of the ghost story. The supernatural plays a central role in the transformation of the main hero. However, the idea that the protagonist needs supernatural intervention in order to change might be problematic for the humanistic perspective that is centered on the agency of human beings. The humanistic perspective stresses the inherently good qualities of human nature, which is contradictory to the idea that supernatural intervention is necessary in order to bring change.

Newey, Vincent. 2016. The Scriptures of Charles Dickens: Novels of Ideology, Novels of the Self. New York: Routledge.

Robinson, David E. 2016. “Redemption and the Imagination of Childhood: Dickens’s Representation of Children in A Christmas Carol.” Literator 37 (1): 1-8. Web.

Thompson, Terry W. 2017. “The Belshazzar Allusion in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.” The Explicator 75 (4): 268-270. Web.

Wood, Claire. 2018. “Playful Spirits: Charles Dickens and the Ghost Story.” In The Routledge Handbook to the Ghost Story, edited by Scott Brewster and Luke Thurston, 87-96. New York: Routledge.

• "A Visit to Newgate" by Charles Dickens
• “Sketched by Boz” the Book by Charles Dickens
• Pip and Joe in “Great Expectations” by Dickens
• The Coming of Age in Mississippi: Memoir by Anne Moody
• The Bluest Eye by Morrison: Characters, Themes, Personal Opinion
• Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare
• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• Into the Wild: Characters, Themes, Personal Opinion
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, December 3). A Christmas Carol by Dickens. https://ivypanda.com/essays/a-christmas-carol-by-dickens/

"A Christmas Carol by Dickens." IvyPanda , 3 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/a-christmas-carol-by-dickens/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'A Christmas Carol by Dickens'. 3 December.

IvyPanda . 2019. "A Christmas Carol by Dickens." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/a-christmas-carol-by-dickens/.

1. IvyPanda . "A Christmas Carol by Dickens." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/a-christmas-carol-by-dickens/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "A Christmas Carol by Dickens." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/a-christmas-carol-by-dickens/.

How to Write ‘A Christmas Carol’ Essay

New Year and Christmas are close, so you might soon be writing a few themed essays for the holidays! Today, we’ll talk about one of the most iconic holiday stories, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” 

This novel tremendously impacted English literature and is a common source for essay topics assigned by teachers.

Today, we’ll discuss how to write an excellent “A Christmas Carol” essay as well as this novel’s influence and cultural value. You will probably be surprised to learn how many ways you can approach writing an essay about this seminal work for your Christmas essay.

Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” short summary 

Ebenezer Scrooge, the vengeful and elderly miser, undergoes a tremendous transformation over the course of Christmas Eve night in the Victorian morality story “A Christmas Carol.” Mr. Scrooge, a money-changer and financier, has dedicated his life to accumulating wealth. As a byproduct of his singular obsession, the Christmas season, friendship, and love of mankind are all things he’s not only set by the wayside, but come to despise.

In “A Christmas Carol,” Scrooge meets the literal embodiments of “Ignorance” and “Want” however, who take the form of children. 

Dickens organizes his literary masterpiece into five “staves” rather than chapters, in line with the title’s musical allusion. A stave is a component of a piece of music, and a “carol” is a holiday song. 

Ultimately, Scrooge transforms his life and returns to the kind, compassionate person he was in his early years before his sister passed away. He meets with charity workers and commits a fantastic sum of money to help those in need, and much to their joy, he anonymously sends the butcher’s most enormous turkey to the Cratchits, a family whose head of household is under his employ. 

The cultural impact of “A Christmas Carol” 

The book “A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas” was written by Dickens to pay off debt. However, the small story was incredibly successful, selling an astounding 6,000 copies in its first week. Since then, it has always been in print.

Christmas in 1843 had fallen on hard times in England, where many Protestant leaders discouraged celebrations, deeming the holiday to be too materialistic and it wasn’t much celebrated in the United States. Dickens’ themes of redemption, forgiveness, generosity, family, feasts, and good cheer resonated with readers in both England and America, and they are commonly credited with resurrecting Christmas celebrations in both countries and establishing in our minds what Christmas should mean.

The influence Dickens’ writing would have on culture was something he could never have predicted. Often, he inserted comments about injustice, cruelty, and the class structure into his narratives. 

But his straightforward Christmas message would actually and permanently alter the world.

Nowadays, “A Christmas Carol” is a classic of English literature and a beloved Christmas-time tale that creates a feeling of comfort and warmth in the reader. Many people like to re-read Dickens’ book during the Christmas holidays or to watch films and cartoons based on it. In his short story, Dickens, one might say, was able to capture the spirit of Christmas, making his work a timeless and eternal symbol and representation of the holiday.

Main themes of a ‘A Christmas Carol’ 

It’s worth considering some of the main themes in “A Christmas Carol” essay, regardless of the topic. Dickens raises many complex and profound issues in his novel, and you should be aware of these themes when selecting and expounding on your thesis, whatever it may be.

• Redemption. The protagonist’s redemption is the fundamental arc of the novel, and you ought to at least touch on it in your paper.
• Greed. Greed is one of the protagonist’s central vices, and greed acts as a negative leitmotif throughout the book.
• Poverty. Hand in hand with greed, poverty appears in the book as a fear of the protagonist and a cause for compassion for others.
• Symbolism. Each supernatural entity that the protagonist encounters has significance and meaning.
• Family. The importance of family and family values come to be appreciated by the protagonist during his redemption arc.
• Happiness. This book deals with how the singular pursuit of some objectives can destroy one’s happiness. The pursuit of wealth and other false idols can leave one internally unfulfilled.

‘A Christmas Carol’ essay creative topics 

A potent element in writing an essay is choosing a new and creative topic. When writing an essay “A Christmas Carol” which is enormously well-known and widely written about, this might be difficult. We have prepared some new, unique, and innovative “A Christmas Carol” essay topics to consider. You can choose one of our themes directly or perhaps use them to inspire your original theme.

New and creative topics for ‘A Christmas Carol’ essay

• How Charles Dickens Presents Supernatural Forces in ‘A Christmas Carol’ and How They Impact the Character of Ebenezer Scrooge
• How ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens Shows How His Life and Age Affected His Classical Work and the Morals of His Society 
• What Is the Role of Christmas in the Story? 
• How Does Observing the Different Experiences and Values of Other Characters Impact Scrooge?
• How Is Redemption Presented in ‘A Christmas Carol’
• How Scrooge’s Character Transforms Over the Course of the Story
• How ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ Deal with Greed
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ Representation of Charity and Its Long-Term Effect
• The Use of Literary Devices in Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
• Ebenezer Scrooge’s Moral Development
• The Role of Greed in ‘A Christmas Carol’ 

Well-researched ‘A Christmas Carol’ topics 

• Perceptions of Scrooge’s Metamorphosis in ‘A Christmas Carol’: A Psychological Study of His Redemption
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ and the Paranormal: A Paranormal Analysis
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Victorian England: A Social Critique from a Dickensian Perspective
• Ghostly Symbolism: Deciphering ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Hidden Meanings
• Fairness in the Economy and Civic Duty in Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens and the Disability Symbolism of Tiny Tim
• The Christmas Spirit Evoked by Dickens’ Use of Setting and Imagery in ‘A Christmas Carol’
• From Greed to Generosity: Scrooge’s Transformation in ‘A Christmas Carol’
• How Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ Influenced Victorian-Era Holiday Customs
• Two Capitalist Figures in ‘A Christmas Carol’: Scrooge and Marley, Analyzed Comparatively
• ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Future Self: A Specter of Hope and Redemption
• Industrialization and Its Impact on Society: A Critique in ‘A Christmas Carol’
• An Analysis of the Feminist Viewpoint on the Women in ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens
• ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Symbolism and Social Commentary on the Function of Celebration and Eating
• ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Narrative Techniques: How Stories Can Influence People and Cause Change
• An Analysis of ‘A Christmas Carol’ via the Victorian Ideal Family Preconception
• What the Past, Present, and Future Mean for ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Timeline
• Exploring Class Conflict and Social Mobility in Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’

Classic topics from your ‘A Christmas Carol’ essay

• ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Redemptive Theme: A Timeless Examination of Character Development
• The Transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
• ‘A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens’: A Classical Representation of Victorian-Era London
• The Importance of Tiny Tim: A Timeless Illustration of Kindness and Understanding
• Classical Themes in Victorian Society: A Critique of Social Injustice via ‘A Christmas Carol’
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens: A Traditional Observance of the Season
• An Analysis of ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Timeless Themes of Materialism and Charity
• A Literary Analysis of Dickens’ Use of Language and Style in ‘A Christmas Carol’
• The Eerie Ambiance: Traditional Supernatural Features in ‘A Christmas Carol’
• A Timeless Essay on Capitalism: Scrooge as a Paradigm Shift in Economic Thought
• ‘A Christmas Carol’’s Timeless Allure: Timeless Principles and Insights for All Ages

‘A Christmas Carol’ essay structure

Introduction .

After completing your academic research and outlining processes, start writing the introduction. Remember that the introduction is one of the most important segments of any essay because it forms the reader’s initial impression. Getting the reader interested at this stage is critical!

In the introduction, you should indicate the central thesis of your essay. In addition, for an essay on “A Christmas Carol,” you should generally devote the majority of your text to serving your thesis, revealing the novel’s main ideas, and outlining the book’s phenomenal cultural influence.

Body chapters 

The classic essay structure involves three to five segments in the body. We recommend sticking to a clean and precise structure, devoting a separate paragraph to developing each of your chosen statements. Support all main statements with references to credible sources. You should reinforce your statements with facts.

The conclusion is the most critical part of your essay on ‘A Christmas Carol’ because it will contribute to the reader’s final impression. Restate your central thesis so that the reader can reevaluate your main idea in light of all the new information and facts you presented in the paper.

Be sure to proofread and double-check your essay before submitting it. It’s a great idea  to find a beta reader and double-check your paper using modern writing tools like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor .

The bottom line 

Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” is a classic literary work that has tremendously influenced world culture and the concept of Christmas holidays in particular. Professors like students to write essays on this novel during the holidays, and if you’re reading our guide, then your professor is no exception.

Writing a good essay on “A Christmas Carol” is relatively easy. All you need to do is choose a somewhat creative topic, conduct competent research, and adhere to basic academic guidelines for a classic essay. If, even after reading our guide, you are still not confident in your abilities, you can order an expert sample from us. Our sample can inspire you and help you understand proper academic formatting and crystal-clear essay structure.

‘Christmas Carol’ essay FAQ 

What is the central message of ‘a christmas carol’ .

“A Christmas Carol” is about kindness, forgiveness, and essential values. Dickens contrasts material values with spiritual ones and helps the protagonist realize the total value of the latter with the help of symbolic supernatural entities.

Why is ‘A Christmas Carol’ so important? 

“A Christmas Carol” is a classic of English literature that combines fantastical elements with moral values. This book has helped many people to learn valuable moral lessons and rethink their priorities. It has significantly impacted English society.

Can I order my ‘A Christmas Carol’ essay? 

If you need help with your essay on “A Christmas Carol,” you can order it from us. Our seasoned writers are ready to start working on your project and can either suggest a topic themselves or continue working on your chosen topic.

How to choose a topic for an essay on “A Christmas Carol?” 

Choosing a topic is one of the most critical essay stages. To select a topic, you can check out our list of new and creative topics for an essay on ‘A Christmas Carol’ or come up with your original topic.

How do I get an excellent grade on my essay on ‘A Christmas Carol?’ 

Choosing a creative topic, conducting good academic research, and following the classic essay structure will help you succeed. Then you will have every chance of getting an excellent grade for your work. Or order the help of our seasoned writers to ensure you receive a high-quality essay.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What our customers say

Our website uses secure cookies. More details

Get professional help from best writers right from your phone

Grab our 3 e-books bundle for $27 FREE

Essays About Christmas: Top 5 Examples and 6 Prompts

Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the world. Discover our helpful guide that you can use to write essays about Christmas.

Christmas is known to many as the birthday of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. However, the festival has become more secular over the years and is celebrated by most people regardless of religion. Every December 25, something magical happens.

To most people, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year.” People celebrate, gather at a friend or family member’s house, feast, and open gifts. Whether or not you celebrate it as a religious holiday, the feelings of warmth, joy, and nostalgia that Christmas evokes are universal and meaningful to all.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. the magic of christmas by erin, 2. the possibility of a merry covid christmas by sarah begley, 3. my christmas experience by elliot johnson.

• 4.  A personal reflection on Christmas by Jo Betz
• 5. ​​Christmas traditions around the world by Becky Such

6 Prompts for Essays About Christmas

1. what is christmas to you, 2. the history of christmas, 3. a christmas tradition, 4. christmas in your home country, 5. christmas in non-christian households, 6. why is christmas the most celebrated holiday.

“Although, a few years later, I found out that he was not real, the magic of Christmas still remains. I realized that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and this is something I hold close to my heart. With our family’s traditions and celebrating Jesus’ birth, the magic of Christmas will always be real for me.”

In this short essay, Erin reflects on her family’s Christmas traditions, particularly during her childhood. She recalls the food, music, and different practices of many Christmases ago; in particular, she remembers the magic of Santa Claus and how she wished to see him one day. She eventually found out Santa wasn’t real, but that did not take away the magic of Christmas from her. She still treasures Christmas and anticipates it yearly. 

“Maybe we will come roaring back with great excesses in the holiday season of 2021; it’s hard to imagine now, but who knows? Meanwhile, we can resolve to do something together. We can seize this unwanted opportunity to reimagine everything — to tell a new story about what the season of togetherness means for our country, our homes, and our relationships. In a time that requires distance, we can find new modes of closeness. In a year of austerity, we can rethink the purpose of wealth. And in a period of great uncertainty, we can decide what’s most meaningful about shared rituals.”

Begley discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the way we celebrate Christmas. We cannot have big family gatherings, travel, or attend big religious services as we used to, as guidelines discourage us from doing so. In addition, the declining economy is leaving more families with fewer resources to celebrate Christmas. This Christmas, it may be hard to be happy and celebrate for some, but Begley encourages us to use this time for introspection and to hope for better. 

“In the end, although every family has flaws, and always seems to have a political divide in it, the family is the most special part of Christmas, just like it is for Thanksgiving. Family is one of, if not the most important things in life, and it is very important to stay close to one’s family and all of its members, and that is what Christmas is, and always will be to me.”

In his essay, Johnson gives a brief overview of Christmas and discusses his attitude toward the celebrations in his household. He remembers how as an introvert, he had to interact with many people and how he needed to give up his room for guests to sleep in. However, Johnson greatly appreciates Christmas for being able to unite and bring together a family of very diverse views and perspectives. 

4.   A personal reflection on Christmas by Jo Betz

“My daughter and I purchase a Christmas decoration each year for my husband to put on the tree. It’s something that brings us joy as we select the decoration we think he’d love. But there are other ways you can honour your loved one too – light a candle, write them a letter, purchase them a present, share stories about them on Christmas day. Find a way to honour the person you are missing so much.”

Betz reflects on how the death of a loved one, in this case, her husband, can make it difficult to enjoy Christmas. However, being with her daughter allows her to appreciate the holidays through all the pain. She gives people in a similar situation tip on how to cope, including not keeping such a big “to-do” list, honoring your loved one, and allowing yourself to grieve. You might also be interested in these essays about autumn .

5. ​​ Christmas traditions around the world by Becky Such

“Christmas trees were decorated with candles and topped with an angel or star, to remind children of the angel that brought ‘news of great joy’ to the shepherds in the fields, or the star that guided the ‘Three Kings’ to Bethlehem. In modern times, we’ve kept the star or angel topper, but dropped the candles. Covering a dry tree in lit candles was, of course, a massive fire hazard. Pretty silly of those Victorians if you ask me.   Today, Christmas trees are decorated with tinsel, fairy-lights and small, hanging ornaments – the joy and brightness of the Christmas tree is still a great reminder of Jesus as the ‘Light of the World’.” 

In her essay, Such describes some Christmas traditions from different countries, including different pastries and sweets, fireworks, lanterns, and the iconic Christmas tree. Then, she explains the differences in Christmas celebrations worldwide and how these traditions have evolved. 

Christmas has a different significance for each person. First, reflect on the meaning of Christmas; think of what your family and friends have told you, what you learned in school, and your thoughts. Next, discuss any religious, cultural, or family traditions that have influenced how you view Christmas. Finally, open up to your readers about the true meaning of Christmas. Perhaps Christmas means spending time with family and friends or giving back to the community. Whatever your viewpoint, share it in this essay.

For your essay, research how Christmas originated and how the festival has changed over the decades. Explain how it came about and the differences between Christmas celebrations over time. As with all historical essays, cite credible, well-researched sources for an accurate essay. 

Think about a tradition you have practiced for many Christmases with family, friends, or the greater community. What does it entail? Explain your chosen tradition in detail and reflect on its significance. 

Christmas is celebrated differently from country to country, with climate, religion, culture, and demographics affecting its importance in each. Based on personal experience and research, write your essay about how Christmas is celebrated in your country. Explain the traditions, the food eaten, and the history behind the Christmas celebration.

Early Christians originally conceived Christmas as a festival to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but it has become more secular over the years. A large number of non-Christians celebrate it. Based on research, write about how non-Christians celebrate Christmas and why they do so. If you have personal experience with this, incorporate what you know into your essay.

Whenever the word “holiday” is mentioned, Christmas automatically comes to mind for most. In your essay, look into what makes Christmas so popular: Why do people treasure it so much, and why do more people celebrate it than other holidays? Be sure to use credible sources as the basis for your essay.

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Mr Salles Teaches English

A Christmas Carol: Every Grade 9 Essay in One

There is some context which is relevant to any essay.

And is guaranteed to make parts of any essay worth grade 8 and 9.

As a free subscriber, I am going to give you all of it.

Paid subscribers will get it transformed into a 930 word 30/30 answer. Actually, it is way better than 30/30. If you write only 700 words of this, you’ll still get 30/30.

So, in my commentary, I also share which sentences are essential to getting 100%.

This is an extract from my Ultimate Guide to A Christmas Carol (which also includes 7 grade 9 essays).

I wrote it to help you love the novel, get grade 9 and understand and enjoy literature so that you could choose English literature A level (if you wanted to - some people have to become doctors and chemists, but 100X more will want to read and write for the rest of their lives!)

This topic is going to be 100% relevant to any question you ever get on A Christmas Carol.

How is A Christmas Carol a Criticism of Social Policy in Victorian England?

Dickens shows his opposition to The Poor Laws, which created “workhouses”, by making Scrooge support them: “Are they still in operation?”.

The Victorians Thought the Poor Deserved to Be Poor

Scrooge also supports the criminalisation of the poor, “Are there no prisons?” and believes these are necessary to “decrease the surplus population”, even if this means the poor would “rather die” than attend them. The Ghost of Christmas Present quotes Scrooge’s support back at him ironically when Scrooge is desperate to save Tiny Tim, now that he knows what “the surplus population” looks like.

Thomas Malthus

This language uses the politicians’ interpretation of Thomas Malthus’s economic theory. Because only male property holders could vote, Dickens targets his book at them, pricing it at an expensive five shillings, a third of the “fifteen shillings” a worker like Bob Cratchit earns. Dickens invites the readers into the warmth of the Cratchits’ family Christmas, so that they too can understand the social effects of low wages.

Trading Laws Which Starve the Poor

On the way, Scrooge challenges the ghost for shutting bakers on a Sunday, which was a law upholding the Christian tradition of the Sabbath, forbidding trade, which will “cramp these people’s opportunities of innocent enjoyment...deprive them of their means of dining every seventh day”. Dickens juxtaposes the harshness of society with the “hard and sharp as flint” Scrooge, pointing out that the miser is actually more generous than the reader who votes for such laws.

How the Cratchits Symbolise the Poor Working Class

Inside the Cratchits’ home on Christmas day, we wait for the eldest daughter Martha, a maid of all work, who has still had to “clear away” on Christmas morning for her thoughtless, and entirely normal, employers. The mother and second daughter make their old dresses appear more festive with “ribbons”, Peter wears a ridiculously large present of his father’s old shirt, whose collar is so big it gets “into his mouth”. Only Bob and Tiny Tim have been to church, presumably because the rest of the family lack suitable clothing. Bob himself has no “greatcoat” and his best clothes are “threadbare”. Although this is a comic portrait, it is also a clue that the winter is a threat to health in a poor family.

Next, Dickens italicises the children’s excitement at the feast: “there’s such a goose,” and contrasts this with the goose’s meagre size, so that the family even eat the bones, and there is only an “atom of a bone” left on the table. After witnessing this comic scene, Scrooge brings us back to real life, asking the Ghost “if Tiny Tim will live”. He won’t.

So, Dickens challenges his readers to realise that the going rate of pay creates the working poor, which leads to their malnourishment, poor health, servitude and often death. Scrooge, like the reader, has simply supposed the poor are “idle people'' who choose poverty because of defective character. Dickens wants to disabuse these readers, as he shocks Scrooge into transforming.

Scrooge’s Transformation

It is tempting to see Scrooge’s transformation as needing The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, but actually this question in Stave Three is the pivotal moment. Dickens shows us this structurally, as it occurs in the middle of the novel, and also thematically at the end, when Scrooge becomes a “second father” to Tiny Tim.

If this last ghost is not necessary for Scrooge’s transformation, why is he introduced? Dickens uses him to show the reader how wider society is affected by their poor pay. Bob has a comparatively good job for a working-class man. Those who earn less live in slums, where he now takes us: “the whole quarter reeked with crime, with filth, and misery”. Like the reader, Scrooge has avoided seeing the “wretched” conditions in which the poor live, and “never penetrated” there.

Don’t Forget the Workers Who are So Poor That They Become Criminals

Here we meet tradespeople Scrooge has employed, a “laundress” and “charwoman”, and an “undertaker’s man” who has prepared Scrooge’s body. They have all stolen from the dead man’s room. They have “all three met here without meaning it!” because they are embarrassed at their crimes. They are surprisingly polite to each other, and with “gallantry” decide that the poorest, the cleaner, should be last to ask old Joe for a price for her stolen goods, and therefore get a better price. Old Joe himself has made a tiny profit from crime. He is still having to do this, even though “nearly seventy years of age”. His poverty is introduced comically as he invites them into “the parlour... the space behind the screen of rags.” This ironic juxtaposition reveals Dickens' social commentary, where not just poverty, but a significant amount of crime is caused by middle class indifference to the consequence of low wages which they pay.

Mr Salles Teaches English is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts which help you get top grades, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This Book’s Readers are Employers

This is harder for a modern audience to grasp, but all Dickens’ original readers were exactly this kind of employer. Even Fred, the model of Christmas cheer who puts up with his uncle’s “Bah...Humbug!” has a live-in housekeeper who is still working on Christmas day to welcome Scrooge to Fred’s home!

Dickens expects the reader to identify with the morally good “master” Fred and perhaps now to question their indifference to the lives of their employees.

Revolution and Education

Dickens also warns of greater consequences than crime if society, and the reader, does not change. Because Scrooge begins his transformation, he notices the figures of “Ignorance” and “Want” whom Dickens personifies as a boy and a girl. The Ghost of Christmas Present delivers Dickens’ warning, “but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.”

“Ignorance” symbolises the lack of education denied to the poor, which results in a spiral of unemployability, or a qualification only for low-wage work. This unspecified “doom” suggests violent crime or political protest, or perhaps predicts the kinds of revolution which swept Europe five years later.

This scene is not necessary to the plot of Scrooge’s redemption, so it works like an aside to the reader, calling our attention to the author’s wider purpose, which is not just to entertain, but persuade the reader to build a fairer society.

The Importance of the Ending

Therefore, Dickens ends the novella with Scrooge raising Bob’s “salary” as his final act.

We remember that his lack of charity was a sign of his miserly behaviour. But Bob’s salary was only the going rate in 1843, not a product of Scrooge’s miserliness. So, this action becomes a clear signal to the reader to increase what they pay their employees and domestic staff.

The final line, ending with “God bless us” is partly ironic. God isn’t going to help the poor, so we, like Scrooge, have to.

Thank you for reading Mr Salles Teaches English. My mission is to help 10,000 students get grade 8 and 9. This post is public so feel free to share it. Help me on my mission.

Rewritten as an Exam Answer

Although Dickens writes the novel as an entertainment, he wants the story of Scrooge’s moral awakening to “haunt” the reader, and so lead to a change in how his readers think about the poor.

A 3 part thesis statement, which sets out Dickens’ ideas, and acts as a plan for your essay. I always write a 3 part thesis statement. Some grade 9 answers get away with 2 - but that leaves your marks to chance.

Dickens shows his opposition to The Poor Laws, which created “workhouses”, by making Scrooge support them: “Are they still in operation?”. Scrooge also supports the criminalisation of the poor, “Are there no prisons?” and believes these are necessary to “decrease the surplus population”. Then Dickens creates Tiny Tim to show us what “the surplus population” looks like, and he uses Tiny Tim’s impending death to transform Scrooge’s view.

Rather than explode a quote to death, use your quotes to build an argument. The argument has to be about the writer’s ideas. This gets your AO2 marks. The more quotes you use, the higher your AO1 mark. Exploding quotes adds very little to AO1, because you use too few ‘references to the text’. Obvious really!

I hope you can see how to turn the context into an essay. Paid subscribers get the rest, with my comments.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Mr Salles Teaches English to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

• International
• Education Jobs
• Schools directory
• Resources Education Jobs Schools directory News Search

A Christmas Carol: simple guide for thesis-style introductions

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

1 April 2024

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

‘A thesis-style introduction that demonstrates your understanding of the question can be a really helpful way of starting your answer. It shows that you are ‘in charge’ of your essay and that you know what you think. It can provide a strong foundation for the rest of the essay. Keep referring back to the introduction to create a coherent response.’ AQA examiner’s report 2022

Creating a thesis-style introduction is a challenge for many students but is essential in helping students to reach levels 4-6 in the mark scheme. I have produced a simple 3 point structure to help students quickly generate a thesis statement in timed exam conditions. There is an example of the 3 point structure being used and then students attempt to imitate the structure for 4 other exam-style questions.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 30%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Thesis-style introductions: 3 step plan

‘A thesis-style introduction that demonstrates your understanding of the question can be a really helpful way of starting your answer. It shows that you are ‘in charge’ of your essay and that you know what you think. It can provide a strong foundation for the rest of the essay. Keep referring back to the introduction to create a coherent response.’ AQA examiner’s report 2022 Creating a thesis-style introduction is a challenge for many students but is essential in helping students to reach levels 4-6 in the mark scheme. I have produced a simple 3 point structure to help students quickly generate a thesis statement in timed exam conditions. There is an example of the 3 point structure being used and then students attempt to imitate the structure for 4 other exam-style questions. Examples apply for Lord of the Flies, Macbeth and A Christmas Carol.

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

A Summary and Analysis of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol  in six weeks during October and November 1843, and the novella (technically, it is not counted among his novels) appeared just in time for Christmas, on 19 December. The book’s effect was immediate.

The Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle went straight out and bought himself a turkey after reading  A Christmas Carol, and the novelist Margaret Oliphant said that it ‘moved us all in those days as if it had been a new gospel’. Even Dickens’s rival, William Makepeace Thackeray, called the book ‘a national benefit’.

Both ‘Scrooge’ and ‘Bah! Humbug’ are known to people who have never read Dickens’s book, or even seen one of the countless film, TV, and theatre adaptations. But what is A Christmas Carol really about, and is there more to this tale of charity and goodwill than meets the eye? Before we offer an analysis of A Christmas Carol , it might be worth briefly summarising the plot of the novella.

The novella is divided into five chapters or ‘staves’. In the first stave, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge rejects his nephew Fred’s invitation to dine with him and his family for Christmas. He reluctantly allows his clerk, Bob Cratchit, to have Christmas Day off work. On Christmas night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley.

Marley, bound in chains, warns Scrooge that a similar fate awaits him when he dies unless he mends his ways; he also tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits.

The second, third, and fourth staves of A Christmas Carol are devoted to each of the three spirits of Christmas. First, the Ghost of Christmas Past visits Scrooge and reminds him of his lonely childhood at boarding school, and the kindness shown to the young Scrooge by his first employer, Mr Fezziwig (whom we see at a Christmas ball).

Scrooge is also shown a vision recalling his relationship with Belle, a young woman who broke off their engagement because of the young Scrooge’s love of money. The Ghost of Christmas Past then shows Scrooge that Belle subsequently married another man and raised a family with him.

The third stave details the visit from the second spirit: the Ghost of Christmas Present. This spirit shows Scrooge his nephew Fred’s Christmas party as well as Christmas Day at the Cratchits. Bob Cratchit’s youngest son, Tiny Tim, is severely ill, and the Ghost tells Scrooge that the boy will die if things don’t change. He then shows Scrooge two poor, starving children, named Ignorance and Want.

The fourth stave features the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows Scrooge his own funeral taking place in the future. It is sparsely attended by a few of Scrooge’s fellow businessmen only. The only two people who express any emotion over Scrooge’s passing are a young couple who owed him money, and who are happy that he’s dead.

Scrooge is then shown a very different scene: Bob Cratchit and his family mourning Tiny Tim’s death. Scrooge is shown his own neglected gravestone, and vows to mend his ways.

The fifth and final stave sees Scrooge waking on Christmas morning a changed man. He sends Bob Cratchit a large turkey for Christmas dinner, and goes to his nephew’s house that afternoon to spend Christmas with Fred’s family. The next day he gives Bob Cratchit a pay rise, and generally treats everyone with kindness and generosity.

A Christmas Carol wasn’t the first Christmas ghost story Dickens wrote. He’d already written ‘ The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton ’, featuring the miserly Gabriel Grub. This was featured as an inset tale in Dickens’s first ever published novel,  The Pickwick Papers (1836-7).

The tale shares many of the narrative features which would turn up a few years later in  A Christmas Carol : the misanthropic villain, the Christmas Eve setting, the presence of the supernatural (goblins/ghosts), the use of visions which the main character is forced to witness, the focus on poverty and family, and, most importantly, the reforming of the villain into a better person at the close of the story.

But the fact that Dickens had already developed the loose ‘formula’ for the story that would become, in many ways, his best-known work does nothing to detract from its power as a piece of storytelling.

Like a handful of other books of the nineteenth century – Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde spring to mind – A Christmas Carol has attained the force of a modern myth, an archetypal tale about the value of helping those in need, in the name of Christian charity and general human altruism. Oliphant’s description of the novella as like a new gospel neatly captures both its Christian flavour (though its message is far broader in its applications than this) and its mythic qualities.

But there is also something of the fairy tale – another form that was attaining new-found popularity in 1840s Britain thanks to the vogue for pantomimes based upon old French tales and the appearance of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales in English – in the story’s patterning of three (three spirits visiting Scrooges), its supernatural elements, and the (spiritual or moral) transformation of its central character.

Indeed, it has almost become something of an origin-myth for many Christmas traditions and associations, and was published at a time when many things now considered typically Christmassy were coming into vogue: Prince Albert’s championing of Christmas trees at the royal court, for instance, and even the practice of sending Christmas cards (the first one was sent in 1843, the same year that A Christmas Carol was published). No wonder many people, when they hear talk of ‘the spirit of Christmas’, tend to think of goodwill to all men, charity, and benevolence.

Dickens invented none of these associations, but his novella helped to cement them in the popular consciousness for good. Even the association of Christmas with snowy weather may have partly been down to Dickens: there are a dozen references to snow in A Christmas Carol , and it’s been argued that Dickens associated snow with Christmas time because of a series of white Christmases in the 1810s, when he was a small child: memories which stayed with him into adulthood.

As with his previous novels, especially Oliver Twist , one of Dickens’s chief aims in A Christmas Carol , along with entertaining his readers, is to highlight to his predominantly middle-class readers the state of poverty and ‘want’ that afflicted millions of their fellow Britons. One of the most telling details in the novella is the revelation, following Scrooge’s conversion, that he will take on the role of father figure to Tiny Tim.

Since Tiny Tim already has a father, the point is perhaps not as clear to modern readers as it would have been to Dickens’s contemporaries: namely that the children of the poor were the responsibility of all of Britain, and if their own parents could not provide for them, then charity and generosity from the well-off was required.

Scrooge ensures this not only by improving Bob Cratchit’s financial situation (giving him a pay rise) but by becoming a friend to the family: money is needed to help fix the problem, Dickens argues, but it’s more valuable if accompanied by genuine companionship and communion between rich and poor, haves and have-nots, and if society works together to help each other.

On a stylistic note, the remarkable thing about A Christmas Carol is that it is entirely representative of Dickens’s work, even while it lacks many of the qualities that make him so popular.

In reflecting Dickens’s strong social conscience and his exposure of the plight of the poor and the callousness of those who refuse to play their part in making things better, it is emblematic of Dickens’s work as a champion of the poor. Its focus on money – and the dangers to those who place too much faith in money and not enough in their fellow human beings – it is also a wholly representative work.

But there are none of the wonderfully drawn comic characters at which he excelled and which, arguably, make his work so distinctively ‘Dickensian’. As a rule, the shorter the Dickens book, the less Dickensian it is, at least in this sense: Hard Times , A Tale of Two Cities , and the five Christmas books all lack those supporting comic characters which make his large, sprawling novels, whatever their shortcomings in plot structure, his most successful books.

But what it lacks in Fat Boys, Sam Wellers, Major Bagstocks, or Mr Micawbers, it more than makes up for in its concentrated plot structure and heart-warming portrayal of a man who learns to use his wealth, but also his sense of social duty, to help those who need it most.

Discover more from Interesting Literature

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.

Type your email…

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Holidays — Christmas

Essays on Christmas

Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and reflection, and writing an essay on a Christmas-related topic can be an enjoyable and rewarding task. However, choosing the right topic is crucial to ensure that your essay is engaging, informative, and relevant. In this article, we will discuss the importance of the topic, provide advice on choosing a topic, and present a detailed list of recommended essay topics, divided by category.

The Importance of the Topic

Choosing the right Christmas essay topic is important for several reasons. Firstly, it determines the focus and direction of your essay, allowing you to explore a specific aspect of the holiday season in depth. Secondly, a well-chosen topic will capture the interest of your audience and make your essay more engaging to read. Finally, the topic you choose should reflect your own interests and passions, as this will make the writing process more enjoyable and the final result more authentic.

When choosing a Christmas essay topic, consider your own interests and knowledge, as well as the interests of your audience. Think about what aspects of Christmas you find most compelling, whether it's the history and traditions, the cultural significance, the festive activities, or the spiritual and religious aspects. Additionally, consider the audience for your essay and what topics might resonate with them. Finally, be sure to choose a topic that is specific and focused, rather than broad and general, to ensure that your essay is well-defined and cohesive.

Recommended Christmas Essay Topics

If you're looking for inspiration for your Christmas essay, here are some great topics to consider. Whether you're writing about the history of Christmas, its traditions, or its impact on society, there's something here for everyone.

Traditions and Customs

• The history and evolution of Christmas traditions
• Comparison of Christmas traditions around the world
• The significance of Christmas decorations
• Traditional Christmas foods and their cultural significance

Festive Activities

• The impact of Christmas shopping on the economy
• The psychology of gift-giving during the holidays
• Analysis of popular Christmas movies and their themes
• The role of music in the Christmas season

Religious and Spiritual Aspects

• The history and significance of Christmas carols
• Comparison of Christmas and other religious winter celebrations
• The commercialization of Christmas and its impact on spirituality
• The portrayal of Christmas in literature and art

Modern Celebrations

• The influence of technology on modern Christmas celebrations
• The environmental impact of Christmas consumption and waste
• The changing role of Santa Claus in contemporary culture
• The rise of non-traditional Christmas celebrations

History of Christmas

• The origins of Christmas
• The evolution of Christmas traditions
• The history of Christmas carols
• The symbolism of Christmas trees
• The role of St. Nicholas in Christmas traditions

Christmas in Society

• The commercialization of Christmas
• The impact of Christmas on the economy
• The influence of Christmas on popular culture
• The role of Christmas in promoting charity and goodwill
• The controversy surrounding the celebration of Christmas in public spaces

Choosing the right Christmas essay topic is essential for creating a compelling and meaningful piece of writing. By considering your own interests, the interests of your audience, and the specific focus of your topic, you can ensure that your essay is engaging, informative, and enjoyable to write. With the recommended essay topics provided in this article, you can explore a wide range of Christmas-related themes and find the perfect topic for your next essay.

My Christmas Break

The symbolism of christmas, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Narrative Essay About Christmas Break

My idea of a perfect christmas, christmas as my favorite time of the year, the perfect christmas from the perspective of "a christmas carol", let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

"A Time of Togetherness": How Alexie Sherman and Velma Wallis Use Christmas to Present Contemporary Native American Issues

The episodes of christmas as highlighted in "a christmas carol", how i spent my winter break, a criticism of christmas by a capitalist in "a christmas carol", get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

The Christmas Season, The Christmas Tree, and The New Year in a Doll's House, a Play by Henrik Ibsen

A detailed look at the role of emotions in "a christmas carol", the story of my curious cat, milo, morality in a christmas carol by charles dickens, a comparison of church going by philip larkin and christmas by john betjeman, a christmas carol as a moral maxim, an analysis of the use of tone in a christmas carol, a book by charles dickens, society under total surveillance in white christmas, a black mirror episode, the ghosts of christmas as illustrated in "a christmas carol", american family at a christmas eve dinner in amy tan's fish cheeks, the transformation of scrooge as highlighted in "a christmas carol", charles dickens’ a christmas carol vs. wilkie collins’ the moonstone, how religion and secular practises became part of christmas, travelling over the christmas period, how scrooge represents hyprocisy in "a christmas carol", how to decorate your christmas tree, explicating longfellow’s "christmas bells", the life and the famous christmas concerto of italian violinist, arcangelo corelli, the importance of good christmas memories, a reflection on a christmas carol by charles dickens, relevant topics.

• Winter Break
• Thanksgiving
• Personal Goals

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

How to Write a Grade 9 A Christmas Carol Essay ( WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature )

Revision note.

How to Write a Grade 9 A Christmas Carol Essay

Paper 2 of your Eduqas GCSE exam contains questions about a modern prose or drama text, a 19th-century prose work and unseen poetry. For Section B, you will write an essay about the 19th-century text you have studied. You will have an hour to write an essay based on the extract printed on your exam paper.

Your Eduqas GCSE exam is “closed text”, so you won’t have your copy of A Christmas Carol with you in the exam. That means you need to know the novella really well and have revised a wide range of quotes and references to use in your essay. You can find some great suggestions for useful quotations on our A Christmas Carol Quotations and Analysis page . The Eduqas examiners want to see a range of evidence from right across A Christmas Carol. So, for a Grade 9 essay, read the extract carefully to make sure you understand how it illustrates the aspect of A Christmas Carol that the question is asking about. Then, use the evidence in the extract as a starting point for your argument, ensuring that you link your analysis with the rest of the novella.

How Do I Start My A Christmas Carol Essay?

To achieve the highest marks, your most effective strategy is to plan your essay first: spend as long as 15 minutes on this, and do not be tempted to start writing yet. A good plan will give you a “map” for your essay, so you can focus confidently on your argument and the evidence you are going to use. For a Grade 9 answer, Eduqas examiners look for essays that “focus on the question”, have a “clear line of argument” and sustain a good “analytical style”. Here is a breakdown of what those phrases mean and how you can achieve them:

Making a strong plan before you start writing your essay means you can be sure you meet all these requirements. 

Here’s an idea of what your plan could look like:

How Do I Structure My A Christmas Carol Essay?

Annotate the extract while you are planning your answer to link the specific evidence in the extract with other events, characters or contexts from the wider text. Remember, Eduqas examiners award the highest marks to students who produce a “clear line of argument” in their essays. Making a plan is the best way to ensure your argument is logical and consistent. A Grade 9 essay will always include an introduction , clearly focused paragraphs and a conclusion . Take another look at the example plan. It includes a “ thesis statement ” and “ topic sentences ” at the beginning of each paragraph. Here’s how to include these in your essay:

Top tips for structuring your A Christmas Carol essay

Always set out a clear thesis statement in your introduction

Begin every paragraph with a topic sentence that:

indicates the focus of the paragraph clearly

links directly with your thesis statement

Set out your argument in clear paragraphs that:

only contain evidence (short quotations or textual references are best) that supports the statement you make in your topic sentence

link back to the question in the final sentence

Finish your essay with a short conclusion that sums up how you have proved your thesis statement

How Much Should I Write?

Your introduction and conclusion should be short — just two or three sentences each. Aim to develop your argument in a maximum of three paragraphs of evidence and analysis. Longer essays often lose their focus and wander away from the question. A good rule is: less is more : clear, focused writing produces a more effective, coherent essay.

Nothing beats a really thorough knowledge of the whole text, but you may have learnt specific arguments about A Christmas Carol that address particular themes or subjects.

However, Eduqas examiners like to see creative responses, as long as they maintain a good focus on the subject of the question and contain a clear argument. The extract question is designed to enable students to explore different interpretations and contexts, so a “one size fits all” approach may not be the most effective one.  For an example of how to include elements like context, analysis of techniques and different interpretations in your essay, take a look at our model answer for the Eduqas Grade 9 A Christmas Carol essay question .

Grade 9 Essay Tips for A Christmas Carol

You've read 0 of your 0 free revision notes

Get unlimited access.

to absolutely everything:

• Downloadable PDFs
• Unlimited Revision Notes
• Topic Questions
• Past Papers
• Model Answers
• Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 100,000 + Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Author: Jen Davis

Jen studied a BA(Hons) in English Literature at the University of Chester, followed by an MA in 19th Century Literature and Culture. She taught English Literature at university for nine years as a visiting lecturer and doctoral researcher, and gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education in 2014. She now works as a freelance writer, editor and tutor. While teaching English Literature at university, Jen also specialised in study skills development, with a focus on essay and examination writing.

Essay on Christmas

Here we have shared the Essay on Christmas in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Christmas in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Christmas in 150-250 words

Essay on christmas in 300-400 words, essay on christmas in 500-1000 words.

Christmas is a joyous festival celebrated around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time of love, warmth, and togetherness. On this day, people exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees, and share delicious meals with family and friends.

The festive spirit is evident in the vibrant decorations that adorn streets and homes. Colorful lights twinkle, wreaths hang on doors, and stockings are hung by the fireplace in anticipation of Santa Claus. Christmas carols fill the air, spreading cheer and goodwill.

Children eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus, hoping to find gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. Families come together to exchange presents and share heartfelt moments. The true essence of Christmas lies in the spirit of giving and showing gratitude for the blessings in our lives.

Religious ceremonies take place in churches, where believers gather to remember the significance of the birth of Jesus. It is a time for reflection, prayer, and finding solace in the message of hope and redemption.

Christmas is a time when people set aside their differences and embrace the values of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It is a celebration that brings people closer, fostering a sense of unity and goodwill that extends beyond religious boundaries.

In conclusion, Christmas is a cherished holiday that encapsulates the spirit of love, joy, and generosity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of family, faith, and spreading happiness to those around us.

Christmas is a widely celebrated festival that holds deep cultural and religious significance for millions of people around the world. It is observed on December 25th each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered the central figure of Christianity.

The preparation for Christmas begins weeks in advance, with homes and streets adorned with colorful decorations. Christmas trees, covered in lights, ornaments, and tinsel, become the centerpiece of many households. Wreaths, mistletoe, and holly are hung, adding a festive touch to doors and windows.

One of the most exciting aspects of Christmas is the exchange of gifts. People carefully select and wrap presents for their loved ones, keeping in mind their interests and desires. The act of giving gifts symbolizes the love and appreciation we have for one another, mirroring the gifts brought by the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus.

Another cherished tradition is the gathering of family and friends. Christmas is a time for loved ones to come together and share in the joy of the season. Festive meals are prepared, with feasts consisting of roasted turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and various other delectable dishes. The dining table becomes a hub of laughter, conversations, and bonding.

Religious ceremonies are an integral part of Christmas celebrations. Churches hold special services, including midnight Mass, where believers gather to worship and reflect on the birth of Jesus. Hymns and carols are sung, evoking a sense of spirituality and creating a serene ambiance.

For children, the highlight of Christmas is the anticipation of Santa Claus. They eagerly hang stockings by the fireplace, hoping to find them filled with gifts the next morning. The myth of Santa Claus embodies the spirit of kindness and generosity, encouraging children to be well-behaved and considerate.

However, beyond the festive decorations, gift-giving, and feasting, Christmas holds a deeper significance. It is a time for introspection and reflection, reminding us of the values of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It serves as a reminder to extend a helping hand to those in need and to appreciate the blessings in our lives.

In conclusion, Christmas is a cherished and widely celebrated festival that brings joy, love, and unity. It is a time to come together with family and friends, exchange gifts, and express gratitude. While it holds religious significance, its essence of spreading happiness and goodwill transcends religious boundaries, making it a festival that is celebrated and appreciated by people of diverse cultures and beliefs.

Title: Christmas – Celebrating Joy, Love, and Togetherness

Introduction :

Christmas, a widely celebrated festival around the world, holds immense cultural and religious significance. It marks the birth of Jesus Christ and symbolizes love, joy, and the spirit of giving. This essay explores the traditions, customs, and symbolism associated with Christmas, highlighting its impact on individuals and communities.

Historical and Religious Significance

Christmas has its roots in Christianity and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. According to biblical accounts, Jesus was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary and Joseph. The nativity story of the baby Jesus in a manger, visited by shepherds and the three wise men, forms the core of the Christmas narrative. For Christians, Christmas is a time to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and the message of hope and salvation that he brought to the world.

Festive Preparations and Traditions

The celebration of Christmas involves a range of customs and traditions that vary across cultures. Weeks before Christmas, people engage in festive preparations, including decorating homes and public spaces with lights, ornaments, and Christmas trees. Exchanging greeting cards, hanging stockings, and displaying Nativity scenes are also common traditions.

One of the most cherished traditions is the Advent calendar, which counts down the days leading up to Christmas. Each day, a door or compartment is opened, revealing a surprise or Bible verse.

The Joy of Giving and Sharing

Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. The exchange of gifts symbolizes the gift of love and generosity that Jesus brought to the world. Families and friends exchange presents, expressing their love and appreciation for one another. Many also engage in acts of charity, donating to those in need, volunteering at shelters, or participating in community service projects. The spirit of giving fosters a sense of compassion, unity, and goodwill during the Christmas season.

Culinary Delights and Festive Feasts

Food plays a significant role in Christmas celebrations. Traditional dishes and festive feasts are prepared, reflecting regional and cultural preferences. Roasted turkey, glazed ham, Christmas pudding, cookies, and cakes are popular culinary delights associated with Christmas. Families gather around the table to share a bountiful meal, fostering a sense of togetherness and gratitude.

Cultural Celebrations and Customs

Christmas is celebrated with diverse customs and traditions around the world. Carols and hymns are sung, portraying the joy and significance of the season. Community gatherings, Christmas markets, and parades are organized, featuring music, dance, and festive performances.

In some regions, such as Latin America, the celebration extends beyond Christmas Day to include the nine-day novena leading up to Christmas, known as Las Posadas. This tradition reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.

Reflection, Faith, and Hope

Christmas is a time for reflection and renewed faith. It provides an opportunity for individuals to contemplate the spiritual aspects of the season, reconnect with their beliefs, and find solace and hope in the message of Jesus’ birth.

Conclusion :

Christmas is a time of celebration, love, and togetherness, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. It reminds us of the importance of compassion, joy, and the spirit of giving. The customs and traditions associated with Christmas foster a sense of community, strengthen family bonds, and inspire acts of kindness. Beyond the festivities, Christmas holds a deeper meaning, inviting individuals to reflect on their faith, seek peace and unity, and embrace the message of love that resonates throughout the season.

Related Posts

Essential Elements of Valid Contract (Explained With Examples)

What is World Population? Main Causes, Effects, Top 20 Countries

• About Project
• Testimonials

Business Management Ideas

Essay on Christmas

List of essays on christmas in english, essay on christmas – essay 1 (250 words), essay on christmas: origin, importance and conclusion – essay 2 (400 words), essay on christmas – essay 3 (500 words), essay on christmas: a cultural festivity – essay 4 (600 words), essay on christmas – essay 5 (750 words), essay on christmas: history, celebrations and decorations – essay 6 (1000 words).

Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December. It is mainly the festival of Christians. But in today’s time, the festival of Christmas has surpassed the religious boundaries and become a symbol of the holistic culture. The winters in December carry a festive feeling.

Usually, the celebration begins much before the main day and continues for around 2 weeks after that. Men and women celebrate Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. Religious people go to church and light the candles to pray to their God, Jesus Christ.

A festival that is equally loved and cherished by adults and kids. People also bring a Christmas tree to their homes and decorate it with colorful balls, ribbons, and red socks. Market shops and showrooms display a theme of glittering red and white colors to set up the Christmas mood.

On Christmas night, folks enjoy a big feast and share gifts with each other. Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, and muffins are the special treats on Christmas. Kids are showered with lots of presents and new dresses. They also get to meet the ‘Santa Claus’, dressed in a fluffy red and white costume, who greets them with hugs and gifts.

Christmas is a festival of joy. It is about sharing and helping others. On this day, people remember Jesus Christ and his lessons of life. The festival definitely teaches us to practice kindness and love toward each other and help those who have less than us.

Introduction:

Christmas is the season of joy, peace, and happiness. It is the special season set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Though this was its original purpose, the celebration of Christmas has grown to become a symbolic time for living in peace and love.

Christmas is essentially a reminder of why we should stick to the deepest parts of our humanity. That is, through celebration, we are reminded that we should share, give to the less privileged, spend time with loved ones and have a positive outlook about life in general.

Origin of Christmas:

Many people assume Christmas is strictly a Christian celebration and they would be right if modern evidence is to be considered. However, with regards to its origin, this notion cannot be farther from the truth. In actual sense, Christmas originated a few decades after the birth of Jesus in the old Roman Empire.

Christmas emanated as the Pagan celebration of the concept known as Saturnalia. This celebration was aimed at celebrating the return of the sun and the end of winter. The celebration is usually a weeklong affair and is marked by lawless activity and a system of penal exemption from lawless acts such as housing breaking.

In the 4 th century, Christians adapted the last day of Saturnalia to be the celebration of Christmas. The aim was to get the pagans to associate this period with positive things. Consequently, lots of pagans converted to Christianity on the promise that they could still celebrate their tradition in this day. Whether Jesus was actually born on the 25 of December is not substantiated by historical evidence.

Importance of Christmas:

Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why do we go the extra mile to celebrate, give and create an atmosphere of merriment? The answers to these questions are numerous but we would mention a few.

1. Christmas reminds us of the importance of giving and sharing with friends and family.

2. Christmas shows the importance of joy and happiness.

3. Through Christmas, we know that Jesus birth is the beginning of great things in the world.

4. It is also an opportunity to correct actions we aren’t proud of in our lives.

5. It is generally an opportunity to think about nature and the reason for our existence.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re Christian or not, Christmas is an opportunity for you to put your biases and ill thought behind in the celebration of a great cause.

Christmas is a well-known Christian holiday set in December, celebrated the world over and famed for its decorations and Santa Clause. Christmas is celebrated on the 25 th of December, on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ. One can write for ages about the many wonders that Christmas inspires in people. This holiday is also famous for the different customs that are associated with it and even though Christmas is celebrated in all Christian countries there are differences in the way each nation commemorates this date.

Christmas Traditions:

One of the more famous symbols of this holiday is the Christmas tree. Most people do not think about it and just maintain that this custom has been around for ages, while in fact, it is in use for the past 150 years. The idea originated in Germany and later on, it was spread to the rest of the western world by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This event was meant for the entire family to enjoy a day before the 25 th of December.

The famous Santa Clause celebrated in many movies and made famous by Coca-Cola commercials is actually Saint Nicholas and he is traditionally celebrated on the 6 th of December. The Santa goes around town and checks if all the children were good and if they were, he left them a present, but if a child misbehaved often the Krampus would come to punish them by leaving a whip for the parents. This myth was taken on by the movie industry and transformed into the white beard and red-coated child hero of today.

Traditionally Christmas is celebrated by a Church mass in the morning and then by a family meal later on in the day. That is if you are a religious person, otherwise, most people have some sort of Christmas dinner where they sing the appropriate songs and drink special drinks, somewhere its egg- nock and in other places its sweetened cooked red wine. Whatever the tradition the point of the holiday is to spend some quality time with your loved ones eating and resting.

Modern Christmas:

Christmas is also famous as the time of the year when we give gifts to each other and appropriately this is also the time when companies try to sell everything they can. Marketing experts know how to use the traditional symbols of Christmas to make you want to buy something that you do not actually need. Not to mention that every gift that Santa brings has to be bought somewhere and every child wants a visit from their favorite imagined gift giver. The consumer society has transformed this holiday and made it part of its cosmology, the basic elements are still here but everything is set around decoration, gifts, and movies.

Whatever the backdrop of the holiday it still remains one of the coziest times of the year, at least form me. Spending time at home with the people we love, embraced, watching movies and surrounded by flickering lights is the image I have in my head when I think about Christmas. This is also an image that brings warmth to my heart.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that is celebrated all over the world on December 25 th . Christmas is the time of the year when people commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a cultural festivity that brings families together in a celebratory mood. Every Christian loves Christmas because it is full of joy, full of gifts, family gets together and beautiful Christmas carols are sang all over.

Preparations for Christmas:

Christmas is a cultural festivity that entails a lot of preparations. It is a public holiday and so people get a Christmas break to celebrate it. Preparations for Christmas start early for most people so that celebrations begin on the eve of Christmas. Preparations for Christmas involves a lot of activities.

Plans on who you are spending the Christmas together must be made before any preparations begin because you want to be considerate on their preferences and way of doing things. Shopping for Christmas is done as art of the preparations and people usually buy decorations, food and gifts mostly for children in the family and friends. Some families shop for matching Christmas outfits for everyone.

The common preparations include decorations of the place with Christmas trees, lighting. Before decorations begin, the house must be deep cleaned. The Christmas tree brings the Christmas spirit in homes because it is all glittery and shiny with all the decorations. Presents are placed under the Christmas tree in wrapped gift boxes and are not to be opened till Christmas day.

Churches and Sunday schools make their own preparations for Christmas through practicing songs and skits to be performed on Christmas day. The songs and skits are usually about the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Bible. The church is also decorated for the special event. Thorough cleaning of the churches is also done to usher in Christmas.

Travel plans are also made for families and friend who would lie to spend their Christmas holiday in a nice place. People usually spend a lot on Christmas and so saving money for these plans should be the earliest preparation among all these.

As tradition for most families across the world, turkey is the common meal. Turkey orders have to be made early to avoid missing on the traditional Christmas meal. Christmas cards are also written to friends and family to wish them a happy holiday and to show love.

What happens on Christmas Eve?

Activities done on the Christmas Eve are still preparations. Christmas dinner is prepared, the tables are set, and gifts that had not been wrapped are wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree. Families come together in a Christmas spirit and share in the spirit of Christmas and the excitement for the day that is to come.

What happens on Christmas day?

The activities on Christmas day are usually few because everything was prepared in advance. The day begins with a countdown at 11:59 pm at night whereby people shout in celebration when it gets to 12:00 midnight. Christmas carols are played on radios and televisions to mark the day. Most families start by going to church where performances and songs are done. Then later, they join their families to exchange gifts and celebrate with food and music. Happiness during Christmas is like no other.

During exchange of gifts, children believe that they are from Santa Claus. Santa Claus or Father Christmas is a figure originating from the western Christian culture who is believed to bring gifts to disciplined children during Christmas. Children tend to behave well as they anticipate gifts from Santa.

In conclusion, Christmas is basically the best time of the year for both children and adults.

Christmas is a yearly celebration marking Jesus Christ’s birth; it is observed on the 25 th of December as a cultural and religious celebration among a lot of people all over the world. Christmas is basically a short form for Christ’s mass. It is gotten from the word ‘cristmasse’ which is a Middle English word gotten from the old English word, a phrase that was first heard around 1038. Apart from Christmas, the day and holiday has also been called by some other names like midwinter, nativity and so on.

The history of Christmas is one that dates back to a very long time; the first Christmas that was celebrated was done in 336 in Rome. It played a very important role during the famed Arian controversy that took place in the 300s. During the early years of the middle age, epiphany overshadowed it. Christmas was brought back to limelight around 800 when the emperor Charlemagne received the crown on Christmas day.

During the 17 th century, the Puritans had Christmas banned because it was associated with drunkenness and different other misbehaviour. It was made a proper holiday around 1660 but was still quite disreputable. Around the early 1900s, the Oxford movement of the Anglican Communion church started and this led to the revival of Christmas. A lot of writers including Charles Dickens did their best to reinvent Christmas through emphasising it as being a period for family, gift giving, religion and social reconciliation as against the historically common revelry it was known for.

Christmas is celebrated as a key festival in a lot of countries all over the world and some of the countries are countries with a non-Christian population. In a lot of the non-Christian regions, the celebration of Christmas is largely influenced by the colonial rule like in Hong Kong, in some other regions; the celebration of Christmas is due to cultural influence of other foreign nations. There are some countries where Christmas isn’t celebrated and there is no public holiday, examples of such countries are Israel, Afghanistan, North Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Bhutan, Vietnam, Turkey, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, etc.

There are parades and religious processions in countries that are majorly catholic in the days before Christmas. In regions that are largely secular, there are also parades that feature the Santa Claus and some other seasonal characters. A very important feature of Christmas all over the world is the act of gift sharing and giving that takes place on the day of Christmas, there are a few countries that practice the act of gift giving and gift sharing on January 6 and also on Saint Nicholas Day.

There is the practice of special decoration being put up during Christmas and this practice has a very long history. In London around the 15 th century, it was the tradition for every home and church building to be decorated with items that were judged to be green and worthy of the season including ivy, holm and bays. The colours traditionally for Christmas are gold, red and green. Red is said to symbolise Jesus’ blood that he shed during the crucifixion, green stands for eternal life, and especially the tree that is evergreen and doesn’t lose the leaves on it during winter, the very first colour associated with Christmas is gold as it was one of the gifts that the magi gave Jesus and it symbolises royalty.

A special family Christmas meal is also a very traditionally important feature of Christmas celebration, and the type of food served depends on the country and varies from region to region. The United Kingdom with the countries that have been influenced by its culture and traditions have a proper meal for Christmas that includes goose, turkey or any other big bird, potatoes, gravy, bread, vegetables and cider. There are also unique desserts that are prepared during Christmas including Yule log cake, mince pies, Christmas pudding and fruit cake. It is important to note that in most eastern European countries like Poland and in the Scandinavia, the main traditional course is fish but there has been an increase in the use of richer meat like lamb.

Christmas card are greeting messages in form of illustrations that family members and friends exchanges during the Christmas period. Traditionally, Christmas greeting cards was first produced for commercial purpose in London around 1843 by a Sir Henry Cole. Christmas is probably the most beautiful time of the year with family, love and gift giving the theme of the season.

Christmas is a yearly festival which is celebrated on the birth of Jesus Christ, on December 25 by most people in the world. A few parts of Eastern Christians use the Julian system which marks it on January 7 on the Gregorian calendar, which is December 25 as indicated by their calendar. Armenian Churches have been celebrating Christmas on January 6 even before the Gregorian calendar started. Most Armenian Christians still use the Gregorian calendar and observe Christmas on January 6. In spite of all the controversies around the date, Christmas is regarded as a religious and social festival among the people all over the world. It is the major Christian festival of the year.

The Nativity accounts of Matthew and Luke are noticeable in the accounts and early Christian authors recommended different dates for the start of this festival. The first recorded Christmas festivity was in Rome in the year 336. Christmas assumed a job in the Arian debate of the fourth century. In the early Middle Ages, it was dominated by Epiphany. However, it regained its popularity after the year 800, when Charlemagne was delegated as the head on Christmas Day.

Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been received generally in the common calendars used by nations all through the world. Be that as it may, some Eastern Christian Churches observe this festival on December 25 of the more seasoned Julian timetable, which right now relates to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. This isn’t a difference over the date of Christmas all things considered, but instead, an inclination of which schedule should be used to decide the day that is December 25. In the Council of Tours of 567, the Church, with its craving to be general announced the twelve days among Christmas and Epiphany to be one bound together festal cycle.

Celebrations:

Christmas Day is associated with a number of celebrations all over the world including numerous people who are generally non-Christian. In some non-Christian regions, times of previous provincial guideline presented the festival such as Hong Kong. In others, Christian minorities or remote social impacts have driven people to celebrate this festival. Nations, for example, Japan, where Christmas is prevalent in spite of there being just a few Christians, have embraced huge numbers of the common parts of Christmas, for example, present giving, decorations, and Christmas trees.

Countries which do not celebrate It:

Countries in which Christmas is certainly not a formal festival include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates among others. However, with the changing times, even people from these countries have started to celebrate this festival.

Christmas in India:

India has a substantial population of Christians. Moreover, being a secular country, festivals of all religions are celebrated with equal charm and anxiety. Christmas is not different from festivals celebrated in India. People from all religions and faith celebrate it. Schools organise special assemblies in order to make children aware of the importance of this festival. People decorate their homes and give gifts to children.

Decorations:

The activity of decorating the trees on this day has a long history. In the fifteenth century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for each house and all the area temples to be “decked with holm, coves and ivy which at all the period of the year stood to be green”. The heart-moulded leaves of ivy were said to symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was viewed as a defence against witches. Its red berries and thistles represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the execution and the blood he shed.

The Christmas tree was first used by German Lutherans in the sixteenth century, with records demonstrating that such a tree was put in the Cathedral of Strassburg in 1539, under the administration of the Protestant Reformer, Martin Bucer. The Moravians put lit candles on those trees. When finishing the Christmas tree, numerous people put a star at the highest point of the tree symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, a reality recorded by The School Journal in 1897.

In the nineteenth century, it wound up prominent for individuals to likewise place an angel on the top of a tree. This was intended to symbolize the angels referenced in the records of the Nativity of Jesus. The Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of agnostic convention and custom surrounding the Winter Solstice, which combined the use of evergreen limbs, and an adjustment of agnostic tree worship.

Traditional Cuisine:

Depending on the regions, there are different traditional cuisines on this day. A few regions have exceptional suppers for Christmas Eve, for example, Sicily, where 12 sorts of fish are served. In the United Kingdom and nations impacted by its customs, a standard dinner incorporates turkey, goose or other expansive flying creature, sauce, potatoes, vegetables, now and again bread and juice. Extraordinary treats are likewise arranged, for example, pudding, mince pies, nutty surprise and Yule log cake

Santa Claus:

Santa Claus is one of the key parts of the celebrations of Christmas. As per the legend, Santa Claus gives gifts to good children on the eve of Christmas which is the night of the 24 th December. Children sleep early on this day hoping to get a gift from Santa Claus when they get up the next morning. They also keep cookies and milk near their beds for the Santa and a carrot for the reindeer of the Santa on which he rides as a part of the tradition. The popular poem Jingle Bells celebrates the coming of Santa to give away the gifts.

Christmas is such a festival which is celebrated by people from all religions and faith worldwide despite it being a Christian festival. It is the essence of this festival which unites the people so much. We should learn the importance of such unity from this festival and despite our religious differences; we should all celebrate the festivals together. Festivals are probably a medium which has the power to keep people united for the betterment of mankind.

Christmas , Festivals

Get FREE Work-at-Home Job Leads Delivered Weekly!

Join more than 50,000 subscribers receiving regular updates! Plus, get a FREE copy of How to Make Money Blogging!

Message from Sophia!

Like this post? Don’t forget to share it!

Here are a few recommended articles for you to read next:

• Essay on Success
• Essay on My School
• Essay on Noise Pollution
• Essay on Deforestation

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

[…] a Christmas festival. On this day, Lord Jesus Christ was born. We also known that how i celebrated christmas as a big […]

Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Billionaires

• Donald Trump
• Warren Buffett
• Email Address
• Free Stock Photos
• Keyword Research Tools
• URL Shortener Tools
• WordPress Theme

Book Summaries

• How To Win Friends
• Rich Dad Poor Dad
• The Code of the Extraordinary Mind
• The Luck Factor
• The Millionaire Fastlane
• The ONE Thing
• Think and Grow Rich
• 100 Million Dollar Business
• Business Ideas

Digital Marketing

• Mobile Addiction
• Social Media Addiction
• Computer Addiction
• Drug Addiction
• Internet Addiction
• TV Addiction
• Healthy Habits
• Morning Rituals
• Wake up Early
• Cholesterol
• Reducing Cholesterol
• Fat Loss Diet Plan
• Reducing Hair Fall
• Sleep Apnea
• Weight Loss

Internet Marketing

• Email Marketing

Law of Attraction

• Subconscious Mind
• Vision Board
• Visualization

Law of Vibration

• Professional Life

Motivational Speakers

• Bob Proctor
• Robert Kiyosaki
• Vivek Bindra
• Inner Peace

Productivity

• Not To-do List
• Project Management Software
• Negative Energies

Relationship

• Getting Back Your Ex

Self-help 21 and 14 Days Course

Self-improvement.

• Body Language
• Complainers
• Emotional Intelligence
• Personality

Social Media

• Project Management
• Anik Singal
• Baba Ramdev
• Dwayne Johnson
• Jackie Chan
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Narendra Modi
• Nikola Tesla
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Sandeep Maheshwari
• Shaqir Hussyin

Website Development

Wisdom post, worlds most.

• Expensive Cars

Our Portals: Gulf Canada USA Italy Gulf UK

Privacy Overview

share this!

April 16, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

written by researcher(s)

Space exploration: A luxury or a necessity?

by Daniel Fillion, The Conversation

"Oh, come on Daniel, space travel is so expensive, and pointless!" These were the words of my friend Max, during a Christmas party where I was discussing my thesis project: studying places on Earth where the living conditions are so extreme, they could hold lessons for future space missions.

This disdainful attitude toward space research is actually quite common.

Space exploration is currently booming. Just think of the Artemis missions, SpaceX's ambitious plans for Mars, the deployment of the James Webb telescope or the recent "race to the moon."

A number of large-scale projects are getting the green light now, mainly from NASA, including the Artemis II mission that will carry four astronauts to the moon, which will have Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard . This will be a first since 1972. Incredibly, it's been 50 years since the last human mission to Earth's natural satellite.

Although many people find space exploration inspiring, others are skeptical and even angered by what they see as an unjustifiable waste of resources and money on an activity that only spreads pollution to another place. This sums up the feelings of my friend Max.

In this article, I will try to prove him wrong.

Humans are explorers first

My great curiosity has led me to travel to extreme places so I can study them . But I am not the only one with this desire to explore.

In my Grade 9 history class, my teacher stood on top of her desk and, with a grave and serious tone, went on to act out Jacques Cartier's arrival in North America in her own, colorful style. A few years earlier, I had learned about how the first humans left their caves to climb mountains. One hundred and thirty years ago, humans sailed further and further south until they saw the glacial landscapes of Antarctica for the first time . At the same time, humans were attempting to dominate the skies and aiming for the beyond with planes and rockets—which is how we got to the moon.

What is the common denominator in our history? Exploration, of course.

Human nature is characterized by a propensity to travel, to look further and to discover. We are all curious by nature. If we stop wanting to explore, we stop being human.

The Earth has rings

So, my friend Max, let me invite you outside. It's a beautiful, starry night with no moon. It's a bit cold, but at least the atmosphere isn't too humid, which makes the sky more transparent. We can see stars flickering. Some are blue, others are red. And the more our eyes adapt, the more the sky reveals its secrets.

Suddenly, something else stands out. It's another light, but it's not flashing, and it's moving quite quickly. A shooting star? No, the atmosphere would have burned it up in a few seconds .

It's a satellite, one of thousands that orbit the Earth like rings. These satellites are a direct consequence of space exploration. We would be living in a completely different world without them.

Indeed, not an hour goes by in our lives when we don't use a satellite .

On the one hand, you would likely have gotten lost on your way here, Max, because there would have been no GPS to show you which exit to take. And secondly, I wouldn't have been able to help you find your way because there would be no wifi. We can push our thinking even further; agriculture, environmental monitoring, communications, the weather, even banks, all of these depend on satellites.

But how does this work? You have to understand that these satellites move so quickly they actually circle the Earth several times a day. Combined with a very large workforce, they provide a complete view of the globe. From the middle of the oceans to the highest mountains and the almost inaccessible poles, we have eyes everywhere. By drawing on this vast quantity of observations, we obtain data on changes to the earth's surface, the spread of forest fires, the movement of winds, the melting of ice and many other things, while enabling global communication and credit card transactions .

Space exploration was the trigger that enabled us to develop and operate these technologies. And it doesn't stop there.

Two birds, one stone

The practice of medicine in remote areas also benefits from space exploration. It's not easy for communities in remote areas to access health care, especially since hospitals don't always have the sophisticated equipment they need.

If you think about it, when astronauts explore space, they become a small population in a very, very remote region. It's true. What happens if someone has a really bad stomach ache? Or breaks an arm? They don't have time to come back home for treatment, so we have to react, and quickly.

Scientific research in telemedicine has developed to address this important issue, producing a number of innovative technologies. And if these are useful for astronauts, why not use them for rural populations, too?

A few years ago, three Québec researchers from different universities were working on a tiny probe that could rapidly analyze and diagnose a blood sample .

Although some prototypes are not yet on the market, others are already in widespread use, such as the ultrasound scanner designed by NASA . This scanner takes precise photos of organs and bones that can be transmitted to a doctor, who will then have crucial information on hand to recommend treatments.

In a way, space exploration provides us with opportunities to respond to urgent needs on Earth. So, Max, are you beginning to see the need for it?

Another perspective

Finally, I have to admit that I find it rather encouraging to see Russians, Americans, Japanese, Canadians and Europeans living together on the Space Station. Not so long ago, some of these countries were attacking each other with nuclear bombs. In space, no such borders exist.

Exploration brings people together. It opens our eyes to new perspectives. It shows us that we're all in the same boat together. That's pretty important, don't you think, Max?

Our planet is magnificent and unique, an oasis of impossible life. But it is fragile. We need to protect it. That's why exploring beyond the Earth should not be considered a luxury; it's an investment in our shared humanity.

So, Max, when Jeremy Hansen and his crew take off in 2025, will you be there to watch them?

Provided by The Conversation

Explore further

Feedback to editors

Uncovering the prolonged cooling events of the Holocene

29 minutes ago

Satellite data reveal electromagnetic anomalies up to 19 days before 2023 Turkey earthquake

15 hours ago

Researchers leverage inkjet printing to make a portable multispectral 3D camera

16 hours ago

Nanowires create elite warriors to enhance T cell therapy

Scientists adapt astronomy method to unblur microscopy images

Coming in hot: NASA's Chandra checks habitability of exoplanets

Pacific coast gray whales have gotten 13% shorter in the past 20–30 years, study finds

17 hours ago

Study confirms the rotation of Earth's inner core has slowed

Research finds dolphins with elevated mercury levels in Florida and Georgia

Team develops predictive tool for designing complex metal alloys that can withstand extreme environments

18 hours ago

Relevant PhysicsForums posts

How 'messy' are fusion reaction chains in stars.

54 minutes ago

Some photos of the Moon

7 hours ago

A question regarding Heliocentric Latitude

22 hours ago

Very last pulse from a neutron star

Should luminosity distance be 0 at z=0.

Jun 11, 2024

Solar Activity and Space Weather Update thread

More from Astronomy and Astrophysics

Related Stories

Through astronaut eyes, virtual reality propels gateway forward

Apr 10, 2024

What delays to the Artemis II and III missions mean for Canada

Jan 15, 2024

To the moon and back: NASA's Artemis II crew rehearses splashdown

Feb 29, 2024

NASA astronauts test SpaceX elevator concept for Artemis lunar lander

Dec 21, 2023

Artemis launch brings us closer to space exploration goals

Aug 26, 2022

NASA is looking for commercial Mars missions. Do people still want to go to Mars?

Feb 5, 2024

Recommended for you

Would astronauts' kidneys survive a roundtrip to Mars?

Human bodies mostly recover from space, tourist mission shows

Short commercial space flights may not have big impact on health

Researchers explore how the immune system goes awry during space travel and the implications for human aging on Earth

New method could allow multi-robot teams to autonomously and reliably explore other planets

Jun 9, 2024

Virgin Galactic completes final spaceflight before two-year pause

Let us know if there is a problem with our content.

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter