Legend has it that when Charles Dickens died in 1870 a young girl was heard to say, "Dickens dead? Then will Father Christmas die too?"At the time of its publication in 1843, A Christmas Carol, and its author along with it, was credited with reviving Christmas in Victorian England and beyond. The celebration of Christmas had diminished due partly to industrialization and partly to the conservative Christian view that the holiday had become an excuse to overindulge in drinking. In the city, factories remained in operation and most people worked on Christmas as they would any other day.
A Christmas Carol persuaded Dickens' generation, and every one since, to see Christmas as a time for gathering with family and friends and for generosity to the poor.
What are your favorite family Christmas traditions? Do your traditions have any Dickens in them?
Food (and feasting with your family) was a big part of the "tradition" Dickens is credited with reviving. I'm a big fan of both family AND food. And the combination of the two is irresistible. There isn't anything unique about this sentiment... but that doesn't make me love it any less.
ReplyDeleteWell, after many years of all of the women spending hours cooking and baking and then spending even more HOURS eating and the nibbling and nibbling and nibbling we decided that our family genes were not conducive to this behavior we took up the tradition of as soon as the feast was over we would put it all away and go for a fun vigorous walk where we could talk just the same as over the food. It has been such a fun thing we all look forward to.... as do our blood sugar levels!
ReplyDeleteBut I agree, family and food..... a great combo!