To many people the answer would probably be the actual Christmas story itself. Even though it’s heard every year in Christian countries, and performed in schools as a nativity play, people never seem to get tired of it; and in fact you don’t have to be a Christian or a believer in any religion to enjoy this story, with the drama of the baby being born in a stable because there was no room for his parents at the inn, and the three wise men and the shepherds making their way to Bethlehem guided by a star.
Christmas stories tend to use certain elements of the traditional Christmas legend, and that’s what makes them Christmas stories. The main elements of the original story – what many would call the true meaning of Christmas – are to do with giving, with love, with rejoicing in life, especially new life, and with the idea of people starting new lives or realising what’s important to them. And these elements of the Christmas story are moving and important to people of all kinds of faiths and none.
Looking at it in this way, it’s easy to understand why one (relatively) modern Christmas story has come to sum up the whole meaning of Christmas for millions of people, and is as much a part of many people’s ideas of Christmas as the nativity story itself. This story is A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1843. It’s the story of an old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who has cut himself off from all human contact and lives only for money. He has even refused an invitation to Christmas dinner from his kind nephew. The only person he sees is his clerk, Bob Cratchit, whom he overworks and underpays even though Bob is very poor and his son, Tiny Tim, is seriously ill.
The night before one Christmas, Scrooge in his sleep is visited by spirits including the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge to give up his mean, miserable way of life. He also sees the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come. The first of these reminds him of his childhood and youth; of the days when, though always lonely, he still had feelings and friends, and could even fall in love. The second shows him Christmas as it is now – with people happily preparing for a celebration. Scrooge is shown what his relatives think of him, and also sees the Cratchit family having a poor but happy family party. To his shame, Bob Cratchit insists on speaking kindly of his stingy employer. He is then shown his future if he doesn’t change his ways; Tiny Tim will die because his family can’t afford medical attention for him. And Scrooge himself will die, with no-one to mourn him and his memory held in contempt by everyone who knew him.
On Christmas morning Scrooge wakes up a changed man. He is full of joy at discovering that these ‘ghosts’ were only visions and things don’t have to be like that. He immediately orders a big turkey and sends it to the Cratchit family, and rushes off to spend Christmas Day with his nephew’s family as they wanted him to do. For the rest of his days Scrooge is famous for his kind heart and charitable deeds (these include helping the Cratchits so that Tiny Tim’s life is saved) and it is always said of him that he understands how to celebrate Christmas better than anyone.
For many people, this story, about human love, generosity and second chances, is the perfect Christmas story. You can read it online here.