Christmas

Christmas!! It is pleasing to hear when we know that it’s near. Specially to those students like me because we knew that it’s going be a long time of rest in our studies and we can do other things that we can’t during school days and also to the kids and small children because the first thing that comes to their mind when they hear Christmas are gifts and new toys.

It is not new to us Filipinos already the yearly preparation and celebration of this very special day for Christians because it is already in our tradition and culture as Filipino. This is one of the traditions inherited to us by our ancestors that until now we still give significance.

Every Christmas, one of the traditions of our friend Christians is they prepare a lot of food for their visitors, friends and family, giving of gifts and of course having a fireworks display to show their joy. That is why many people consider Christmas as the time for joy, sharing and love. I would like to argue and to prove that the two-week Christmas vacation really is a boon or shall we say a blessings to us Filipinos because of these following reasons:

• Since majority of people here in our country are Christians, and Christian people always take Christmas as a blessing to them because it is when Christ was born and save them from their sins, they were able and have an enough time to rejoice and give thanks and express gratitude to their savior. According to the Pew Research Center, the 2000 Philippine census found that 5.1% of the population is Muslim. While the majority of the population are Roman Catholic, some ethnic groups are Protestant, non-religious, Buddhist, Animist and Hindus.
• Christmas vacation also gives us time to be reunited with our love ones. It is much pleased to celebrate Christmas with our friends, relatives and especially our family. As we observe, there are so many people travelling during Christmas season compared to other seasons of the year. Bus terminal, airports, pier and other transportation establishments are overcrowded with people. And these people have the same destination, to go back home to spend their Christmas vacation with their family and friends.
• Employees receives bonus from their employment. Christmas bonus is a benefit that is not government mandated, but is usually given to employees. This is given in December, on top of the 13th month pay. This is considered as the company’s Christmas gift to their employees.
• Small and big establishments are tend to have a higher rate of income during Yuletide season, especially when Christmas Eve is approaching. The rate of demand of goods is higher and also prices of goods are getting higher and higher as Christmas day becomes nearer and nearer. As we all know, according to the law of demand, when the rate of demand is high, the prices also become high and consecutively income also gets higher.
• There is also an increase of rate of tourist in our country and that means more jobs to our people. As we notice during Christmas, we can see a lot of foreigners compared to ordinary days of the year. It is because many foreigners prefer to spend Christmas here in our country because of our nature and our tourist destinations. These tourists can be an investor here in our country and it only means that more jobs will be accessible.
• People can have an another source of income during these days. People can sell products that are in demand all through this season such as fireworks and food that we usually prepare like ham keso de bola. We can see throughout this season a lot of vendor selling products that are we usually use and prepare for Christmas. Based on my arguments I strongly believe that the two-week Christmas vacation really is a boon to Filipinos like me.

In the novel A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is a man who is portrayed as very cold hearted, “the cold within him froze his features”. He always kept attention to himself and never cared about anyone else. The whole town knew him as a bad man, even “the blindmen’s dogs knew him… and would tug their owners into corners away from him”. Jacob Marley was his partner in life, and even though their relationship was for business only, he was Scrooge’s only friend. In regret from his own life, Marley and the Three Ghosts of Christmas change Scrooge’s attitude towards life.

Jacob Marley was much like Scrooge in his life. He also was cold hearted and only cared about money. In his death, he learnt that it was too late for him to change, but he wanted to give Scrooge the opportunity to become a better person. Marley came to Scrooge to warn him about how he regretted not helping people or being kind. Marley now wanted to help people in life, but he wore “the chain (he) forged in life”. Marley’s visit startled Scrooge, but he still brushed off the warning and thought that Marley was a dream.

Jacob Marley regrets not doing all the things he could have in life, but Scrooge is yet to realise why he needs to change. The first ghost that is sent by Marley is the ghost of Christmas past. The ghost takes Scrooge back in time to where Scrooge was born and raised. At the sight of the village, Scrooge softens and is excited for a moment before returning to his old personality. A change is shown at this point because Scrooge reflects on the good past life he had. Scrooge is shown a scene from when he was a boy, left alone at Christmas whilst everyone else was celebrating.

It shows how Scrooge is imagining friends because he is so lonely. After seeing himself Scrooge he regrets not paying attention to the people he’s seen celebrating Christmas. “There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night, I would have liked to have given him something, that’s all”. This shows that even though Scrooge hasn’t realized that he is changing, he is starting to become more aware of the things he’s done wrong, and of the community. Scrooge is then shown the time when he was an apprentice, under the employment of Mr. Fezziwig.

Fezziwig was a jolly old man, who always respected his workers and cared for them, unlike Scrooge. This scene gives Scrooge the lesson to be kinder to his apprentice Bob Cratchit. The ghost shows Scrooge the annual Christmas parties that Fezziwig held, where rooms were filled with laughter and joy, reminding Scrooge that he had a fun and joyous life in the past. “The happiness (he) gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune. ” The ghost of Christmas Past changes Scrooge by making him aware of his past life, and the kindness he once showed.

Scrooge is visited by a second spirit, the ghost of Christmas present. The spirit transports Scrooge around the city, showing him scenes of festivity and also deprivation that were happening as they watched. He shows Scrooge the Cratchit household and how happy they are despite being poor, for the second time Scrooge realises how he has abused his power as an employer. Tiny Tim is introduced, he is one of Bob Cratchit’s younger children. Tiny Tim walks with a crutch as he has an incurable illness. The spirit shares a vision of Tiny Tim’s crutch, carefully preserved by the fireplace.

Scrooge asks if Tim will die. The Ghost first states that “If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die”. Scrooge reflects back to his past unkind comments towards two charitable solicitors against him. Scrooge suggests “had better do it, and decrease the surplus population” (about the poor children of London), Scrooge is disgusted at his own words and is concerned for Tiny Tim and his family. Bob Cratchit and his family all gather round and make a toast to scrooge, even though they know he is disrespectful and “the ogre of the family”, they still thank Scrooge.

The guests of Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, also toast to Scrooge despite his cruelty. The ghost of Christmas Present, changes Scrooge by making him feel obliged to help the poor of London, and the ghost makes him aware of what people think of him. The last and the most fearsome of the phantoms visit Scrooge, the ghost of Christmas yet to come. He takes Scrooge to the future to show Scrooge what happens after Scrooge’s death. People question what happened to the deceased Scrooge, but most of the people yawn and don’t have any interest in what happened. They are interested in his money and possessions.

He was “alone by himself. ” This shows that when Scrooge dies he will not be missed and people will not have a care or interest. Three wealthy men remark that his funeral will be cheap,” if anyone comes at all”. He is taken to his house where a poor family is stealing belongings, and an unmasked figure lies on the bed. The ghost starts unmasking the figure but Scrooge tells him to stop, as he fears the figure is him. The ghost takes him to the graveyard where his “neglected grave” lay. With a connection to death, Scrooge is taken to the Cratchit’s home where the atmosphere is sad and depressing.

The family is all upset over the passing of Tiny Tim. Scrooge wishes he was able to help Bob Cratchit more by raising his money to provide the right treatment for Tiny Tim. Scrooge vows to change and help people for the better. The three ghosts and Jacob Marley, change Scrooge for the better. Their visits made Scrooge aware of his wrong-doing. They showed him what others were like in good spirits, and what would happen in the future if he didn’t change. Scrooge realized how he could change and “he was better than his word”. The ghosts made Scrooge a better person.

Christmas is a Christian festival. Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian faith, was born on 25 December. Hence the day is observed as the ‘Christmas Day’ in order to commemorate Christ’s birth. On the day, the Christians dress themselves colourfully with a gay spirit. They wish ‘Merry Christmas’ to their friends and relatives. They visit one another’s house in order to exchange good wishes. The Christians decorate their houses on the occasion with the Christmas Tree which is an evergreen (artificial) tree beautified with small electric bulbs and zari laces or other tiny pieces of decoration like dazzling paper stars, halls etc. hat add a typical festive mood to the occasion. They prepare Christmas pudding rich dark plum cakes which are eaten at Christmas. The Christians all over the world enthusiastically celebrate the Christmas festival. It is a great day also for the children, who sing the carol, which is a Christmas hymn in chorus in memory of Christ’s birth. They fervently look for Santa Claus or the Father Christmas who is supposed to appear to distribute attractive gifts to the children on the day.

Santa Claus dress­es himself in red and white, wears white and long false beard, and carry a bag full of presents for the children. The shops, hotels, churches, schools, colleges-all are decorated with various types of coloured paper flowers or other designs, balloons and lamps on the Christmas day. The festival is now-a-days found to be enjoyed and celebrated also by other communities not as a religious belief, but as a festive occasion.

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol illustrates many themes of the Victorian era. Poverty, charity and greed are major themes of this work. This essay highlights examples of these themes as portrayed by Dickens.

Poverty was a striking characteristic of Victorian England, especially noticeable in the cities.  The population grew exponentially during the nineteenth century so it is a very practical suggestion offered by the Ghost of Christmas Present when he observes of Tiny Tim, “If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”(Dickens).

As a result of overpopulation, there was huge pressure on housing which in turn led to poor sanitary conditions and rampant destitution. ‘The ways were foul and narrow, the shops and houses wretched; the people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt” (Dickens).

Children from lower class families suffered hugely as a result of poverty during this era.

Families sometimes had to turn their children out because they couldn’t afford to keep them. In Stave Two, Scrooge’s sister Fan says, “Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that

I was not afraid to ask him once more if you might come home and he said yes you should” (Dickens). Children all too often, were the open faces of poverty during this era. At the end of Stave Three, the Ghost of Christmas Future shows Scrooge his legacy as a result of his greed i.e. two very destitute children. “The boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want” (Dickens).

With huge poverty, came the birth of social conscience amongst the middle and upper classes. Many charities that exist today have roots in the Victorian era. Scrooge gets a sudden attack of charity after seeing himself alone as a child.

He says, “There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something, that’s all” (Dickens). Philanthropy also, was a growing practice and to die without leaving money to the less fortunate especially during such times of poverty, was almost unthinkable. “What has he done with his money?” asked a red-faced gentleman. “I haven’t heard”, said the man, “left it to his company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to me. That’s all I know” (Dickens).

Christmas time was the perfect opportunity to illustrate the charitable obligation of the rich to the poor.  Christmas time stressed traditional values of neighborliness, charity and good will.  Accordingly, Scrooge buys the largest turkey he can find for the Cratchits in order to change the course of the future.

In Stave Two, the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge a scene from Mr Fezziwig’s Ball in order to illustrate that happiness and cheer can be given to people without costing a fortune. Scrooge concludes, “The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune” (Dickens).

Whilst a lot of charity and philanthropy no doubt resulted from an honest desire to ease the suffering of the poor, guilt also played its part. Many assuaged their guilt by giving to charity but they also didn’t want to waste charity on the undeserving. If we were giving Scrooge the benefit of the doubt, perhaps this is why he chose not to give his money away. “No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle” (Dickens).

The opposite of charity is greed. The Ghost of Christmas Present says, “There is nothing on which it is as hard as poverty, and there is nothing on it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth” (Dickens). Like Scrooge, if one dedicated his life only to the accumulation of wealth, he was likely to pay for it in death. “It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral” said the businessman, “for upon my life I don’t know of anybody to go to it!”(Dickens)

Victorian society norms dictated that it was literally unthinkable to be greedy. In Stave One, Scrooge is visited by men asking for donations. “What shall I put you down for?” asks the man. Scrooge replies, “Nothing!” The man misunderstands Scrooge, “You wish to be anonymous?” The church played an important role in imparting the virtues of charity and the consequences of greed. The Ghost of Christmas Present says to Scrooge, “It may be that in the sight of heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child” (Dickens).