There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be

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Charles Dickens

“Christmas time! That man must be a misanthrope indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not roused—in whose mind some pleasant associations are not awakened—by the recurrence of Christmas. There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be; that each succeeding Christmas has found some cherished hope, or happy prospect, of the year before, dimmed or passed away; that the present only serves to remind them of reduced circumstances and straitened incomes—of the feasts they once bestowed on hollow friends, and of the cold looks that meet them now, in adversity and misfortune. Never heed such dismal reminiscences. There are few men who have lived long enough in the world who cannot call up such thoughts any day of the year. Then do not select the merriest of the three hundred and sixty-five for your doleful recollections, but draw your chair nearer the blazing fire—fill the glass and send round the song—and if your room be smaller than it was a dozen years ago, or if your glass be filled with reeking punch, instead of sparkling wine, put a good face on the matter, and empty it offhand, and fill another, and troll off the old ditty you used to sing, and thank God it’s no worse.”

— Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz

References and Credits:

  • Misanthrope (n), a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society. Origin mid 16th cent.: from Greek misanthrōpos, from misein ‘to hate’ + anthrōpos ‘man.’
  • Sketches by Boz is a collection of short pieces published by Charles Dickens in 1836 with illustrations by George Cruikshank. (Wiki)
  • Portrait of Charles Dickens from the Telegraph.  He was photographed at the age of 49 by the London portrait photographer George Herbert Watkins. Watkins took several portraits of Dickens between 1858 and 1861 and they have helped define the enduring image of Dickens as a melancholy, care-worn personality.
  • Dickens quote via fables-of-the-reconstruction. Thank you.

34 thoughts on “There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be”

  3. Nicely drafted.

    Christmas is not a time nor a season,
    but a state of mind.
    To cherish peace and goodwill,
    to be plenteous in mercy,
    is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

  4. Nicely drafted.

    Christmas is not a time nor a season,
    but a state of mind.
    To cherish peace and goodwill,
    to be plenteous in mercy,
    is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

  13. “Christmas is coming and joy fills the air
    For carols to sing and gifts to prepare
    And the blessings of children who mirror delight
    With wide-eye sweet innocence like halos of light.”
    This is the first verse of a poem I wrote in 1988. I still love the reference to children and their innocence, and I think that after the message of the gift of Christmas (which is my post for this year) I cherish the reaction of children to stories and lights more than any of the other of its multi assets. I hope yours was special with the “blessing of children” and God’s Spirit hovering over you.

      1. I haven’t posted it yet, but here it is.

        Christmas
        Christmas is coming and joy fills the air
        For carols to sing and gifts to prepare
        And the blessing of children who mirror delight
        With wide-eyed sweet innocence like halos of light.

        Stockings hung neatly hint of Santa’s old chore
        While mistletoe sprigs dip low ‘ore the door
        And the tree twinkles brightly promising cheer
        Not only for Christmas but all through the year.

        Friends drop In often to share with us too
        Warm cookies, hot cider and hugs not a few
        And the fire crackles warmly inviting us near
        To share in the love that holds us all year.
        MHA – 1988

  16. This year it was just father and me. But we took joy in knowing that the money we gave to mt children and grandchildren was so dearly needed and appreciated. This was the second Christmas without mother and we placed three roses(Father, Son, Holy Ghost) in the little stream where we cast her ashes. It gave a very spiritual luster to the day.

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