“Mercy! Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me? Why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?”

On a wintry evening in 1852 a rather special event took place at Birmingham Town Hall. Charles Dickens gave the first ever public performance of “A Christmas Carol”.

Dickens imagined a series of ghosts haunting a selfish old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, one Christmas Eve. The ghosts showed Scrooge the error of his ways, that his wealth meant very little unless used for the benefit of others.

By the end of the story Scrooge had heeded the warnings and changed his ways. From now on he would endeavour to help his fellow man – starting, of course, on Christmas Day.

Since Dickens gave the first public reading, his “ghostly little book” has become an integral part of Christmas. In fact the book played a major part in helping to revive the Christmas tradition in Victorian times.

It seems strange to us now but after the English Civil War the celebration of Christmas nearly died out. (Cromwell and his Puritans didn’t like Christmas at all, he really was the Grinch).

The publication (to great popular acclaim) of “A Christmas Carol” seemed to awaken some distant folk memory in Europe and America. Like all great Christian festivals there are strong elements of Paganism in the Christmas tradition. Dickens gave us a good example of this in the Ghost of Christmas Present – an early version of the modern Santa Claus.

The Victorians began to re – invent the Christmas celebration with decorated trees (courtesy of Prince Albert), cards, gifts, parties and as much food and drink as they could afford.

Along with the festive theme, “A Christmas Carol” also, of course, has some very interesting ghosts that pop up throughout the story.

When Scrooge returns to his bare, dismal house he encounters his first ghost – that of his old business partner Jacob Marley. In life, Marley was as mean spirited as Scrooge. In death he is forced to walk the earth forever, bound in chains and made to witness endless suffering.

Marley warns Scrooge that he will meet three Christmas spirits and that, unless he takes note of them, he can look forward to a terrible afterlife.

The first spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Past who shows Scrooge some of the people and events that shaped his life. Lonely schooldays and a beloved sister. A kindly employer and a failed romance. Scrooge begins to get upset.

The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present, a “jolly giant”. This ghost takes Scrooge around London on that particular Christmas morn. He shows Scrooge the impoverished, but happy, family of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. However, their happiness would not last long because their sickly boy, Tiny Tim, is dying. Despite this, Bob Cratchit says a toast for his mean old boss.

The ghost also shows Scrooge two destitute children. If they are not helped, their suffering can only spread.

Scrooge gets even more upset, but the final spirit is by far the scariest. This is the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come and Dickens made him into the image of the Grim Reaper. Scrooge sees his own death, unmourned and unloved. In fact some people are very happy to hear of his passing, they steal his money and make off with his possessions. He also sees the Cratchit family grieving for their lost son Tiny Tim.

Scrooge is distraught but realises he has the power to change things for the better. On Christmas day he sends a massive turkey to the Cratchits and gets medicine for Tiny Tim (who did not die!).

He even surprises his own long suffering family by attending their Christmas party and having a jolly good time.

Ebenezer Scrooge became a kindly old uncle to all those who knew him, never once begrudging a penny for charity or a helping hand to those in need.

There are now hundreds of different versions and adaptations of “A Christmas Carol”. The story has been turned into films, plays, musicals and cartoons. Even the Muppets did a wonderfully mad version (Jacob Marley had a brother called Robert).

So when the going gets tough, and you just can’t face another visit to Tescos or the Bull Ring, think of uncle Ebenezer and Tiny Tim. Think of Christmas trees and brightly wrapped presents. Think of succulent turkey and cranberry sauce, mince pies and tons of chocolate. Think of that warm drunken glow while watching Corrie. Think of Dean, Bing, Noddy and the great Jona Lewie. Think of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street”. Think of partridges in pear trees and Pogues in drunk tanks.

Think of the Nativity.

Bah Humbug? No, No, No (as Amy Winehouse might say).

Happy Christmas? Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (as the Beatles might say).

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with peace, love and light.