The festive season has long been a source of inspiration for authors. It provides a backdrop for tales of joy, wonder, and transformation. These can range from traditional Christmas celebrations to fantastical winter festivals. Literature offers many festive experiences to read this season.
Traditional Christmas Cheer
One of the most iconic depictions of Christmas in literature is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This timeless tale follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. He is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. This leads to a profound transformation. Dickens writes a vivid portrayal of Victorian Christmas traditions. These include festive feasts, carol singing, and charitable giving. Another Victorian Christmas tradition is ghost stories. Storytelling was a popular tradition. Ghost stories, with their chilling tales of the supernatural, provided a thrilling contrast to the cosy warmth of the hearth.
A Christmas Carol has thrilled readers for generations. Scrooge's epiphany, captured in his heartfelt declaration, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me,” evokes the spirit of redemption. It also shows the power of the festive season to inspire change.
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women offers a heartwarming portrayal of a traditional Christmas celebration. The March sisters, with their limited means, find joy in simple pleasures. These include sharing presents, reading stories, and singing carols. Alcott's novel captures the essence of family and friendship. This is emphasised during the holidays. The passage, “Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was crammed so full of goodies,” conveys a sense of childhood wonder. The reader experiences Jo’s anticipation. It’s a beautiful reminder of the magic of Christmas morning.
Fantasy and Alternative Celebrations
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series introduces readers to the wizarding world's version of Christmas. The Great Hall at Hogwarts is transformed into a winter wonderland. It is complete with twinkling lights and a towering Christmas tree. The description of the Christmas feast in The Philosopher's Stone paints a vivid picture of a magical celebration.
“Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table... Harry pulled a wizard cracker with Fred and it didn't just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from the inside exploded a rear admiral's hat and several live, white mice.”
Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series features "Yulemas”. This is a winter solstice celebration with pagan roots. This holiday is marked by bonfires, temple visits, feasting, and gift-giving. Yulemas is described as “a celebration to celebrate the darkness that gave birth to night”. This highlights the duality of light and dark. Pagan festivals are about the cyclical nature of life.
C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe transports readers to the magical world of Narnia. Here, Christmas is celebrated as a time of joy and renewal. It is marked by the return of Aslan at the end. This fantastical reimagining of Christmas highlights the themes of hope, sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil. In Narnia, it’s always Winter, but never Christmas. This emphasises the coldness of the White Witch’s rule. However, the arrival of Father Christmas heralds the dawn of a new era. His declaration, “I've come at last. She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch's magic is weakening,” fills the reader with hope and anticipation.
Honourable mentions
Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time offers a heartwarming portrayal of a family Christmas. It is complete with eccentric neighbours and a focus on love and understanding. Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy takes a humourous approach to the holiday season. It explores the various interpretations of Earth's traditions by alien cultures.
The festive season is a popular theme in many books. It offers opportunities for authors to explore themes of love, family, hope, and renewal. Whether it portrays the Christian holiday or similar Winter-time festivals in other cultures, the portrayal of festivities adds a touch of cosiness. It also has the power to bring characters together who would not usually get along, which adds further interest to their dynamic.
