Hi there listener, welcome back to English with Ally! I'm Ally.
Today, we’re going back in time—to Victorian England—to understand why Charles Dickens has been called “the man who invented Christmas.” Sounds dramatic, right? And while that is an exaggeration, Dickens did shape the way we celebrate Christmas today.
Some vocabulary to listen out for:
Factories - big buildings where many people worked
To be in full swing - to be in progress
Cramped - too small
Poverty - the state of not having any money
Household - connected to the house
To dip - to go down
To boost - to improve
Miser - a person who is not generous
Imagine London in 1840: smoky streets, factories everywhere, horse-drawn carriages and lots of unpleasant smells. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Britain was rich in industry, but life for ordinary people? Hard. Many families lived in cramped housing, children worked long hours and poverty was everywhere.
Christmas back then wasn’t the big holiday we know today. It was mostly a quiet, religious day—maybe a church visit and a simple meal. No big family gatherings, no festive decorations and definitely no Christmas cards or ugly jumpers yet!
And here enters our writer. By 1843, Dickens was already a famous author—his early novels had made him a household name. But his popularity was starting to dip, and he was under financial pressure. He needed a hit and he needed it quickly!
So he started to think about a new book. He started writing A Christmas Carol in October and by mid-December it was finished! And wow—what an impact! In just a few days, the first edition was sold out. It was an instant success with readers and critics. It didn’t just boost his career—it changed Victorian culture.
Why? Because Dickens gave Christmas heart and meaning. The story wasn’t just about one man—it was about society. He wanted people to think about generosity, kindness and community. Through his main character's transformation—from a miser to a generous man—Dickens showed that Christmas should be a time for compassion, joy and hope.
And here’s the amazing part: Dickens helped revive old traditions like carol singing and he popularized new ones—family dinners, charity and ugly jumpers - eh no! - but definitely festive cheer! Even the phrase “Merry Christmas” became common thanks to his book!
So, why do some people say Dickens “invented Christmas”? Because he turned it from a quiet day into a joyful season of family, generosity and celebration—the Christmas we know today. And he saved his own career in the process!
Tomorrow, I’ll share more about the book A Christmas Carol so if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to look out for it.
Is there a writer that you think captures the spirit of Christmas or your favourite celebration? Let me know at helloenglishwithAlly[at]gmail.com.
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