BAH! Humbug!

"Bah," said Scrooge, "Humbug!"

"Christmas a humbug, uncle!" said Scrooge's nephew. "You don't mean that, I am sure?"

"I do," said Scrooge. "Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? what reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough.”

I think we all remember this particular part of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Whether you enjoy the original from 1938 (starring Gene Lockhart and Reginald Owen) or the 1951 remake (starring Alastair Sim) or the 1984 television version (starring George C Scott - which is my favorite), or finally Disney's version in 2009 (starring the voice talents of Jim Carrey), this particular Christmas story is one everyone has heard, everyone can relate to, and some even refer to themselves as Scrooge around this time of year. 

Have you ever really asked yourself why Ebenezer Scrooge disliked Christmas so much? Most people think Scrooge (or to be Scrooge-like) is all about the money. They think that Scrooge distance people due to his insane love of money. This is not true. When we dig deeper, we realize that.

As a boy, Scrooge was abandoned by his father, who blamed him for the death of his mother (she died giving birth to Ebenezer). At a young age, because his father couldn't stand to have him around for the painful reminders he brought, Ebenezer was sent to an all boy's school. During the Christmas season, while the other children went home to be with family, young Ebenezer was left on his own at school. As he got older he began to crave money, and valued only that. Love was only important if it made financial sense, which in turn cost him his only true love. He even began to look down on "old-Fessiwig" who loved Christmas and celebrated it with all the enthusiasm of a child. Scrooge thought Fessiwig was foolish. He became increasingly consumed with money, and Christmas. The ultimate symbol of "giving" and love, was nothing but foolish time that caused poor people to be happy and grateful for what they had (Ebenezer thought this was stupid because in his mind they had nothing). Christmas became the enemy of everything he thought had any real importance (making money, saving money, greed).

So why do some people in this day and age still feel the need to refer to themselves as Scrooge, or to act like a Scrooge when Christmas rolls around? Some become a Scrooge because they don't HAVE a family. Maybe they are estranged or just too far away to be together. Then there are those people who lost their family due to divorce or death, leaving the holiday to only be a painful reminder of happier times. Maybe they have their own 'Ghosts of Christmas Past' and wish to escape that sadness and loss. Facing the holidays without someone you love can put a painful tug in the stomach and tears in the eyes.

The financial strain of our pitiful economy at this time of year might definitely create many variations of Scrooge during this holiday season. Perhaps Scrooge became tired of all the forced happiness and relentless cheer that accompanies the holiday season and finds it to be insanely commercialized and materialistic, filled with annoying relatives and stress. Maybe even YOU have had your own Scrooge moments when you felt that way.

In the end, Ebenezer is reminded that the true gifts in life, are gifts that money had nothing to do with: time spent with family or those we refer to as family, loving and being loved (remember how hard his nephew Fred tried to show Ebenezer how loved and wanted he was?). 

Until tomorrow, my friends, perhaps you can find a way to give someone in your life who is a little like Ebenezer Scrooge at this time of year some holiday cheer. Share a smile with someone who does not feel the festive spirit as others do? Maybe invite them to go for a ride looking at all the pretty decorations around and perhaps, in turn, you could bring a smile to their faces.

Think Thankfully!!!