From movies to television to opera and ballet, A Christmas Carol is a story for the young, the old and everybody in between. The novella by Charles Dickens, published in 1843, met with instant success and critical acclaim and has never been out of print. Dickens completed writing the book in just 6 weeks and it hit the stores just before Christmas in 1843. The first 6,000 copies sold out by Christmas Eve and by May the following year, the 7th edition had sold out as well. The popularity of this classic Christmas tale has not slowed down since its inception, with countless adaptations in film, stage and many other media.

The book was written and published at a time when Britain was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced. Dickens' sources for the tale are many and varied but they mainly stemmed from the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and the Christmas stories of Washington Irving. A Christmas Carol has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and sombreness.

The popularity of A Christmas Carol meant that it was adapted for the stage almost immediately. Three productions opened on February 5, 1844 with one by Edward Stirling that was sanctioned by Dickens himself. It ran for more than forty nights. By the end of that month (February in 1844), eight rival theatrical productions were playing in London. Stirling's adaptation played in New York City's Park Theater during the Christmas season of 1844 and was revived again in London that same year.

The tale, of course, begins on Christmas Eve seven years after the death of Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge is the surviving partner of 'Scrooge and Marley', a business that places profit above all else. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is his usual miserable self, chastising his sole employee, Bob Cratchit, for wanting to take off Christmas day. That night, three Christmas Ghosts visit Scrooge. The first, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Scrooge to the scenes of his youth which stir the old grump's gentler emotions. The second, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes Scrooge to the home of his nephew Fred and to the humble dwelling of Bob Cratchit to observe their Christmas dinners. The third, the Ghost of Christmas Future, torments Scrooge with terrible visions of the future if he does not learn and act upon what he has witnessed.

The character of Ebenezer Scrooge has always been portrayed as the villain of this classic story. It's typical in most stories to have a villain or criminal that we can hate without fear of consequences. However, it seems that the greatest evils in this world are perpetuated, if not created, by apathy and heedlessness more than hate. Yes, Scrooge is the villain at the start of this story. But why? He is not a criminal, nor dishonest, nor a cheat. He is hard working, minds his own business, and pays his taxes. Even in today's world he would be looked upon as a respectable, contributing citizen.

However, Scrooge is hated not for any evil he did, but for the good that he does not. While most of the characters in the story choose to hate Scrooge for what he was, Fred, his nephew, loves him for what he could be. Fred shows mercy to those that don't deserve it; he refuses to speak badly of Scrooge and invites him over to his house every year for Christmas. He perseveres through all of Scrooge's insults and spitefulness and in the end, plays a large role in Scrooge's redemption. Scrooge isn't evil, but corrupted by it. If Scrooge is truly evil, would redemption even be possible? No, as Fred and the three Christmas Ghosts find, there is good in Scrooge after all.

The legacy left by A Christmas Carol is almost unparalleled in popular culture. The name 'Scrooge' and the exclamation 'Bah! Humbug!' entered the English language and the common holiday phrase 'Merry Christmas' also became popularized. However, one of A Christmas Carol's greatest achievements is the powerful influence it has exerted upon its readers. In the spring of 1844, just months after the book was first published, a sudden burst in charitable giving in Britain was attributed to Dickens' novella. After listening to or reading the book, many prominent businessmen in Britain and America vowed to give generously, extended hospitality, and closed factories on Christmas day.

According to historian Ronald Hutton, the current state of observation of Christmas is largely the result of a mid-Victorian revival of the holiday spearheaded by A Christmas Carol. It's argued that Dickens sought to construct Christmas as a family-centered festival of generosity, in contrast to the community-based and church-centered observations. In superimposing his secular vision of the holiday, Dickens influenced many aspects of Christmas that are celebrated today in Western culture, such as family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games, and a festive generosity of spirit.