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We're Marley and Marley!

In order to gain perspective on this year’s holiday newsletter, you first need to understand my cultured side. I own exactly one CD of “classical” music. It is titled “the only classical music CD you will ever need” and it is filled with music from… the Looney Tunes cartoons I grew up with! As for literature, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” has to rank among my favorites. Now do not jump to the conclusion that I sit by the fire this time of year actually reading 160-year-old books (that’s my wife Beeb’s job), but I certainly know the story.

We all remember the sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation after supernatural visits from his dead partner Jacob Marley and the various Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The book was written and published in early Victorian-era London when Britain was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions. This was actually the time when customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were first being introduced.

As an educated man, I believe I have a pretty solid handle on things (not counting the latest texting acronyms the kids use, women’s fashion, or Justin Whatsisname). I have reveled in my participation and understanding of the traditions that come with this time of year. I even thought I knew how they came about; that is, until this past weekend.

While casting about for an idea for Beeb’s birthday I found her (no kidding) actually sitting by the fire reading that 160-year-old book and I knew what to get her. The Genesee Country Village (one of our local treasures) an authentic 19th century village offers an annual tradition called Yuletide in the Country, where their interpreters breathe life into reenactments of Yuletides past. Perfect, I thought. I purchased tickets; we bundled up the family and stepped back in time.

The first thing I learned from this production is that I actually knew very little about the roots of many of my favorite Christmas customs. The very idea of someone such as Scrooge saying “every idiot who goes about with "Merry Christmas" on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart” seems rather extreme by today’s standards - even after returning from a tough day of shopping at the mall. Yet I learned that gift-giving, good will, or the very thought of a “Christmas Season” was unheard of in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The program progressed from decade to decade across the 19th century. As we progressed through the years, we learned how the “holiday spirit” was kindled and grew. It seems that the current state of observance of Christmas is largely the result of a mid-Victorian revival of this holiday spearheaded by “A Christmas Carol”. Mr. Dickens sought to construct Christmas as a family-centered festival of generosity, in contrast to the church-centered observations of the time, whose popularity had dwindled considerably. By superimposing his vision of this holiday, Dickens influenced many aspects of Christmas that are celebrated today, such as family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games, and a festive generosity of spirit.

As our journey through the 19th century came to a close, we were treated to a traditional holiday feast right down to the pudding. I came away both entertained and enlightened as were my wife and kids.

Returning home, the kids started pulling out their favorite electronic devices but my wife asked them to stop. Instead, she proposed that we all take a seat by the fire and simply bask, as a family, in the glow of the evening. I had an even better idea: since our evening was in no small part due to Mr. Dickens’ vision, I thought we should top it off with what I believe is the very best rendition of his classic tale.

We built a fire, everyone got comfortable, and I queue’d up the Disney classic:
“The Muppet Christmas Carol”!

So, as we cuddle to the strains of Statler and Waldorf groaning out that old/new holiday classic “Marley and Marley”, my wife Beeb and I, and our children Kealan, Caitlin, Aran and Liam wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a safe and Happy New Year.

I look forward to seeing you all in 2012, Frank C. Kilcoyne, CSSC.