It is said that the modern Christmas was invented by Charles Dickens in 1843 in his novel “A Christmas Carol”. Father Christmas, Christmas trees and turkey dinners all appear. However, the real point of “A Christmas Carol” was to say that Christmas should change us. We are all in danger of becoming like Ebenezer Scrooge, and by the end of the story, Ebenezer has changed, healing family rifts and becoming a generous gift giver, just like another stalwart of the Christmas season, Santa Claus.

I hope that we can all celebrate Christmas by tackling the stubborn parts of our lives, by living into more kindness and generosity like the changed Scrooge. Rather strangely, Dickens did not mention the child Jesus. For Christians, Jesus “is the reason for the season” in that his life and teaching set the standard of love for the world, while his death is atonement for all the world’s failings. However many traditions we take on, Jesus is part of the good news of Christmas to hold onto.