Friday, December 1, 2023

The  "My Merry Christmas" website is, by far, the best Christmas location on the web, and has been for decades. The depth of topics in their extensive forums are truly awesome. TVC even has a section there for our forum. But, besides their incredible forums, the list of other Christmas items, topics, podcasts, stories, games, and more is where MMC truly shines. I strongly encourage you to explore Christmas here. Your Christmas spirit will thank you for it.

To Start at ​the "My Merry Christmas" Main Page

To Go to the Main "My Merry Christmas" Forum Page

To Go to "The Village Collector" Forum Page

This brings us to "Dickens in Days" - an original look at

"A Christmas Carol"

This year "My Merry Christmas" has added the

creative sharing of this perpetually favorite

Dickens story in its original context.

Following is the introduction as explained by

the "My Merry Christmas" site, followed by their

links to experience it.  Enjoy, and . . .  oh, yes,

don't forget to tell your friends

Dickens in Days is an effort to keep the reading of A Christmas Carol a holiday past time. We believe the by-gone era of reading the best of Christmas makes for a better Christmas.

A Christmas Carol is a tradition that has thrilled the world since first published in 1843.

While many people traditionally watch movie adaptations of the story as part of their Christmas traditions others find great joy in reading it.

There is a flavor to the Victorian-era English as it is written and the storytelling genius of Charles Dickens is something of a tradition in and of itself to enjoy. Simply put, nothing beats reading it as part of your holiday traditions.

While A Christmas Carol is technically a short story it can still be somewhat time consuming to be read. To help with our 21st century sensibilities in that regard we have broken down the story into daily bite size pieces. If followed it only take 19 days of brief reading to complete it.

Even that might seem for some a bit to commit to. However, a two-hour movie or even a performance of A Christmas Carol is usually considered time well invested. Not long after the story was published Charles Dickens would perform it himself, doing all the parts and voices, in a dramatic readings to packed audiences. For decades this was a Christmas tradition in both Britain and America.

In reading the story as Dickens wrote it you will no doubt walk away not only with a new appreciation of the story but also with the following observations:

• You will hear the voice of Dickens – The story has a descriptive narrative that is missing from most movies, radio dramas and stage productions. It is the voice of the writer, Charles Dickens. He is very conversation and descriptive. You’ll like him and his voice.
• You will recognize dialogue and characters – The story is so familiar to us and has been presented to us so completely that as you read you will no doubt hear the voices or see the faces of familiar actors. Many adaptations have tried to stay true to the original manuscript, so there will be much that is familiar to you.
• Missed details will stand out to you – No film or movie can cover every detail of the narrator. There is a richness and a depth to the story that has been missed, no matter the best efforts of directors and producers. This can only come from reading.
• The “theater of the mind” is far more effective than any movie – you will become quickly engrossed in the detail, taken back in time to an era when people talked a little differently and behaved with greater regard for others. You will feel their emotion, especially coming from Scrooge and Marley

Reading A Christmas Carol may build a new tradition for you. Some read it every year without tiring of it. Some begin their Christmas season by reading it again. That is because, and perhaps this is why it has so endured, you will feel the Christmas Spirit.

Here is our breakdown of A Christmas Carol:

         Stave One – Marley’s Ghost
         Day 1 –  About Scrooge
         Day 2 –  Merry Christmas According to Scrooge
         Day 3 –  Charitable Giving
         Day 4 –  Marley’s Face
         Day 5 –  Humbug

         Stave Two – The First of Three Spirits
         Day 6 –  Ding Dong!
         Day 7 –  Boyhood Memories
         Day 8 –  Fan and Father
         Day 9 –  Fezziwig
         Day 10 – Belle

         Stave Three – The Second of Three Spirits
         Day 11 – Christmas Present
         Day 12 – The Cratchits
         Day 13 – Christmas of the Poor
         Day 14 – Ignorance and Want

         Stave Four – The Last of the Spirits
         Day 15 – Phantom
         Day 16 – Treasures of the Dead
         Day 17 – Dead
         Day 18 – The Grave

         Stave Five – The End of It
         Day 19 – What day is it?

"Merry Christmas" and "God bless us, everyone"