It is said every year; the commercialization of Christmas is terrible. Personally, I do not buy into that philosophy that somehow, giving of gifts is evil and refraining from celebrating Christmas is not much different from how Scrooge celebrated Christmas. For many, Christmas is representative of the greed that consume modern day America. Somehow to participate in Christmas is to be materialistic causing you to miss the real reason for Christmas- the birth of Christ. For Scrooge, money was something to be collected and to hoard- not to be spent. Scrooge failed to spend money on himself much less his own business. Scrooge does not spend money on his office, his home or his workers. When Bob Crachett wanted to add an extra piece of coal to keep his office warm, Scrooge vetoed the idea.

Charles Dickens writes about Scrooge's home, "It was a very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night. He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it,
Before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel. The fireplace was an old one, built by some Dutch merchant long ago, and paved all round with quaint Dutch tiles, designed to illustrate the Scriptures." Scrooge lived in an antiquated home and he did not even spend money to keep his own home warm. He denied himself the joy of his own income for money was merely a scorecard to show his success and Scrooge selfishness applied even to himself. It is said that charity begins at home and man who can't share with himself is not very likely to share with others.

Contrast Scrooge with his nephew Fred, who spends on Christmas and enjoys the gaiety of the holidays. Even the Crachetts celebrate Christmas with their meager savings for money is no object in rejoicing the birth of Christ. For Scrooge, he lived a business life that was more amoral than moral or immoral. To him, business was business but as Marley reminds him, "Mankind was our business." A businessman must serve his customer or he will not be successful.

Christmas represents the universal message of peace and forgiveness and you do not need to be a believer in Christianity to buy into these virtues. "A Christmas Carol" is a story of giving and receiving, of redemption and reclamation. The spirits seek to reclaim Scrooge immortal soul and reform the previously selfish man, whose only thoughts never extended beyond his nose.