CHRISTMAS
Christmas is the annual holiday central to the story, celebrated by the Cratchit family, Scrooge, Fred and his family, and the broader community. Occurring in December and associated with cold weather, Christmas is marked by religious observance, family gatherings, festive meals, shopping, communal joy, and the giving of toys and presents. Throughout the text, Christmas is repeatedly referenced as a time of joy, reunion, and generosity, but also as a period of hardship for the poor. The holiday is characterized by kindness, charity, goodwill, song, festivity, games, music, and good-humor.

For the Cratchit family, Christmas is a time for dinner, expressions of goodwill, and togetherness, despite their modest means. Fred and his family celebrate Christmas joyously, in contrast to Scrooge, who initially views the holiday cynically and calls it a "humbug." The boys and other characters also participate in the festivities, highlighting the communal nature of the celebration.

Christmas serves as the central event and emotional context for the narrative, providing the backdrop for Scrooge’s memories, reflections, and eventual transformation. The holiday symbolizes themes of redemption, generosity, family, kindness, and togetherness, and is integral to the story’s exploration of happiness, charity, and personal growth. While Scrooge begins the story skeptical and detached from the spirit of Christmas, the holiday ultimately becomes the catalyst for his redemption and renewed connection to those around him.