“Bah, hum bug.” Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly, cantankerous miser, made his way into the homes and hearts of many people in the 1800s and has remained steadfast for decades. Charles Dickens wrote the classic tale A Christmas Carol, and published his work on December 19, 1843. Hoping to write his way out of a financial slump, Dickens penned this work as a commentary on how Victorian society treated the poor, as well as, the importance of goodwill towards all human beings. What better time to show goodwill than Christmas, right?

In Dickens’ novella, stingy Scrooge comes face-to-face with three ghosts: one from the past, present and future. Forced to take a hard look in the mirror and realize how his actions have affected, are affecting and will affect him and those who still care for him, Scrooge must determine if he will make a change for the better, not only in the name of Christmas cheer — but also for the rest of his life.

As ghost stories were popular during Christmastime in days gone by, so Dickens’ tale was an immediate favorite of families during his time. This piece is a strong narrative on morality, a time-traveling adventure and a specter story, all laced up in Christmas wrapping with a shiny bow. With this perfect equation of plot features, A Christmas Carol has something intriguing for everyone. Dickens’ work was bound to become a time-honored tale that could (and would) be adapted for any generation — although Dickens never had such a high level of popularity in mind when he wrote it.

From radio plays to stage performances, television commercials to feature films, A Christmas Carol or various versions of the story, can be found almost everywhere during the holiday season.