Every author dreams of writing the book that gives us something timeless. It could be a character, a catch phrase, or just something that sticks in our collective psyche because it expresses a universal truth.
Charles Dickens did this with his story "A Christmas Carol". Just think - ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. A character named Ebenezer Scrooge who is now the definition of a miserly person. "Bah Humbug!" Tiny Tim. The story is just as relevant today as it was in 1843 and you know the story, whether you think you do or not.
As great as A Christmas Carol is, there is another story that I love. "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" was written by Theodore Geisel aka Dr. Seuss. The character first appeared in a poem published in Redbook magazine in 1955. A book was subsequently published in 1957, illustrated by the author.
The plot is simple: the green Grinch, a bitter, Christmas hating creature with a heart two sizes too small, decides to ruin the Christmas of the loving Whoville village whose holiday celebrations have bothered him for the previous 53 years. But, partially thanks to the tiny Who called Cindy Lou Who, the Grinch comes to find out what the true spirit of Christmas is. He ends up joining the Whos for their Christmas feast and there is a happy ending.
In 1966, the story was made into an animated cartoon which I could watch multiple times during the Holidays if I had the opportunity. I've owned it in VHS and I think I have it "somewhere" in the house in DVD.
For some reason, Grinchy decorations have become part of our celebrations of the season. Here, at the Roberson Museum and Science Center in Binghamton, new York, I found a tree with both a Grinch decoration (top right) and Cindy Lou Who (bottom center), the heroine (so to speak) of the tale.
In Punta Gorda, Florida, I found a Grinch wrapped around a palm tree in January, 2020.
And, at Oh Tannenbaum at the Tioga County historical society, there was a Grinchy Christmas wreath displayed this past November.
Finally (not shown) at a holiday lights display at a local park, we even have an inflatable Grinch.
Yes, it's every author's dream. It's a type of immortality.
What's your favorite holiday character from literature?
