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TheGhostofChristmasPresent

The Ghost of Christmas Present with Ebenezer Scrooge.

Come and know me better, Man!

— The Ghost, making Scrooge an offer on several levels

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a character from A Christmas Carol, one of the best-known works of the English novelist Charles Dickens. He closely resembles Father Christmas from local folklore.

Role in the story[]

The Ghost of Christmas Present is the second of the three spirits (after the visitation by Jacob Marley) that haunted the miser Ebenezer Scrooge in order to prompt him to repent. According to Dickens' novel, the spirit appears to Scrooge as "a jolly giant" with dark brown curls. He wears a fur-lined green robe and on his head a holly wreath set with shining icicles. He carries a large torch, made to resemble a cornucopia, and appears accompanied by a great feast. He states that he has had "more than eighteen hundred" brothers (in fact eighteen hundred and forty two) and later reveals the ability to change his size to fit into any space. He also has a scabbard with no sword in it, a representation of peace on Earth.

The spirit transports Scrooge around the city, showing him scenes of festivity and also deprivation that were happening as they watched, sprinkling a little warmth from his torch as he travels. Amongst the visits are Scrooge's nephew, Fred and the family of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. The spirit also shares a vision of Tiny Tim's crutch, carefully preserved by the fireplace. Scrooge asks if Tim will die. The spirit first states that "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die" (i.e., Tim's illness is not inherently fatal, but the Cratchits lack the funds for Tim to receive proper treatment, courtesy of Scrooge's miserliness), then – quick to use Scrooge's past unkind comments toward two charitable solicitors against him – suggests he "had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." Scrooge is disgusted at his own words and is concerned for Tiny Tim and his family.

The spirit finally reveals to Scrooge two emaciated children, subhuman in appearance and loathsome to behold, clinging to his robes, and names the boy as Ignorance and the girl as Want. The spirit warns Scrooge, "Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.", underscoring the book's social message. The spirit once again quotes Scrooge, who asks if the grotesque children have "no refuge, no resource," and the spirit retorts with Scrooge's same words, "Are there no prisons, no workhouses?", filling Scrooge with self-loathing.

The spirit, having already aged, reveals that he will only exist on Earth for a single year's Christmas holiday. (As the nature of the present is to only exist in the now, this is why this ghost can only exist for one Christmas, and why he has 1842 brothers. Given the year that the story was published, this would make him the 1843rd Ghost of Christmas Present.) He finally disappears at the stroke of midnight on Twelfth Night, leaving Scrooge to face the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Portrayals[]

Picture Performer Production Year Notes
ScroogeAndPresent-1951
Francis de Wolff Scrooge 1951
GhostOfChristmasPresent-Magoo
Voiced by
Les Tremayne
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol 1962 In this adaptation, the spirit appears before the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Ghost of Christmas Present
Voiced by Bruce Montague Famous Classic Tales: A Christmas Carol 1969
Ghost of Christmas Present 1970
Kenneth More Scrooge 1970
Stingiestman1
Voiced by
Paul Frees
The Stingiest Man in Town 1978
1982-toon-present
Voiced by
Bill Conn
A Christmas Carol 1982
Willie as The Ghost of Christmas Present
Willie Fadiddlehoffer
(voiced by Will Ryan)
Mickey's Christmas Carol 1983
Edward Woodward as TGOCP
Edward Woodward A Christmas Carol 1984 The spirit greatly resembles the illustrations in the Dickens version.
A Jetson Christmas Carol - The Ghost of Christmas Present
Voiced by
Chuck McCann
The Jetsons: "A Jetsons Christmas Carol" 1985 The spirit is represented as a robotic Christmas present.
ChristmasPresent-Ghostbusters
Voiced by
Maurice LaMarche
The Real Ghostbusters: "Xmas Marks the Spot" 1986
Robbie Coltrane as TGOCP
Robbie Coltrane Blackadder's Christmas Carol 1988 Ebenezer Blackadder is visited by "The Spirit of Christmas", who bears a close resemblance to the Ghost of Christmas Present of Dickens' story.
Carol Kane as TGOCP
Carol Kane Scrooged 1988 The spirit is a shrill woman-like fairy.
Theodore as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Theodore Seville
(voiced by Janice Karman)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: "Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll" 1989
Smee as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Mr. Smee
(voiced by Ed Gilbert)
Peter Pan and the Pirates: "Hook's Christmas" 1990
Present1
Jerry Nelson The Muppet Christmas Carol 1992 The Muppet portraying the spirit greatly resembles Dickens' version; however, the vile forms of Ignorance and Want are absent, most likely to make the film more suitable for children.
Dot makes her entrance
Dot Warner
(voiced by Tress MacNeille)
Animaniacs: "A Christmas Plotz" 1993
Marlon as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Marlon the Penguin
(voiced by Mike McShane)
Avenger Penguins: "A Christmas Carol" 1994
Ernie as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Ernie
(voiced by Brian Cummings)
A Flintstones' Christmas Carol 1994
Rolly as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Rolly
(voiced by Kath Soucie)
101 Dalmatians: "A Christmas Cruella" 1997
Ghost of Christmas Present 1997
Whoopi Goldberg A Christmas Carol 1997
David Van Driessen Christmas Present David Van Driessen
(voiced by Mike Judge)
A Beavis and Butt-head Christmas 1995 David Van Driessen plays the role of the Spirit of Christmas Present and appears while Beavis is trying to watch a Christmas Carol style porno.
Sasha as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Sasha
(voiced by Sheena Easton)
An All Dogs Christmas Carol 1998
Desmond Barrit as TGOCP
Desmond Barrit A Christmas Carol 1999 The spirit greatly resembles the illustrations in the Dickens version.
Zelda as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Zelda Spellman
(voiced by Melissa Joan Hart)
Sabrina: The Animated Series: "Witchmas Carole" 1999
Socrates as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Socrates
(voiced by Michael Donovan)
Adventures from the Book of Virtues: "A Christmas Carol" 2000
No Screenshot
John Taylor A Diva's Christmas Carol 2000
Ghost of Christmas Present 2001
Michael Gambon Christmas Carol: The Movie 2001
Ghost of Christmas Present 2003
William Shatner A Carol Christmas 2003 Shatner, who played a fictional TV host named Dr. Bob, also appears to Carol Cartman as the spirit, who has an annoying habit of speaking in cliches.
Ghost of Christmas Present 2004
Jesse L. Martin A Christmas Carol: The Musical 2004 The Ghost first appears in the real world as a sandwich board man.
Bloo as the Ghost of 'A' Christmas Present
Bloo
(voiced by Keith Ferguson)
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends: "A Lost Claus" 2005 Bloo poses as the ghost of 'A' Christmas Present (a moving and talking red gift with a green ribbon) and tells Mr. Herriman has been a cheapskate for far too long and should buy more gifts, calling it the 'true meaning of Christmas'.
Wyatt as Santa
Wyatt Williams 6teen: "In a Retail Wonderland..." 2005
Looney-tunes-christmas-poster - copia
Yosemite Sam
(voiced by Maurice LaMarche)
Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas 2006
Instantánea 3 (10-12-2016 17-31)
A Christmas Mikey 2006
Kangaroo as Ghost of Christmas Present
Keith Wickham A Christmas Carol 2006
Ghost of Christmas Present 2008
Voiced by
Kathleen Barr
Barbie in a Christmas Carol 2008
Carol-disneyscreencaps com-5364
Voiced by
Jim Carrey
A Christmas Carol 2009 The spirit greatly resembles the version in the novel.
Imagenccgocp
David Tennant The Catherine Tate Show: "Nan's Christmas Carol" 2009 This version of the spirit has a goth-like appearance and talks and acts flamboyantly.
Smurf Of Christmas Present
Brainy Smurf
(voiced by Fred Armisen)
The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 2011 Brainy dresses in a green robe with white fur trim and a holly wreath with candles for a crown, just like the one in the book. He even uses one of the candles to draw.
Instantánea 2 (19-12-2012 20-12)
Pear
(voiced by Daneboe)
The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange: "Orange Carol" 2012
Beto
Beto La CQ: "Christmas in the CQ" 2012
No Screenshot
Phoebe Thunderman
(portrayed by Kira Kosarin)
The Thundermans: "Winter Thunderland" 2014 The second ghost to appear as part of Max's dream, showing him what would happen if Nora opens her empty Secret Santa gift from him. She dresses in a present box and talks giddily.
Diesel'sGhostlyChristmas160
Paxton
(voiced by Steven Kynman)
Thomas & Friends: "Diesel's Ghostly Christmas" 2015 Paxton has red and green lamps on him, speaks through pipes on a flatbed and hides behind a bridge. He even breaks the fourth wall: "Then I must be good at pretending!"
Armand as the 'Present' Ghost
Armand Camp Lakebottom: "Smells Like the Holidays" 2016 Using a 'gassy' klaxon, the 'present' spirit comes to McGee as Armand (wearing a Santa Claus suit). He then shows McGee how Squirt is unable to join his friends in the fun while in the bubble, because of what he fears his gas can do to them.
HearthsWarmingPresents
Pinkie Pie
(voiced by Andrea Libman, singing voice by Shannon Chan-Kent)
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: "A Hearth's Warming Tail" 2016 Pinkie Pie plays a character similar to the Ghost of Christmas Present, named the Spirit of Hearth's Warming Presents.
Ghost of Christmas Present (Be Cool, Scooby-Doo)
Dr. Bugly Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!: "Scroogey Doo" 2017 The ghost greets Velma in the streets and reveals to her the new Science and Reasons Symposium. He claims her mystery-solving will make her miss it. When she claims her friends wouldn't allow it, he shows them that their priorities aren't the same as hers. He also claims to have already visited Scrooge, confirmed when Scrooge mentions it to the gang. The ghost then claims that Velma's friends are holding her back from her true potential, then he reappears and chases the gang through Scrooge's house.
Man Who Invented Christmas Present Ghost
Justin Edwards The Man Who Invented Christmas 2017
Bubbles 2016 Christmas Present
Bubbles
(voiced by Kristen Li)
The Powerpuff Girls: "You're a Good Man, Mojo Jojo" 2017
Squeeks as the Ghost of Christmas Present
Squeeks
(voiced by Kate McKinnon)
Nature Cat: "A Nature Carol" 2019
No Screenshot
Demi
(voiced by Mitchell Whitfield)
Vampirina: "A Gargoyle Carol" 2019
Clincoln McLoud as Ghosts of Christmas Present
Lincoln Loud and Clyde McBride
(voiced by Asher Bishop and Andre Robinson)
The Loud House: "A Flipmas Carol" 2020
Ghost of Christmas Present Spirited
Will Ferrell Spirited 2022
Ghost of Christmas Present 2022
Trevor Dion Nicholas Scrooge: A Christmas Carol The ghost's Father Christmas qualities are emphasized by him being joined by a group of elf-like fairies that serve as comic relief helpers. When the Ghost of Christmas Present's time runs out and he dies, he transforms into the Ghost of Christmas Future, with the fairies transforming into fiery imps.


A Christmas Carol
Humans Ebenezer ScroogeBob CratchitMrs. CratchitTimothy "Tiny Tim" CratchitBelinda CratchitMartha CratchitPeter CratchitFredBelleMr. FezziwigFan
Ghost Jacob MarleyThe Ghost of Christmas PastThe Ghost of Christmas PresentThe Ghost of Christmas Yet to ComeIgnorance and Want
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