Kids in costumes

Well we can guess they've just had an end of term party ! It adds to the carnival atmosphere so I guess it's just a bit of film-makers license.There's no indication in the book that this should happen (as they all go off individually) but I wondered whether it came out of the characters in the books the young Scrooge reads. No one ever does the scene but as the ghost reminds him of his days of solitude they appear all around him - Robinson Crusoe, Arabian Nights men etc.As its all part of the same scene that may have been the inspiration.

I think the reason the children had the costumes on is this. I read a lot about the various Christmas traditions of the Royal Family through history and I watch tv shows on the BBC during the holidays. Part of the country's holiday celebrations is putting on little plays or what they refer to as pantomimes.

A British Christmas tradition: the pantomime!

http://blog.learnhotenglish.com/a-british-christmas-tradition-the-pantomime/

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In very old days, dressing up in costumes and begging for treats was part of Christmas tradition. I was wondering whether this carried into the 19th Century (this version was set in 1860 so even if this were taking place 60 years earlier would be 1800) and didn't feel like looking it up, but maybe it was kept up in some rural areas, or someone was trying to revive an old tradition. Some of the songs associated with these customs survive to the present day, such as "Here We Come A-Wassailing" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The costumes and begging for treats have transferred to Halloween.