I love the holidays - any holiday - but Christmas has always been sort of special because I grew up reading Charles Dickens.

In this quote, Matthew Gray Gubler expresses his love for the holidays in general, but he emphasizes that Christmas holds a special place in his heart due to his early exposure to the works of Charles Dickens. Gubler highlights how Dickens, particularly his famous novella "A Christmas Carol", shaped his perception of the holiday. The stories Dickens wrote about Christmas often reflect themes of compassion, generosity, and the importance of community, which may have deeply resonated with Gubler as he grew up.

The quote suggests that for Gubler, Christmas is not just about festive traditions, but about the deeper values and stories that are associated with the holiday. His love for Dickens' works likely contributed to his understanding of Christmas as a time for reflection, kindness, and personal transformation. Dickens’ portrayal of Christmas, particularly in "A Christmas Carol", has shaped much of how Christmas is celebrated today, emphasizing both the joy and the moral lessons the holiday can offer.

Gubler’s mention of Charles Dickens also speaks to the lasting cultural impact of the author’s Christmas literature. Dickens is widely credited with helping to shape modern ideas about the holiday, including its focus on generosity and goodwill. By growing up reading Dickens, Gubler’s view of Christmas may have been influenced by the values of redemption, family, and charity that Dickens so often emphasized.

Ultimately, Gubler’s quote reflects how literature, specifically Dickens' work, can deeply influence how someone experiences and appreciates the holiday season. It underscores the idea that for some, Christmas is not just a holiday of material celebration but one deeply rooted in moral reflection and the spirit of giving, concepts that are beautifully explored in Dickens’ timeless tales.