What Charlie Brown Taught Us About the True Meaning of Christmas
Charlie Brown and Snoopy make the most of a tiny Christmas tree.
Charlie Brown and Snoopy make the most of a tiny Christmas tree.
Source:What Charlie Brown Taught Us About the True Meaning of Christmas
Celebrating 60 Years ― A Charlie Brown Christmas Is Both Nostalgic And Timeless
View Gallery
5 Photos
When animator Charles Shultz, the creator of Peanuts, was asked to develop the first-ever television special, based on a comic strip, he couldn’t have imagined how much it would mean to generations of Americans. This December marks the 60th anniversary of the beloved Christmastime classic. We had to pause and reflect on the impact of A Charlie Brown Christmas, and why it still means so much to us after 60 years.
When the tail end of the Baby Boom generation was first planted in front of the television set on December 9, 1965 (most likely a black and white model with rabbit ears), they witnessed the first airing of this 25-minute animated special, and they fell in love with its simplicity and poignancy. Successive generations grew up watching it every year, and they in turn passed the annual tradition down to their children.
Timeless Truth Packaged For Maximum Impact
After six decades, A Charlie Brown Christmas is one holiday tradition capable of bridging the generation gap.
Why is that? Everything about it is time-stamped with mid-60s details. From the pink aluminum Christmas trees to mock turtleneck shirts, a jazz music score by Vince Guaraldi, and those iconic dance moves. That’s the nostalgic bit. But the story that Charles Shultz chose to tell with his familiar characters is timeless.
It’s about finding and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, which can be so hard to find during the swirl of a season that is bent on busyness and distraction. The central note of not getting caught up in the expectations of others, or in marketing madness and a mere collection of material things, still rings true. Here are some of the lessons we learned from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Real Life Doesn’t Require a Laugh Track
The epic Christmas special bucked convention by rolling without the typical laugh track of the period. Without those artificially imposed cues, it allows you to feel the sadness of Charlie Brown shuffling alone through the snow. It makes room for Linus’s recitation from the Gospel of Luke to really land and sink in.
In today’s world, where every image is enhanced (if not artificially generated), and marketing strategies intentionally manipulate our emotions ― leaving that space for silence remains an impactful touch.
Take Notice of Those Around You
Charlie Brown confides to Linus, in his opening lines, that he’s feeling depressed during the Christmas season. “Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy,” he says. “I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.” He even seeks help from his “psychiatrist,” Lucy. But, to no avail.
Look around you. There are people you know and strangers you’ll come in contact with who are struggling ― feeling sad and alone. Don’t let them get lost in the shuffle. A kind word or thoughtful gesture might be the best Christmas gift they’ll receive. Even the tiny little sprig of a Christmas tree that Charlie Brown chose just needed someone to take notice of it and love it.
Don’t Get Distracted From The Real Meaning of Christmas
The Christmastime scenes of 1965 are really not much different than today. People are busy making Christmas lists. Charlie Brown’s sister Sally said it best, “All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.” Snoopy goes to extremes decorating his dog house, and Charlie Brown is determined to direct the perfect Christmas pageant. But none of it is fulfilling.
That’s because Christmas is not about the greeting cards, trees, lights, ornaments and tinsel. It isn’t about parties and productions, Christmas lists, or gifting. It’s not about ice skating and snowball fights. “There has to be something more.”
Sometimes You Gotta Drop Your Security Blanket
Linus sucks his thumb and drags his blue security blanket around everywhere. That blanket becomes its own character in A Charlie Brown Christmas. It transforms into a sling shot for snowballs, and into a shepherd’s head dress. Linus’s sister Lucy goes out of her way to disparage him and his security blanket. But, as he recites the words of Luke ― at the words “Fear not,” Linus drops it on the stage.
What kind of baggage are we carrying around this season? What are we so afraid of? Where can we find true security?
Christmas is About the Birth of a Savior
When Charlie Brown has finally had enough, he throws his arms up and yells, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” That’s when Linus strolls to the center of the stage and recites the biblical account from Luke chapter two:
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
That’s why sixty years later, A Charlie Brown Christmas still resonates. It has become our annual reminder about what the season means and why we have so much to celebrate.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!