Rediscovering Christmas: Charlie Brown

“My trouble is Christmas.
I just don’t understand it.
Instead of feeling happy,
I feel sort of let down.“

Charlie Brown


Bringing the Peanuts characters to television was not an easy task. The strip's creators, with funding from sponsor Coca-Cola, presented the CBS network with an idea for a Christmas television special starring Charles Schulz's characters.

The production was done on a shoestring budget, resulting in a somewhat choppy animation style and, from a technical standpoint, a poorly mixed soundtrack. With the exception of the actors who voiced Charlie Brown and Lucy, none of the children had any experience doing voice work.

This was especially challenging for Kathy Steinberg, who voiced Sally: she was too young to read and needed to be cued line by line during the soundtrack recording. The technical issues are in evidence on the show's audio track, which to some may seem noticeably choppy and poorly enunciated.

Another complaint about the production was the absence of a laugh track, a common element of children's cartoons at the time. Schulz maintained that the audience should be able to enjoy the show at their own pace, without being cued when to laugh. Finally, the executives thought that the jazz style soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi would not work well for a children's program. When executives saw the final product, they were horrified and believed the special would be a complete flop.

The show first aired on Thursday, December 9, 1965, preempting The Munsters and following the Gilligan's Island episode entitled "Don't Bug the Mosquitos." To the surprise of the executives, it was both a critical and commercial hit. None of the technical problems detracted from the show's appeal; to the contrary, it is thought that these so-called quirks are what lent the show such an innovative, authentic and sincere feeling. Linus' recitation of the Christmas narrative was hailed by critics who said, "Linus' reading of the story of the Nativity was, quite simply, the dramatic highlight of the season."

The end result had 50% of the televisions in the United States were tuned to the first broadcast. A Charlie Brown Christmas went on to win an Emmy and a Peabody award, and is considered by many to be a timeless holiday classic. Watching it is now an annual tradition for countless people.

Charlie Brown asks the question we all are want to ask from time to tome, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” I believe we can all relate to Charlie Brown. I too am already tired of all the commercials, all the music, all the sales, all the commercialization of the season. It really isn’t hard to lose your joy in this world we live in and it is especially easy to lose your joy in this Christmas season.

With all the presents, trees, reindeers (Rudolph included), parties, cookies, tinsel, ornaments, lights, fruitcake, toys, carols, children, that same fruitcake now returned to you, Santa Claus, elves, stars, and yes the snowmen (especially Frosty!) it is very easy to lose heart and become discouraged. If we are honest with ourselves, we can each admit that we have wondered, “What happened to Christmas?” I believe that is the question that Charlie Brown asks for us every year, “What is Christmas all about?”

Network executives were not at all keen on several aspects of the television special, forcing Schulz and Melendez to wage some serious battles to preserve their vision. The executives did not want to have Linus reciting the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke; the network orthodoxy of the time assumed that viewers would not want to sit through passages of the King James Version of the Bible. Charles Schulz was adamant about keeping this scene in, remarking that "If we don't tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?"

Perhaps Christmas has become too familiar to us. And with the familiarity, we forget the reason for the holiday. Thankfully we have Charlie Brown to remind us why it is Christmas.

Jesus and his disciples went to the villages near the town of Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "What do people say about me?"

The disciples answered, "Some say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah. Others say you are one of the prophets."

Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?"

"You are the Messiah!" Peter replied.

Mark 8:27-29 CEV

I believe Christmas comes down to this, “Who do you say this Child is?” If like Peter you believe this child is the Messiah then Christmas has meaning far beyond, the presents, trees, reindeers (Rudolph included), parties, cookies, tinsel, ornaments, lights, fruitcake, toys, carols, children, the same fruitcake still given back, Santa Claus, elves, stars, and the snowmen (Especially Frosty!).

The meaning of Christmas will not be found in the external things, but rather it will be found within. Christmas is so much more than what we see and experience. Christmas is more than we have allowed it to become. This holiday season take the time to tell the story, invite a friend to church, participate in the activities of the season, and discover as Charlie Brown did – the true meaning of Christmas will only be lost when we stop remembering and believing the message of God’s love.

The question is as haunting today as it was in 1965, "If we don't tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?"