Maybe it’s because the holiday episodes first aired in the 60’s in the first five years of my life, the holidays begin for me when the Great Pumpkin rises from the most sincere pumpkin patch.
I’m in my mid fifties now. And yet, thanks to Apple, I watch the holiday episodes of the the Peanuts Gang every year. While most people mark the stages of the holidays by the calendar of events that occur with their family or work, mine are marked by what episode is playing.
“It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” leads the way into my official Fall. The intersecting plot lines are comforting beads that the thumb of my memory click on of the Rosary of my childhood. I root for Linus as he bucks all convention and stubbornly tries to celebrate Halloween in his own unique way. I sympathize with poor Charlie Brown as he suffers the inexplicably mean adults that throw rocks in the Trick-or-Treat bag. I thrill to the wonderful imagination of Snoopy as he battles his way through the WWI trenches, trying to make his way home. And lastly, I still get a little teary when Lucy ventures out late at night to bring home her hyperthermic brother and tuck him away in his warm bed. Where the hell were the parents?
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is next up on my holiday memory advent calendar. Before Beneton ever thought of it’s colors of the world ad campaign, Charlie Brown was gathering up a multicultural Thanksgiving feast. In its own “sly dog” way, this cartoon showed us that family can be made up of who your are with and who means the most to you. And I prefer to overlook that Woodstock was a cannibal.
The climax of the holiday season is, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Yes, it’s heavy in the religious theme. However, it was 1965 and America as a whole hadn’t gotten comfortable with the fact that many people celebrated non-Christian holidays. That being said, it still has a great message that the Christmas spirit should be one of inclusion and thankfulness. The whole quest for Charlie Brown to find a perfect Christmas tree while his dog wins a best decoration contest is a blatant dig in the commercialization of the holidays. And that’s a good lesson.
So, there it is, my holiday trinity. Each episode is another milestone for my holiday season. Each viewing brings back memories of family and friends. Even through difficult times, I could rely on these familiar friends.
I’m not a Pollyanna. I know that the holidays for some are a time where their loneliness is intensified, where sadness is most acute. Dickens touched upon it and so did Charlie Brown when he discussed his depression with Linus. So, that’s why this time of year should remind us above all to be kind. Everyone is fighting their own battle. Kindness doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t need wrapping.
I hope this holiday season finds you well.
Please share your holiday “go to” shows.