Christmas Memories Pt 1: Linus’ Speech

To this day I love watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

As a child I was addicted to watching all of the Rankin Bass claymation presentations of Rudolph, Santa — all to shape the mythos of Christmas. However, it was Charlie Brown, rather Linus, with the climactic speech ending with:

“That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown”

But beyond this Christian presentation was a ton of messages addressing the stress during the Christmas season.

Charlie Brown: Thanks for the Christmas card you sent me, Violet.

Violet: I didn’t send you a Christmas card, Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown: Don’t you know sarcasm when you hear it?

Leave it to Charles Schulz to maneuver the snare trap of sending Christmas cards and the pain of NOT receiving them. Similar to the pain of being picked last for a team in Phys. Ed, most everyone has fell victim to the etiquette pitfalls of the dreaded card exchange.

For a kid, the message was dumbed down for us:

Charlie Brown: Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?

The Charlie Brown then attacks the networks and the commercialism of Christmas.

Lucy: Look, Charlie, let’s face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.

Of course the famous Charlie Brown tree represents the obsession with the perfect presentation during Christmas. Everyone has to have a huge tree or spectacular lighting.

In the end, it’s Linus that grounds us.

Then and now, the message strikes a chord in my heart.

Linus dropping his security blanket “Fear not” as he announces:

“…And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and goodwill toward men'”