Here is a little article that gives a little background on one of the classics of Christmas TV specials. I know that ever since I was a kid, starting from around Halloween, I always looked forward to the holiday specials featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the other characters from Peanuts. Couple of thoughts from the article:
1. One of the themes of the special is this reaction against the commercialism of Christmas. Considering that the cartoon was made in 1965, before video games, internet, cell phones – heck, even before widespread use of color television or washing machines – this conflict of material versus the spiritual aspect of Christmas possibly is as old as the industrial revolution. Perhaps even older than that and is probably something that replays itself over and over again each holiday season.
2. It is also interesting that a big problem the network had was the Biblical reference from Linus’s speech. Maybe it points to the fact that even in the early 60s that Christianity was losing the cultural war.
3. One thing of note is the audience it garnered with the Biblical reference and all and how it has endured through the years. Which I think tells me that the Christmas message, simply told, impacts people powerfully. Which is one thing that I fear these days – Christians not telling the message simply and powerfully, but instead transforming it into a sort of an advertisement with all of the flash, effects and trimmings that comprise something like that. Something that may grab the attention widely but does not penetrate lives deeply.
Let me know your thoughts
I agree wholeheartedly!