Based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charlie M. Shultz, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) was the first cartoon TV special. Today, it is a beloved holiday classic that all ages can enjoy. Gather around with the whole family to watch Charlie Brown find out the real meaning of Christmas. For your enjoyment, I have written a summary to get you in the spirit of the season.
The Commercialism of Christmas
Charlie Brown believes something is wrong with him because he is not happy about Christmas. He likes the decorating aspect but yet he finds himself not in the Christmas spirit. He lets Linus know he is feeling depressed and does not know why. Instead of comforting Charlie, Linus blames him for turning Christmas into a problem. Charlie goes home to an empty mailbox. Nobody had sent him a Christmas card. To Charlie, this only solidifies the fact that nobody likes him; he even claims he knows nobody does. He doesn’t understand why the Holiday season has to be emphasized through such materialistic things.
To get under the cause of his depression, he meets with Lucy, the psychiatrist. Before he could even state his problem, Lucy makes him pay the session fee. He lets her know he knows he is supposed to be happy, but he cannot seem to feel happy. She tells him that he is not far gone because he, at least, acknowledges he is depressed.
She tells him that he may be feeling this way because of an underlying fear. However, Charlie tells her the problem is Christmas itself. He feels let down. Lucy suggests that he just needs involvement and asks him to direct the Christmas play. She tries to comfort Charlie by relating with him. She, too, has felt let down by Christmas. Her parents gifted her toys, clothes, bicycles, or something similar when all she wanted was real estate. However, this does not solve Charlie’s issue since he does not care about the presents.
On his way to the play, he discovers Snoopy has entered a Christmas lights-and-display competition. He is disappointed that even his dog has gone commercial. He gets past it and continues his way to the play. His sister, Sally, interrupts him to ask if he could write her Santa letter. She starts with a list but then decides that Santa could send her 10's and 20's for his troubles. Astonished at this request, Charlie throws her list on the ground. He cannot take the commercialism, but alas, he still has a play to direct. At the theater, nobody was happy to see him. And, I mean, no one. They all complained that he was going to ruin the play, just like he ruined everything. In his defense, Lucy demands everyone to show Charlie some respect and discipline.
After assigning roles, Lucy corners Charlie, demanding that she get the role of the Christmas Queen since a queen should be beautiful. She then accuses Charlie of calling her ugly since he hesitated to call her beautiful. In a trial run, Charlie is frustrated with everyone’s lack of cooperation, despite Lucy thinking they did a good job. In Charlie’s eyes, it is all wrong. Christmas has turned into a huge commercial racket. He wants the play to show some holiday spirit, so he suggests they get a Christmas tree. Lucy tells him to get an aluminum tree, perhaps in pink. Everyone tells Charlie to do the right thing for a change and pick a good tree. He takes Linus with him to find a tree. Once at the tree lot, he settles on a
little wood tree over the vast selection of colorful aluminum trees. However, Linus warns Charlie about what Lucy said regarding the modern spirit. Charlie doesn’t care, and for the first time in the episode, he actually appears happy. He claims the tree needs him.
When he returns, everyone is mad about the tree. He is called stupid because he was supposed to get a good tree but got a “poor” tree. They tell him he is undependable and he cannot do anything right. They also call him completely hopeless. One even says that he has been dumb before, but he out did himself this time. Everyone laughs at him and his tree, including Snoopy.
Through all the insults, he still does not know what Christmas is all about. Linus answers Charlie’s question with the spiritual meaning. Without saying a word, Charlie happily leaves the auditorium and takes his tree with him. Everyone follows. Charlie remembers what Linus recited, “For, behold, I bring you tidings if great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you.” He cannot let commercialism ruin his Christmas. On his way home, he spots that Snoopy has won first place, giving him the idea to decorate his tree to prove everyone wrong. He places an ornament on the tree, but the tree tips over. He blames himself for killing his tree. His friend's insults did not help because he started believing them. He blames himself for not doing anything right and destroying everything he touches. Defeated, he goes home.
Everyone arrives on the scene and finds Charlie’s sad tree. Linus admits he never thought it was a sad little tree; it just needed a little love. Everyone helped decorate it and admitted it was a lovely tree. One even says, “Charlie Brown is a blockhead but he did get a nice tree.” They all start to hum, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” near the tree. Charlie comes back to all the commotion and finds his tree is all decorated. Everyone wishes him a Merry Christmas, and he joins them. Beyond the commercialism, Christmas has a deeper meaning.
The True Meaning of Christmas
The reason Charlie felt let down was because his friends and family were making Christmas all about the materialistic aspects, such as having the perfect tree or the best toys. They lost sight of what Christmas is really about. It was supposed to be a joyous holiday, and they only thought about themselves. Charlie wanted to direct the play in a way that showed the true meaning, yet his friends were not being supportive. He thought a Christmas tree may bring them closer together, but it only drove them apart. Again, they were only thinking of the commercialism aspects. They did not even despair Charlie’s feelings. They assumed he was going to ruin the play and did not even want him involved. Lucy only had his back because she wanted something from him. It is no wonder Charlie felt depressed.
Of all the trees in the lot, Charlie’s tree was the only one many would overlook. It was not big or flashy like the rest. This may have been why Charlie was attracted to it in the first place. He was the only one who saw the potential, and everyone else was quick to judge. The first time Charlie is seen depicting any sign of happiness is when he sees the tree. His friends, on the other hand, had a different reaction. They laughed at the tree and called it a “poor tree,” signifying that they only cared about the materialistic aspect of Christmas.
Charlie was caught between personal expectations and the external pressures of a commercialized, idealized holiday. In his search to find the true meaning of Christmas, his friends were dismissive and superficial. They had bought into a materialistic Christmas, which explains why they blew up on Charlie. His tree symbolizes the true meaning of Christmas. It is not found in material wealth or external perfection but in love, kindness, and community.
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