Christmas Sells

  I learned as much about Christmas from watching animated specials on television as I did by reading the Bible. 

This might sound sacriligeous, and it probably is, but Linus Van Pelt is where I first heard the words from the Book of Luke. I did not know it at the time, but that little bit almost kept the Columbia Broadcasting System from airing it back in 1965, but then it went on to become a staple of my family's holiday viewing. "Too religious," they worried. 

Of course this doesn't mention the core message of that first Peanuts TV special is all about how commercialized Christmas has become. Sponsored by Coca-Cola. Keeping in mind that this half hour cartoon came in second place behind Bonanza with ratings that certified it as a hit, ensuring that it would be seen again and again for decades to come. 

Also ensuring that T-shirts and dolls and sheets and lunchboxes featuring the likenesses of Charlie Brown and the gang would sell and keep selling each time the viewing public was reminded of another holiday by Mister Schulz and his band of animators. The folks at Dolly Madison were extremely happy with the sales generated by their sponsorship of the "non-commercialization" broadcasts. 

A year after the initial airing of Charlie Brown learning the true meaning of Christmas, the incredible partnership of Chuck Jones, Boris Karloff and Dr. Seuss brought the story of the Grinch stealing Christmas into our living room. This special was also a great big hit, destined to be aired over and over again each December, and eventually remade into a feature motion picture starring Jim Carrey and directed by Opie Cunningham. It had all the manic energy of a Road Runner cartoon, but with the sublime message once again that "Christmas didn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more." 

All these wholesome messages don't come cheap. These days, if you want to enjoy the True Meaning of Christmas, you'll need to sign up for one of those streaming services to catch it. Sure, you won't have to sit through commercials for snack cakes, but you will be fortifying Apple and Peacock with your subscription. 

And isn't that what Christmas is all about?