Exclusive: Why Linus is Right About Christmas, Charlie Brown

Have you ever seen A Charlie Brown Christmas? This holiday classic is timeless and elicits wonderful Christmas memories. Listening to The Vince Guaraldi Trio music is sure to put you in the holiday mood. Vince and the gang include classics from “Christmastime is Here” to “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” While Linus’ attempting to espouse wisdom regarding The Great Pumpkin missed the mark, he is prophetic about Christmas.

In this timeless classic, Charlie Brown laments, “Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Christmas is all about?!”

Linus Quotes The Gospel According to Luke

In response to Charlie Brown’s question, Linus asserts the following:

“Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please?
And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you
tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 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 good will
toward men.
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Linus is quoting the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 2, verses 8-14 from the King James version of the Bible. Even as a kid, I understood Charles Schultz through Charlie Brown and his character friends were imparting lifelong lessons.

Coca Cola and the Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas

The story behind the making of A Charlie Brown Christmas is fascinating. The Coco-Cola company essentially commissioned Charles Schultz to create A Charlie Brown Christmas. Lee Mendelson produced and Bill Mendelson directed this special show. The show made its debut on CBS on December 9, 1965 at 7:30 p.m. on the CBS Network and affiliates. Indeed, the due to instant success, attracting an estimated 36 million viewers, it became a holiday classic.

According to the Coca-Cola Archives, “Schulz and Mendelson only had three months to produce the special, animator Bill Melendez had to create more than 30,000 animation cells, and the voices had to be recorded. In a move unusual for the time, Schulz required that the voices of the kids be real kids as opposed to adults voicing the roles. Schulz also announced the show would contain one whole minute of the character Linus reading from the Bible. This was considered highly unusual in an entertainment show, but Schulz prevailed.”

Jean Schultz’s blog in the Schultz Museum reveals her own reflections related to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Jean outlines the “controversy” behind the making of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charles Schultz’s fortitude to insist in keeping in Linus’ religious scene about the “true meaning of Christmas” is epic. Money often talks, but Schultz stuck to his guns.

Schultz’s Message Resonates Precisely Because It Rejects the Commercialism of the Season

To this day, it does not seem like the Christmas season without a viewing of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Even as a kind, I always thought he most important minute was Linus’ speech. The significance of the Linus scene strikes me every year. Little did I realize how controversial Linus’ diatribe was. However, even as a kid, I realized that it was out of place in the world of a commercialized Christmas. Part of me knew deep down, it was risky for someone to speak of Jesus and Christmas in a broadcast. We grew up in an era when it was taboo to talk about religion , politics, and money.

But the aspect of Linus being right about Christmas endures. As does my personal tradition of “saving” the Charlie Brown Christmas tree from the lot each year. I’ve tried to impart this thinking on my children. I always let my kids know we were actively looking for the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It was an honor to be taking this tree home and giving it love and importance in our lives.

Emphasis on the True Spiritual Gifts

Everyone needs to adopt a cause at Christmas to feel the spirit of the season. By cause, I mean more than bringing home the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The birth of Christ provides several examples of good will towards men (and women). This good will includes the innkeeper extending generosity and an open heart towards Mary and Joseph. The angel of the Lord chose the shepherds to be the early visitors of the Lamb of God. The shepherds were offering their spiritual gifts of love, faith and devotion. Because the shepherds did not possess physical or material gifts. The spiritual gifts are the true and best gifts to offer someone. One must learn first hand, sometimes painfully, one cannot purchase true love, faith and devotion. Perhaps seemingly such “gifts” maybe temporarily purchased, but when the money runs out, so do the fair weather friends.

The Gifts of The Three Wise Men to the True King

The bible Christmas Story also reveals the story of The Kings who followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the True King, who was more important than the current King Herod. The Three Kings, a.k.a. the Three Wise Men, upon finding the newborn Jesus gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Indeed, the Three Wise Men knelt before Baby Jesus and worshipped him. The Three Wise Men, heeding the warning of a dream did not to return to King Herod because he planned to kill Baby Jesus. Instead, the Three Kings traveled to their faraway homelands by another route and were never heard from again.

The Three Kings saw the true King in Jesus even though he was a poor newborn without the comforts of his day. Jesus’ circumstances were not becoming of a King, yet these Three Wise Men were falling on their knees to give Jesus their best gifts.

When You Cared for One of the Least of These

The Bible tells us in Matthew 25, starting at line 35:

For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’ “Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink? When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you? When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least of these, my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’”

Linus’ soliloquy reveals the true meaning of Christmas and hopefully we are delivering all see beyond and act upon the true meaning. I know I have to constantly remind myself to be more generous to others all the time. Hopefully, the goodwill towards others extends beyond Christmas and throughout the year.

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!