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Posted on 12/25/2025 9:49:58 AM PST by DFG
Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas has been a tradition for millions since it first aired on December 9, 1965. In 2020, many Americans were disappointed that Apple TV scooped up the streaming rights for future years. The outrage ultimately resulted in it showing up exclusively on PBS and again on 2021. (One way to fight this sort of problem, and the threat of cancel culture, is to buy so-called "controversial" shows and movies on Blu Ray DVD.)
However you watch it, there's so much to appreciate: Many love the iconic Vince Guaraldi score, the humor and the animation. But one part of the special has always stood out and made it unique: Linus’s recitation of the Gospel of Luke.
Explaining the true meaning of Christmas in a network television special broadcast to millions was a controversial move, even 55 years ago. In 2015, The Washington Post published a retrospective on A Charlie Brown Christmas. Michael Cavna explained Peanuts creator Charles Schulz’s mission in making the special:
Charles Schulz insisted on one core purpose: A Charlie Brown Christmas had to be about something. Namely, the true meaning of Christmas. Otherwise, Schulz said, “Why bother doing it?”
To Coca-Cola’s credit, Mendelson says, the corporate sponsor never balked at the idea of including New Testament passages. The result — Linus’s reading from the Book of Luke about the meaning of the season — became “the most magical two minutes in all of TV animation,” the producer says.
Schulz stood strong, despite efforts to talk him out of quoting from the Bible. On December 5, 2005, USA Today recounted:
[Executive producer Lee] Mendelson and animator Bill Melendez fretted about the insistence by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz that his first-ever TV spinoff end with a reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke by a lisping little boy named Linus.
"We told Schulz, 'Look, you can't read from the Bible on network television,' " Mendelson says. "When we finished the show and watched it, Melendez and I looked at each other and I said, 'We've ruined Charlie Brown.' "
Mental Floss writer Kara Kovalchik recounted what happened next:
But CBS had made a commitment to their sponsor, so they aired the special as scheduled on December 9, 1965. And, as often happens in the world of entertainment, the original gut reaction of the suits was completely wrong. A Charlie Brown Christmas drew in 15.4 million viewers, placing it second in the ratings that week after Bonanza. A few months later, Charles Schulz and Lee Mendelson found themselves onstage accepting an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program.
And so, the Charlie Brown creator persevered and created a Christmas classic that endures 56 years later. In case you don’t remember the iconic moment, here it is:
“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; 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 goodwill towards men.’”
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
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I think this article downplays how much CBS and Mendelson thought this was going to be a disaster. CBS had already told Mendelson that it would be aired once because they had to and they would never use them again.
Thank you for posting this!
It is a present that brings joy to MANY hearts!
I think I’ve only missed it once I was old enough to watch tv.
It was 1965. SO it might have been a disagreement, but it was probably less contentious than it is being cast then. This was still pretty much a very Christian nation.
Linus dropping his security blanket when he says “fear not” was perfect for that scene.
Profound! The only time Linus dropped his blanket.
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown
Keeping the Holy Spirit alive from 1952 was the Amos & Andy Christmas episode that showed up on my Youtube feed last night. Amazing indeed that it aired even back then. Merry Christmas!!!
https://youtu.be/FcNheswJSlk?si=Htg38QV7GSEFExXh
Oy vey! You couldn’t do this anymore
Another “big problem” they were concerned about was the jazz music by Vince Guaraldi.
They just knew that was all wrong. But it worked!
I watched the 1935 version of Scrooge last night.
Just a few years later Madalyn Murray O'Hair protested the Apollo 8 crew's reading from the Book of Genesis during a national broadcast. With the benefit of hindsight you can see the mile posts in the country's drift away from religion.
I saw one list that ranked Linus’ reading as one of the top ten moments in television history.
Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the Earth coming up. Wow, that's pretty.
Borman: Hey, don't take that, it's not scheduled. (joking)[1]
Anders: (laughs) You got a color film, Jim? Hand me that roll of color quick, would you...
Lovell: Oh man, that's great!
In 1969, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp (Scott# 1371) commemorating the Apollo 8 flight around the Moon. The stamp featured a detail (in color) of the Earthrise photograph, and the words, "In the beginning God...", recalling the Apollo 8 Genesis reading.
On Christmas Eve, Americans and the world—nearly a billion people—watched in awe as America's intrepid space explorers broadcast a message while orbiting the moon. During their ninth orbit of the Moon astronauts Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman recited verses 1 through 10 of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible.[1] Anders read verses 1–4, Lovell verses 5–8, and Borman read verses 9 and 10.
Madalyn Murray O'Hair, founder of American Atheists, responded by suing the United States government, alleging violations of the First Amendment.[8] The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. It was submitted to a three-judge panel, which concluded that the case was not a three-judge matter, and dismissed the case for failure to state a cause of action.[9] The direct appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.[10] Another appeal was heard before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the trial court's dismissal per curiam.[11] The Supreme Court declined to review the case.[12]
After the Apollo 8 mission, NASA became cautious about religious expressions due to legal challenges, particularly from activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair. This led to a culture of self-censorship within the agency regarding public displays of faith by its employees.
Yep. Posted on #16.
God Bless Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock and the Gang. Great Americans!!! Merry Christmas to Mr. Schulz.
how come i never see this on TV anymore..i always see the other Christmas shows, “GRINCH”, FROSTY”, etc...Was it shown and i just missed it??
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