Traditionally during this season, our family jumps right into the spirit of Christmas by watching some classic holiday films. The movie that always hits the top of our list includes Christmas queens, scraggly trees, and a lovable little dog named Snoopy. Good grief, it’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” of course!

While my sister and I have grown up a little more each year, Charlie Brown hasn’t followed suite, and our Christmas with him hasn’t been the same. I can’t remember the last time I even watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

The lack of Christmas traditions is sure to be common in every household this year. People just become too busy over the years. There’s just never enough time with holiday gifts to buy, cookies to bake, and decorations to put up. The traditions and spirit of Christmas just seem to fade away.

In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie himself is having this same difficulty. Although Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful time full of laughter and celebration, he just can’t seem to get into the spirit of the season. Something just doesn’t feel right.

All of Charlie’s other friends are preparing for the holidays. The Peanuts’ gang is putting together a Christmas play, his sister, Sally, is writing a letter to Santa, and even Snoopy is decorating his doghouse for a lights and display contest.

When Charlie seeks advice from Psychiatrist Lucy, she suggests that he become the play director and get involved. Then all his Christmas blues will go away.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t make the best director and feels that the play focuses too much on commercialism. Thinking that a tree could enhance the scenery of the play, Charlie and Linus, his best friend, set out to buy one.

While all the trees on the tree farm are a big and bright, Charlie notices a smaller tree with three branches and very few pine needles left. Of course it’s a scraggly tree, but he sees it’s potential and decides it just needs a little love. The other Peanuts don’t approve of Charlie Brown’s pitiful tree. He questions whether or not he can do anything right and if he’ll ever discover the true meaning of Christmas.   

This year I made myself sit down, away from my busy schedule, and take some time to relax and enjoy “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for the first time in a long while. It made me remember all my childhood Christmases growing up with the Peanuts. I could feel the spirit of Christmas again.     

Christmas isn’t about the tree, the gifts, the cookies, or the decorations. It’s about the birth of Jesus Christ, as Linus so graciously explains to Charlie Brown. Christmas is about family, friends, and spreading joy to all you love.

So put those stockings down, save the baking for later, and focus on the real reason for the season. Get into the Christmas spirit and give your holiday traditions a little love.