The Meaning of Christmas
I was watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” the other night as I have for so many years and is a Christmas season tradition. I would say that even though it was first released in 1965 it has held up well in our so called modern times.
The main character is the namesake, Charlie Brown, of course, and he is full of anxiety over Christmas and its true meaning. Charlie Brown goes so far as to he is depressed during the season as he struggles to find the meaning of Christmas that seem lost to him but as he sees it is lost on others.
A particular poignant part of the loss of the meaning of Christmas is when Charlie Brown’s sister, Sally, dictates a letter to Santa for Charlie to write where she ends stating that if her list is too complicated for Santa he can just send money in the form of tens and twenties. Seeing that this exasperates her brother she states “All I want is what is coming to me. All I want is my fair share.”
The dicotomy of Sally and Charlie is what has stuck with me and seems as true today as it was in 1965. Sally expressing the secular meaning of Christmas while Charlie knowing that the secular meaning of Christmas is what is causing his anxiety. It seems to me that he knows that the secular meaning of Christmas was not formed from a void as what he is searching for is the spiritual meaning of the season.
What Charlie Brown is searching for is the spiritual meaning of Christmas. As fun and bonding as the secular part of Christmas is, often providing those bonding traditions that bring families closer together, and bring about the giving spirit of Christmas, the real meaning is the spiritual reason for the season.
Admittedly, that reason is lost not only by the secular traditions, but also in our overly complicated ways trying to understand the meaning on our own when we mistakenly try to figure it out on our own as it has already been provided to us if we just open our eyes and mind to His words for the spiritual meaning of Christmas and truly of the spiritual meaning of life in His creation.
Linus Van Pelt quoted it eloquently for Charlie Brown to see and remember the true and spiritual meaning of Christmas from the second chapter of the Book of Luke:
“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 good tidings of 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; 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, good will toward men.”
How many of us have too much in common with Charlie Brown during Christmas and not so much of the clarity of Linus? What we feel is not new or unique to 2025 but also the answer has been in front of us this entire time for us, not hidden in plain sight, but there for us all if we open our eyes to the word of God and the gift of a spiritual life. Maybe when questioning like Charlie Brown we, me included as an imperfect witness, turn to the words of God as found in The Bible.
I wish all a Merry Christmas and good will toward men.
Forgive me for all my errors. I wrote this impromptu at 5:30AM Christmas morning.