A Charlie Brown Christmas - Bold Enough to Tell Us

[@aaronwhite3298]

Thank you my dude that was fantastic! Of all the Durbans in the world, you're the Durbaniest! This is one of the most important Christmas movie traditions my family has and it really does span generations on this one. My grandparents watched it with with my mom Patti (amazing mom) and my two aunt's through the 60's and 70's when they were little. In the 80's, my mom watched it with me and my brother when it came on during it's broadcast days and through the 90's when my sister was born and the 00s as we all grew up. Now I watched it with my wife and kids. Our tradition is to watch it on Christmas Eve night before bed so they go to sleep with the true meaning of Christmas playing on their heads. Released on December 9th 1965, turning 56 this year. I can only hope the love for Charlie Brown Christmas flows through my kids to their kids one day and the true meaning of Christmas will ring in the hearts of my family from generation to generation all from a little cartoon with a great big heart... Thank you Chris, Merry Christmas and God bless!

[@captainmofongo584]

It was such a gutsy move by Charles Schultz because the network was dead against him including the story of the birth of Jesus into the special. The gamble paid off. One could argue it is the most successful special ever produced under this IP. This special always resonated with me. I can remember getting a read along book and record Christmas of 1980 and played it over and over again. It is just a complete gem and watched routinely every year.

[@sharonbrunner9842]

I was born in 1966 and have watched this every year since as It wasn't Christmas until we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas. Notice how Linus, who is never without his blanket, when he starts his speech saying "Fear not..."he drops his blanket. He lets go of his security blanket and truly fears not! Besides this my favourite Christmas movie is A Christmas Carol, the 1951 black and white version (!) with Alistair Sim.

[@RachelsReviews]

I recently did a podcast on this special so rewatched it and it's so moving. When Linus recites Luke 2 it is such an honest and true moment I don't know how anyone regardless of their faith isn't moved by it.

[@DemitriVladMaximov]

A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the best Christmas specials ever done not just because of how it represents traditional Christmas, but how Linus cuts through all the levels of built-up traditions and media messages to explain exactly what the true joy and happiness of Christmas is all about: the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

[@AndreNitroX]

Agreed

[@michaelclark6223]

My family watches this at least once each Christmas season. A tradition older than I am, going back to when my mom was 6 years old.

[@martibriggs]

Charlie Brown Christmas is such a classic. And seeing the tie-in scenes from The Chosen! Well, it can't get any better than that! Thanks for this review. 🎄😊

[@Tenjac]

On point as always!

[@joecarroll3371]

Charlie Brown Christmas was required viewing every year when I was a kid in the 80s. It still works today. As for my current Christmas tradition, I usually watch Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi(1983) on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It's unusual but the film puts me in a good mood.

[@AndreNitroX]

Not bad

[@bryangustafson2748]

"It is a rule, universally acknowledged, that any good theologian must eventually review Charlie Brown." I ❤ the peanuts sense of humor, it actually helped me get through the high school years will still keeping a postive outlook. Congratulations on finally watching my favorite Christmas Film!

[@l.m.n.2338]

I have to watch this cartoon every year. I always get teary at the end. It's timeless.

[@AaronJohnson-mo8rf]

a charlie brown christmas is a fun christmas special that is generally rewatched during the holidays because what i like about it, is that its story helps to explain to the viewer the joy and happiness of christmas there was a couple of sequels to this special: one that cbs aired in the 1990s called its christmas time again, charlie brown another i think is called i want a dog for christmas charlie brown, which abc aired in which rerun visits and he plays with snoopy and spike both of these sequels have similar morals to the first special which involve joy and happiness in their own manner but a little bit more about its christmas time again charlie brown before i explain more involving a charlie brown christmas during its christmas time again, charlie brown there is a funny scene where peppermint patty is talking to marcie practicing for the school christmas play, and she notices that her role is a sheep and marcie plays a shepard anyways, continuing on with my explain of charlie brown christmas the entire special is great though there are key scenes that are a lot more entertaining than others i do like the snoopy scene at the beginning where he's putting lights up for christmas i enjoy the sally scene where shes dictating a letter to santa that charlie brown writes for her and its both cute and funny another fun snoopy scene is during the practices for the christmas play where when lucy is getting a little too rowdy, snoopy comes in and starts to lick lucy and lucy goes "bleah, dog germs" that bit gets me laughing every time when lucy says that the lucy scenes that are entertaining, are when she talks to charlie brown earlier before snoopy licks her, The problem with lucy, is that she has this weird ego where shes attention getting and so does violet and patty, and i agree , lucy ,patty and violet are such jerks to charlie for portions of the special when you hear lucy and patty and violet say all sorts of mean things to charlie, that says to the viewer that its just ridiculous, he could have just ignored them peacefully and found a better tree , and he would still ignore their teasing whereas charlie brown while hes a little upset, he wants to figure out a humble way to help But the important part of the special is when linus explains about what christmas is all about its this piece in the special that i was quite happy , cause it helps to understand that what linus is saying to the viewer is about the meaning of christmas the ending with the tree turning into a big tree is magnificent

[@TheGhettoDebutante]

Right Chris, and this is waaaay before Social media and Amazon

[@havelahmclat]

🙌👏💜Amen. People must know. True meaning of Christmas.

[@joedoesstuff8087]

I always get emotional when they start singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. A good song for a good special.

[@recordedentertainment2916]

This is probably my favorite Christmas film!

[@jandm4ever716]

Another cool thing in regards to the Christmas tree is that, this special came out in the mid 60s, a time when having bright pink or silver Christmas tree’s was common. This episode helped to bring people back to the traditional green trees.

[@peggyerlandson8493]

I love A Charlie Brown Christmas so much that I bought it so I can watch it any time!

[@GSF179]

Durban, you’re the best. I love you’re take on this classic that came out like 5 years before I was born. I appreciate and am happy to see that some people still want to show what Christmas is really about. Thank you, Durban. Have a Merry Christmas.

[@medinajones5750]

Hey Chris!! Thanks for this!! A classic favorite of mine, as well as so many people!! Wishing you and your family love, peace and joy this holiday season!! Have a blessed Christmas and New Year!!😍😍😍😍😍

[@joannapilgrim]

Hello from Barbados 🇧🇧 Durban and (as we say here) Happy Christmas to you and yours. I literally just watched A Charlie Brown Christmas last night with my 10yr old son. We laughed so much because we know this season's true meaning and to see how caught up and distracted everyone was in commercialism was comical. My husband got really excited at the end when Linus boldly spoke the truth. May we ALL be so bold to spread the light of love hope peace and joy this season and all throughout the year. Jesus is coming soon and we ought strive to bring as many people to heaven with us as possible.

[@ChrisDurban]

Amen!

[@christianali5431]

My uncle Jim adores the peanuts story in all of its facets and mediums. When we asked him why he loved the Charlie Brown stories so much, one of his answers was this Christmas special, and how Charles Schultz was brave enough to talk about how the birthday and the nativity of Jesus Christ was “what Christmas is all about.“ How devout Charles Schultz was in his Christianity [if he was a Christian at all] is only best known by those who knew him the best in life, but the sincerity of his recounting of Jesus Christ and the life story that he lead as the true meaning of Christmas cannot be denied.

[@chrissybrown7]

They got it right! This year we sent out Charlie Brown Christmas cards to countless friends and loved ones. Inserted a copy of my drawing “The Reason” and scriptures referencing who we are in Christ. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

[@AndreNitroX]

Merry CHRISTmas. Excellent review!

[@carolwelstead2547]

Wow! What an insightful review. I’ve always loved that special, and it is even more applicable today. As always, great job….and The Chosen scenes were perfect to go along with this. Merry Christmas!

[@jandm4ever716]

My favorite Christmas film is Home Alone. I live only 40 minutes from where it was filmed! The scene with Kevin and the old man in the church is my favorite.

[@AG_KEMPER]

A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of 3 Christmas movies I'll willingly watch (2 if you don't count Die Hard). Charlie Brown was a favorite of my maternal grandfather (z"l), whom I never got to meet in life, and that blockhead has given me a load of insight into his mind. Charlie Brown exhibits symptoms of clinical depression - mainly apathy/disinterest towards things meant to bring happiness and joy, which causes him distress and anger. He cannot explain why he feels this way, and his friends and peers telling him to "just be happy" and give into the holiday spirit infuriates him. His friends and peers are judgmental and cruel towards him, telling him that he's "bringing down the mood", not understanding that he's trying his best. What Charlie Brown needs in this moment is for his friends to sit with him where he's at and love him there. This is best exemplified by the tree. When Charlie Brown brings the little miserable tree to his friends, they're furious with him for bringing in something so lifeless. He tries to spruce it up by putting a bauble on it - a representation of the societal expectation of the season - but it brings the tree down. Quite literally, the societal expectations of the season are too heavy for this little tree to handle. Charlie Brown is this tree, and the bauble is his friends' expectations. He crumbles under the weight, and it nearly brings him all the way down. Linus - the one who tells Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas - is the one who looks at the tree and says "it isn't such a bad little tree after all, it just needs some tender loving care". He ties his beloved blanket around the base - a representation of the true meaning of Christmas providing stability - and he leads the others in caring for the miserable little tree. When they provide what the little tree needs, it flourishes. Yes, it's still a little tree, but it is a beautiful tree covered in love and light, cared for by people who love it very much. This message resonates with me, as someone who lives with clinical depression. Christmas has always been hard, but for nearly 8 years, I suffered greatly during this season in the way that Charlie Brown did. I couldn't understand why I was incapable of feeling the joy of the season. I knew I was bringing my friends and family down, so I bottled it up. This just led to greater emotional blowouts, which led to greater suffering. When I finally sought treatment for my depression last year, I felt like the little tree after it received that tender loving care. I still have depression, but I have a great support system to keep me upright. My grandfather also suffered from depression, but the society in which he lived was not so understanding; he was crushed under the weight of the bauble. I think this is why this simple little Christmas story resonated so loud with my Jewish grandfather.

[@LukeHerchuk]

Thanks for sharing your story Aubrey!

[@christianali5431]

Jesus Christ himself was Jewish. Your grandfather is more of what Christmas is all about than most people I know about.

[@Vampirebloodthirst]

My mom got A Charlie Brown Christmas for my niece a few years ago and that was either the first time or second time (can't remember which) I watched it. I don't remember my reaction to it but I know I didn't hate it. Christmas is going to look different this year for me and my family because my mom died yesterday.

[@lrosario552]

That's hard. I'm really sorry for your pain and such a great loss, especially during the holidays.

[@joannapilgrim]

Thanks for ministering The Gospel on your channel and I this video. May God bless you richly for Christ' sake Amen

[@Ementopcool]

Great video bro! I'm surprised you haven't review more Peanuts stuff.

[@agrumpycarebear3529]

I love Linus

[@gracechang1657]

Another fantastic review, Durban! I love A Charlie Brown Christmas! 😃🎄✨👼🏼 (Thanks for requesting this, @aaronwhite!) So many pearls of truth and wisdom packed into this short film! And that humble little Christmas tree 😭🌾…such a powerful metaphor of how the love of Christ redeems and transforms our pitiful lives! It’s a great reminder that we should be patient, kind, and merciful to others, particularly those who don’t know Jesus yet, because we could be their Charlie Brown, sharing the love of Christ with them. So thankful for Charles Schultz for sowing seeds of God’s Word into the hearts and souls of kids around the world! 🥲♥️👼🏼✨

[@peggykelliher5698]

It would have been nice to see the part of Linus telling the Christmas story. It is my favorite part of the whole video.

[@ChrisDurban]

Yeah, it's a great part. I can only play so much on KZbin but it is a great moment!

[@peggykelliher5698]

@@ChrisDurban it's THE MOMENT

[@comicsabomonation]

I’ve always loved The Polar Express despite its full on secularism. The soundtrack is unbelievable.

[@joannapilgrim]

Every Christmas, I usually like to watch "The Preacher's Wife" with the incomparable Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington, and Courtney B. Vance

[@nicolecummings40]

Jesus Christ Is The Real/True Meaning for The Christmas Season!!!!!✝️❤🎄 I love you so very much, Brother in Christ!!!!✝️❤😘