It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

Now what?

Kind of a steep hill, isn't it?

Don't worry about it. Just lean forward and jiggle your feet.

I think I've changed my mind.

If I had of known you were only going that far, I would have stayed in.

Here we go. We put it in fast forward, and here we go.

Fast reverse.

I think they look better when they have a little star or an angel on top.

Would you like to buy a Christmas wreath?

It's not even Thanksgiving yet.

By the time Christmas comes, all the needles will be falling off.

Don't hang it near the turkey.

Would you like to buy a Christmas wreath?

It isn't even Thanksgiving yet.

Would you like to buy a Thanksgiving wreath?

Would you like to buy a Christmas wreath?

Do you know what you are doing?

Don't you realize you're adding to the over-commercializing of Christmas?

Not till I sell one.

Good morning. This is a Christmas wreath--

Thank you. I love samples.

I give up. I can't imagine anyone else having as much trouble as I do...

...selling Christmas wreaths.

Good morning, sir. Would you like to buy a nice Christmas wreath?

Merry Christmas anyway, sir.

"God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last of all.

And joy to the world.

Rats.

What are you up to, big brother?

I'm trying to sell Christmas wreaths from door to door.

Getting on the old commercial bandwagon, eh?

Going after those big holiday bucks, huh?

Need any help?

Good morning. Ask your mom if she would like to buy a Christmas wreath.

Tell her they were made from the famous forests of Lebanon.

You can read about them in the second chapter of the second book of Chronicles.

If you buy two, we'll throw in an autographed photo of King Solomon.

You can't tell people these wreaths were made from the forests of Lebanon.

That's lying.

Good morning, would you like to buy a Christmas wreath...

...made from some junky old branches my brother found in a Christmas tree lot?

You wouldn't, would you? And I can't say I blame you.

See? Your way doesn't work, either.

I think we need better packaging.

We need a better way to show off our product.

Good morning. Would you like to buy a Christmas wreath?

Guess what, Chuck. Disaster time.

Our teacher wants us to read a book during Christmas vacation.

Got any suggestions?

On what book to read?

No. On how to get out of it.

I'm not going to have to read a book, Marcie.

See, A Tale of Two Cities was just on TV.

I watched the movie, so now I won't have to read the book.

The only thing I didn't understand...

...were the parts about the shampoo, the soap and the coffee.

Those were the commercials, sir.

I'd like to read this book, Marcie, but I'm kind of afraid.

I had a grandfather who didn't think much of reading.

He always said if you read too many books, your head would fall off.

You start the first chapter, sir, and I'll hold on to your head.

Why aren't you reading your book, sir?

It's too nice a day to stay inside and read, Marcie.

Besides, I have to build this snowman.

If I don't do it, no one else will, and he'll never exist.

I'm his creator. It's my duty to give him life.

This snowman has a right to live, Marcie.

You're weird, sir.

Marcie, what book were we supposed to read during Thanksgiving vacation?

This is Christmas vacation, sir.

Christmas vacation?

How can I read something during Christmas vacation...

...when I didn't read what I was supposed to read during Thanksgiving vacation?

Duck, sir. Easter is coming.

-What are we going to hear today, Marcie? -Handel's "Messiah."

The most exciting part is when they get to the "Hallelujah" chorus...

...and everyone stands.

Standing is exciting?

[ORCHESTRA PLAYS HANDEL'S "HALLELUJAH"]

[CHOIR SINGS HANDEL'S "HALLELUJAH" CHORUS]

It's the "Hallelujah" chorus, sir. Everyone is standing up.

-They're what? -Standing up.

Yipe!

Everywhere we go, Marcie, you embarrass me.

What was Handel's first name, Marcie?

I'm ashamed to admit, I don't know.

I'll just have to guess.

I suppose we're going to have to listen to that bell ringing...

...every time we walk by here now.

Wouldn't you think he could do something besides ring a bell?

Just ignore that Santa Claus, Linus. There's nothing he can do to you.

I don't think you're a real Santa Claus.

What do you have to say about that?

I don't think you're the real Santa Claus.

If you're the real Santa, where are your helpers?

That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen.

You mean "giving." Christmas is the joy of giving.

I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about.

Giving. The only real joy is giving.

Like, wow.

I'm making out my Christmas list.

Now, how do you spell your name?

I'm your brother and you don't even know how to spell my name?

I'll put down "Sam." I know how to spell that.

-What was his name again? -Santa Claus.

-Any middle initial? -No, I don't think so.

At least I've never heard of one.

How about his wife? Do you know her name?

Well, sometimes you hear people say her name is Mary Christmas.

Really? That's very interesting.

Maybe I'll write to her instead.

Whoo-whoo! Hee-hee-hee.

-Where are all the candy canes? -The what?

The candy canes that were on the tree.

They're all gone.

-Have you looked outside? -Outside?

Tell me about Christmas, Linus.

How did all these Christmas stuff start anyway?

Except for the part of getting lots of presents...

...I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Well, this is from the second chapter of Luke.

You know what I hate? I hate shopping.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field--"

I haven't got anything for my brother for Christmas yet.

-"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came--" -Everything costs so much.

-"And the glory of the Lord shone round--" -I don't want to spend a lot.

"And they were sore afraid."

Actually, I don't really wanna spend any money at all.

-"And the angel said unto--" -I wonder if I can get him...

...something for free?

Is that it? I always thought the Christmas story was longer than that.

["THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" PLAYS OVER RADIO]

That song drives me crazy.

What in the world is a calling bird?

A calling bird is a kind of partridge.

In 1 Samuel 26:20, it says:

"For the king of Israel has come out to seek my life...

...just as though he were hunting the calling bird."

There's a play on words here, you see?

David was standing on a mountain, calling.

And he compared himself to a partridge being hunted.

Isn’t that fascinating?

If I get socks again for Christmas this year,

I'll go even more crazy.

I remember reading that Albert Schweitzer...

...dreaded the thought of receiving Christmas gifts.

And do you know why that was?

It was because he hated having to write thank you notes.

What do you think about that?

Who's Albert Schweitzer?

Yes, ma'am. I would like to buy a Christmas present for a girl I know.

I was thinking maybe a pair of gloves.

Would it help if I described her?

Well, she has 10 fingers....

Twenty-five dollars for a pair of gloves?

I'm sorry, ma'am, that's more than I can afford.

Could I maybe buy just a thumb?

I wanted to buy Peggy Jean some gloves for Christmas...

...but they cost $25.

She's going to be disappointed when she finds out her boyfriend is a cheapskate.

I'm not a cheapskate. I just don't have $25.

-Put it on your credit card. -I don't have a credit card.

So long, Peggy Jean.

I'd like to give Peggy Jean a nice pair of gloves for Christmas...

...but I can't afford it.

If she really likes you, Charlie Brown...

...she'll appreciate anything you give her.

If you don't give her exactly what she's expecting...

...she'll hate you for the rest of your life.

You know why I wanna buy Peggy Jean those gloves for Christmas?

When I first met her this summer at camp, I noticed what pretty hands she had.

I want those pretty hands to be warm.

But I don't have $25 to buy the gloves.

Send her a nice card and tell her to keep her hands in her pockets.

See? There they are.

Those are the gloves I'd like to buy Peggy Jean for Christmas.