Christmas time is here (again)
[Originally posted in 2007.]Last night Tonight was another episode of a family tradition. Les and I sat down with Erin, Jon and Gloria (Morgann being a normal cynical 21 23 year old, declined) and watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" followed by "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (Dr. Seuss with Chuck Jones animation - it doesn't get any better than that!). We have been doing this every year at Christmas time since the kids were very small. We don't allow them to watch the tapes any other time of year because then they'd just be two more overwatched and then ignored videos in their library. Instead, we always make it the special once-a-year event it was when Les and I were little, and if you missed those shows on broadcast TV (always brought to you by Coca Cola and Dolly Madison), then you were out of luck for an entire year. And of course all your friends watched them, too, and we all talked and laughed about them the next day at school - such was the social nature of only having three channels, but I digress.
So we all snuggled up on the couch together and watched the two shows. It was great. And every year I tear up in exactly the same places, guaranteed. I have since I was small myself. The first is during "Charlie Brown", and it is this scene:
The second is during "Grinch" at the end when "Christmas came, just the same" and then his heart grows, he saves the sleigh and hands out all the presents (couldn't find the clip on YouTube - sorry).
Afterwards I cooked dinner while the soundtrack playing in the background (another tradition). Vince Guaraldi put together such a wonderful jazz album for that show that I don't categorize it as Christmas music so much as I do jazz with a Christmas theme. Lovely.
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...
- "Christmas Time is Here", Vince Guaraldi
2 comments:
I love it Jim. Great family stuff.
Christmas Time is Here is my 2nd favoritest Christmas song ever (The first is David Foster's Carol of the Bells, it's the ringer on my phone this time of year).
But you're right, I love Vince Guaraldi..."Skating" is another one of my favorites.
And then there's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," which preceded all his Charlie Brown stuff but is still a beautiful, mellow jazz number.
Good stuff.
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