Beyond Words

Sixty years ago this year a classic was born when “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was first seen on American televisions. No one knew at the time that it would become a classic but generations have grown to love the simple story of a simple boy wanting to bring simplicity back into Christmas. Yep, that’s really what the legend is all about. Sure, it includes Snoopy’s silly dancing, fun piano riffs, a Christmas pageant, and what is undoubtedly one of the holiday’s most enduring symbols: the infamous Charlie Brown Christmas tree; but ultimately the script reminds us what the real gift of Christmas is.

In the tale, Charlie Brown is bummed because all his buddies…Lucy, Sally, even Snoopy…seem more concerned with presents and money than the reason for the season. Commercialism has run amok and it’s taken the Christmas spirit out of one Mr. Brown. When Lucy suggests he direct the Christmas play, Charlie Brown agrees and all seems to be going well until it’s time for him and Linus to pick out a tree. There’s peer pressure from the cast to choose a shiny aluminum one, but Charlie Brown chooses a small, sickly tree that he innocently believes only needs some tender loving care, saying “This little green one here seems to need a home.” Others laugh at it and at him, but the laughter stops when Linus gives a speech of all speeches in which he quotes Luke 2:8-14.

“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.” Then Linus turns to his pal and says, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

End scene. Amen. Hallelujah.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered on CBS on December 9, 1965 and was viewed in and estimated 15,490,000 homes; nearly half of all those watching television that evening.

Shulz’s goal for the special was to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  Many at the time even back then thought its quoting of the bible should maybe be rethought. Some even went so far as to ask  Schulz to omit any and all scripture. Schulz refused to do so. I can’t help but wonder if that happened today would today’s television producers and writers fall in line with Schulz.

In the end, the sound of sweet-voiced children singing “Christmastime is here” perfectly wrapped up the Christmas tale but it took Charlie Brown, Linus, and a droopy tree to remind everyone that unlike a shimmering aluminum tree, Christmas is not about tinsel and glitter. It’s about a King born in a barn in front of animals. You don’t get any more simple than that. Jesus could have been born anywhere, but He chose to be born in front of the lowly. If there was a tree in the manger, I’m guessing it was more like Charlie Brown’s than any color-coordinated or perfectly adorned tree.

In many Western Christian churches, including most Catholic and Lutheran parishes, today marks the Second Sunday of Advent. Growing up, we didn’t really “celebrate” Advent but I’ve grown to embrace it. Expectation and anticipation come into play as we focus on hope, faith, joy, and peace…the four candles of an Advent wreath.

The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “coming.” During Advent, Christians patiently await the coming of their Savior, Jesus Christ. It generally begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, ends on Christmas Eve, and ranges in length from 22 to 29 days. Christians around the world have different ways of celebrating Advent. Some light candles, some sing, some eat candy, some give gifts, and some hang wreaths. As I mentioned above, one of the most popular Advent symbols is the Advent wreath.

Origins of the Advent Wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic people who gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in the cold and dark winter months in Eastern Europe. From Germany, the use of the Advent wreath spread across the Christian world.

Christians later kept the popular tradition alive and by the 16^th century Catholics and Prostestants throughout Germany used the symbol to celebrate Advent. Legend has it that the four candles and the four weeks represent 1,000 years and together total the 4,000 years between Adam and Eve and Jesus’ birth. Three candles on the wreath are purple and one is pink. They signify Christ being the light of the world and the contrast between darkness and light.

Today, wreaths are made up of various evergreens shaped in a circle that represents continuous life, as well as four candles that symbolize the four weeks of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, a purple “Prophet’s Candle” is lit as we focus on Hope and Jesus’ coming. The second Sunday of Advent’s “Bethelehem Candle” purple candle symbolizes faith and is followed by the third Sunday’s pink “Shepherd’s Candle” reminding us of Joy and the birth of Jesus. On the last Sunday of Advent, the “Angel’s Candle” of Peace is lit. Some Advent wreaths also add a fifth white “Christ Candle” is the middle, which is lit on Christmas.

Then there’s the beloved manger scene: a simple stable complete with animals, a mom, a dad, and a baby like no other. What always reigns me in is the fact that the King of kings chose not to be born in a castle or palace, but in what was in essence a barn. This, along with the poor shepherds surrounding Him, can serve as reminders of the poor among us, as Father Larry reminded us of in today’s mass.

Yesterday Catholics celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas. Considered the “first Santa,” good ole St. Nick wore a red coat like Santa, had a beard, and loved to share and give. He’s also mentioned in the classic “The Night Before Christmas.” Who knew?!

A very rich and generous man, St. Nicholas heard about a family that didn’t have enough money to buy food so he snuck onto their roof and threw some gold coins down their chimney. The coins landed in their stockings, which were hanging over the fire to dry. This, my friends, is why we hang stockings on fireplaces and put treats in them!

Candy canes are also sometimes found on mantels and something about them just makes me smile. I particularly love their red-and-white striped pattern as I love stripes, I love patterns, and I love me some red and white! I remember my mom hanging them on our Christmas tree and although I don’t follow her in that practice, I do have a festive vase of them sitting on my kitchen counter every Christmas. Candy canes are fun and festive and they also have an interesting story behind them.

Did you know the flavor of peppermint is similar to hyssop, which is a member of the mint family and was used in biblical times for purification? The shape of the candy cane also has religious undertones as on that first Christmas morn, who were among the first to visit and meet Baby Jesus? That would be shepherds and as they paid homage to the newborn Savior, they carried with them their crooks, which they used in the field to round up sheep. It’s no coincidence that candy canes resemble those curved, reminders and that like the shepherds, Jesus protects us like His little lambs.

The red and white colors of a candy cane are said to represent purity and love. And finally, what do you get when you turn a candy cane upside down? The letter J. Whose name starts with J? Jesus!

Funny thing though, I really don’t love to eat candy canes. I just like to look at them. Maybe I should rethink this, as peppermint like the kind found in candy canes, actually has some major health benefits.

And last but certainly not least, why do we give presents? Well, think of the 3 Kings. They brought gifts to the infant King and by giving to others, we model their generous act. Our daughter Kristen only gets three presents at Christmas, which has been our family tradition all her life. If three gifts were good enough for Jesus, they are certainly good enough for the rest of us!

All of these things explain some age-old traditions and also demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas. It breaks my heart to see the real reason for the season become increasingly secular, “offensive,” and commercial but my hope is that by sitting back and understanding exactly why we have days off in December and why stores love this time of the year, we will realize that there is so much more to it all than just time off, shopping, and Santa. I have hope.