Ho, ho, ho! It’s that time of year again. And for this Musings I wanted to discuss “Christmas” specials. Obviously, in present day we’re being more inclusive by creating “Holiday” specials, but I really like harkening back to the older terminology not only to represent the era of OTR, but because from my point of view, calling it a “Christmas” special isn’t as excluding as it may seem by the label.
Full disclosure, I am NOT Christian. Didn’t even have the forced church attendance in my childhood that I fell away from as an adult. My father’s parents were Christian Reformists (like, women’s place is in the kitchen, dancing is a sin… including the Square Dancing my other grandparents enjoyed. Yeah, do si do all the way to Hell, grandma…). But both of those grandparents had passed by the time I was 3, and my dad had no inclination to keep that tradition up. So, without a chosen religion from my mom’s side, I grew up religion-free. But you can’t grow up in America without Christmas being everywhere (for more history on why, check out our Madison’s Mad Facts Dec. 10th) Therefore, I grew up with Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, Christmas trees, carols, pastries only baked in December, and presents opened on the 25th (and not the night before, we weren’t savages).
So for me, “Christmas” specials, be them much anticipated cartoons, a themed episode of my favorite sitcom, or a family movie, were just part of the season. I wasn’t versed in “Jesus,” so that speech from Linus was just boring. I sang Christmas carols about reindeer, snow, grandma’s house and Santa getting it on with someone’s mom. I fought my brother for the right to turn on the outside lights every night. And never noticed the religious side of the holiday. To me, THAT is what doing a “Christmas” special is today. It’s celebrating kindness, family togetherness, a reason not to hate snow, and all those other warm and fuzzy things. No, Jesus ISN’T the reason for the season (as we know historically). So I will unabashedly celebrate “Christmas” without aligning it was a belief in Christ. Heck, my name is “Christine” but I don’t align MYSELF with Christ, even though that is the origin of the name, right?
Now, I did actively choose to make Madison’s seasons greeting “Merry Holidays!” because I want people to know she wishes you the best, no matter what holiday you may celebrate. (She picked “Merry Holidays” to be the opposite of those Brits who say “Happy Christmas” which is just so darn precious) But, overall, Madison going into the old time radio show “Christmas” specials isn’t being us being exclusive to only Christians. It’s just ONE way to express the joy of the season, and can absolutely be seen as separate from a Christian religious holiday. Heck, I’m an atheist. I don’t uphold any “holy-days.” But I do like egg nog, Christmas music, decorating with pretty lights and reminding myself that for at least one month a year, people are more likely to smile, be kind, and show that we all are on this planet together.
-Chrisi (aka Madison)
