50 years after it was created, the animated cartoon A Charlie Brown Christmas continues to be one of the most loved Christmas films. In this film there are no elves, no reindeer, no Santa. It's just about us.
The Spirit of Christmas
Charles Schulz, the creator, wrote a short story about how a meaningful holiday such as Christmas has become so commercialized that it has lost any meaning.
The magic of Christmas now is the kind of magic we create when we pay attention to someone other than ourselves.
The film emphasizes the need for hope and love, reminding us that the Christmas season can bring anxiety and a feeling of being alone and unloved for many people.
"I know nobody likes me," sighs Charlie Brown in the animated special. "Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"
The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
Charlie buys a sad little Christmas tree for the school play. This tree represents all the world's underfed, unseen, unloved people. However, it can still be rescued.
In fact, with a little love, care and attention, it can truly become something special and even magic.
QUESTION: Watch the short film and learn about one of the most popular idioms about Christmas that comes from the story: "A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. "
Can you figure out what it means?
Discussion
1. Do you decorate your home for Christmas?
2. Do you put up a Christmas tree?
3. Do you use a real Christmas tree or an artificial tree?
4. Have you ever seen an aluminum Christmas tree?
5. Have you ever acted in a play? What was your character/role?
6. When you were younger did you write a letter to Santa?
What was the best gift you ever got for Christmas?
7. Do you think Christmas has become too commercialized?
8. Has Christmas lost it’s true meaning?
Vocabulary Match
1. Charlie Brown thinks __________
a. he is sick
b. he feels strange
c. he doesn't like Christmas
d. something is wrong with him
2. Linus tells Charlie Brown he is the only person who_______
a. can enjoy Christmas
b. turn Christmas into a problem
c. hates Christmas
d. is miserable at Christmas
3. Charlie Brown gets _______ Christmas card(s)
a. three
b. one
c. no
d. two
4. Lucy tells Charlie Brown he must pay her ______for advice.
a. fifty cents
b. five cents
c. five dollars
d. a dollar
5. Charlie Brown tells Lucy he feels ____________ instead of happy about Christmas.
a. let down
b. let off
c. led to town
d. upside down
6. Lucy tells Charlie brown he needs to ___________ Christmas.
a. get more involved
b. learn more about
c. get more information about
d. talk to people about
7. Lucy always gets depressed at Christmas because _____
a. she always gets toys
b. she always gets clothes
c. she never gets what she wants
d. she only gets a bicycle
8. Snoopy is planning to have a __________
a. a commercial concert
b. Christmas concert
c. a light display contest
d. a meaning of Christmas contest
9. Charlie Brown is upset with his his sister because ______
a. she wants him to write a letter to Santa
b. she asks Santa for money
c. she doesn't include him in her list
d. she wants too much for Christmas
10. When Charlie Brown starts directing the Christmas play, _____
a. everyone cheers
b. everyone listens to him
c. no one pays attention
d. Snoopy falls asleep
11. In the play, Snoopy will play ______
a. a dog
b. all the animals
c. an animal
d. a donkey
12. When Lucy shows her fist, Linus says Christmas is getting ___________
a. stupid
b. commercial
c. interesting
d. dangerous
13. Lucy is angry at Charlie Brown because he ______
a. didn't see her
b. didn't say she was beautiful
c. didn't put her in the play
d. didn't want a Christmas queen
14. Charlie Brown does not want the play to be _______
a. commercial
b. too long
c. too boring
d. expensive
15. Lucy wants a(n) ______________
a. green Christmas tree
b. natural Christmas tree
c. aluminum Christmas tree
d. expensive Christmas tree
16. Charlie Brown wants the sad little Christmas tree because ______
a. it looks real
b. it's green
c. it's perfect for the play
d. it needs him
17. Linus thinks the sad little Christmas tree _______
a. is beautiful
b. is perfect
c. isn't modern enough
d. isn't pretty
18. When the kids reject Charlie Brown's tree, he says ________
a. nobody likes me
b. this play is ridiculous
c. what's wrong with me
d. everything I do is a disaster
19. Charlie says he knows what Christmas is about.
a. False
b. No Information
c. True
20. Linus tells Charlie Brown Christmas is about
a. peace on earth
b. an old story from a long time ago
c. angels flying around in the sky
d. the birth of a saviour
21. When Charlie thinks his tree is dead, Linus says it just ______
a. needs decorations
b. needs a little love
c. needs a good hug
d. needs water
22. When Charlie Brown comes back, the kids _______
a. say they like his Christmas tree
b. tell him they like him
c. have decorated the tree
d. have found a new tree
Further Discussion
1. What did you enjoy most about the film?
2. Why is it that Charlie Brown as well as ourselves feel like we should have a certain type of feeling at Christmas?
3. Why is there more pressure on us to feel happy during the Christmas season than at other time of year? Why is it we feel that there is something wrong with us if we don't feel this way?
4. Studies show that a lot of people get depressed during or just after holidays like Christmas? Why do you think this happens?
5. What should depressed people do about this "depression" or sadness?
6. According to Charlie Browns' friend Linus, what is Christmas all about?
7. Do you think Christmas has become too commercial? Explain. How could they make it more meaningful?
8. Charlie Brown refused to "go along with" (agree with) what everyone else thought was normal when he was sure there was something better or more meaningful available. When is it good to “go along with” everyone around you and when is it better to make your own way?
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