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"A Charlie Brown Christmas" appeared more than 40 years ago, the first of more than 40 animated Peanuts specials to come. But it was the Christmas special's gentle tone that set the pattern with its lively music and a sweet (if bittersweet) story.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

While a chorus of children signs "Christmas time is here" and skates on the lake, Charlie Brown realizes he's depressed - even before he notices that he didn't get any Christmas cards. It's a surprisingly personal take on Christmas, since Schulz himself struggled with depression. The special sincerely explores Charlie Brown's Christmas experience, as he's advised at Lucy's "Psychiatric help" booth to seek involvement. But Charlie Brown discovers his sister Sally wrote Santa Claus saying that she wants money instead of presents - "How about tens and twenties?" Even his dog Snoopy confidently enters a contest for Christmas decorations to "find the true meaning of Christmas, win money, money, money!"

I love the original and thoughtful take on the holiday - and jazz musician Vince Guaraldi created some wonderful Christmas-y music using mostly just a piano and drums, including the song "O Tannenbaum" and some Beethoven for Schroeder!

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

Beautiful artwork shows Linus waiting in a dark, Halloween-y pumpkin patch, convinced that "The Great Pumpkin" will appear somewhere tonight and deliver presents to whichever pumpkin patch is most sincere. Meanwhile the other Peanuts characters attend a Halloween party, then go trick-or-treating (receiving candy from adults who are never shown).

When the show originally aired, children across America mailed Halloween candy to the studio, because in the special poor Charlie Brown had received nothing but rocks. I've always enjoyed the way the Peanuts characters have a real enthusiasm for Halloween - while confronting moments of real angst. (Sally Brown worries she'll be accused "of taking part in a rumble," and Linus realizes that he's mistakenly said "If the Great Pumpkin comes," instantly spoiling his chance to be the year's most sincere ppatch.) But the best part shows Snoopy imagining that he's trapped behind enemy lines after losing a World War I aerial fight against the infamous Red Baron. Imaginative artwork shows him crawling across a dark night, inadvertently crashing Lucy's Halloween party and giving her a "dog germ" surprise while she's bobbing for apples!

"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"

Peppermint Patty plays a large role

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