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Introduction
The celebration of holidays has become a perennial favorite of Peanuts' readers. Throughout the year, each season shines a spotlight on a holiday or celebration -- from Woodstock and Snoopy celebrating New Year's Eve, to Charlie Brown compulsively checking his mailbox for Valentines, to the Easter Beagle's joyful delivery of brightly painted eggs. The most magical season of each year, however, begins in the fall with Linus' wait for the Great Pumpkin at Halloween, continues with the Gang's often ill-fated attempts of togetherness at Thanksgiving, and concludes with their favorite holiday, Christmas!
Charles Schulz addressed most aspects of the holiday season, from the sometimes less-than-sincere letters to Santa to the post-Christmas blues, with his trademark wit and whimsy, allowing the rest of us to recognize and laugh at some of our holiday rituals and foibles. However, not all of Schulz's holiday strips are tongue-in-cheek. In several strips he brings a child's wonder, innocence, and sincerity to the Christmas story.
In Schulz's life, the Christmas season meant spending time with loved ones -- the more the merrier. One more at the table was always fine with him!
All the anticipation, joy, and pitfalls of the holiday season are creatively reflected in the Peanuts strips selected for this exhibition. |