Charlie Brown couldn't figure out why he wasn't feeling much holiday cheer.
He was surrounded by the usual Christmas decorations and traditions. He was director of the school Christmas play. He even spent time looking for the perfect Christmas tree. But when it all failed to get him into the spirit of the season, a distraught Charlie Brown posed a question:
"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” says Linus, who then recounts the story of Christ's birth by reciting the second chapter of Luke from the New Testament.
For almost 50 years, audiences have watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which ABC will air twice this season (Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. MST, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. MST), and joined in the beloved character's search to find — or be reminded — that Christmas means much more than the lights, trees and presents.
As television networks unveil their holiday lineups, most Christmas specials revolve around Santa, gifts and the commercial aspects of the holiday. However, there are several religious-themed programs — both new and classic — that families may want to consider as a reminder of what Christmas is all about.
BYUtv will delve into the story behind composer George Frideric Handel’s musical masterpiece in “Handel’s Messiah.” The docudrama will premiere on Thanksgiving evening at 7 p.m. MST but will be replayed several times throughout the holiday season. "Handel's Messiah" portrays the composer's life and the story behind the creation of his signature work and also features footage of live performances of the oratorio.
“There are dozens of songs and carols sung during the Christmas season, but none more broadly than Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ ” said Derek Marquis, managing director of BYUtv. “This single choral work has become universally embraced within all of Christendom.”
Marquis believes the docudrama will help audiences develop a greater understanding and appreciation for Handel’s work and God’s hand in its creation.
“Upon finishing the composition, Handel’s assistant entered the room and found him weeping, wherein he is quoted as having said, ‘I have seen the face of God,’ ” Marquis explained in an email to the Deseret News. “Now whether this was a figurative or a literal experience, we’ll never know. But I do believe that Handel could not have done what he did without him having felt Heaven watching over him as he composed this masterpiece.”
In addition to the BYUtv special, Utah's KUEN Channel 9 will broadcast a performance of Handel's "Messiah" by the United States Naval Academy Glee Club and Annapolis Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.
Elsewhere, the Lifetime network will air a two-hour special called "Women of the Bible" on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 5 and 9 p.m. MST. The program will feature interviews with female leaders and scholars in the faith community, as well as facts about biblical women such as Eve, Sara and Mother Mary. "Women of the Bible" was produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, creators of the TV miniseries “The Bible” and the feature film “Son of God."
“Women have obviously played such an important role in biblical history, and Mark and I are excited to shine a light on these individual stories through the eyes of some of today’s most incredible women of faith,” Downey said in a Lifetime news release.
Also on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. MST, BYUtv will air the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional. The three members of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will share inspirational messages to usher in the holiday season from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The program will also feature music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
AMC's "The Nativity Story," airing Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. MST, chronicles the events preceding the birth of Christ and the faith of his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary. The stop-motion animated classic "The Little Drummer Boy," which tells a warm story of the blessings found in giving even the smallest of gifts to the Savior, will air multiple times on ABC Family.
There will also be plenty of chances to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Past Christmas concerts performed in conjunction with the Orchestra at Temple Square and various special guests will air throughout December on BYUtv and PBS stations. In Utah, KUEN Ch. 9 will also offer "Mormon Tabernacle Choir: A Decade of Christmas," a half-hour compilation of multiple Mormon Tabernacle Choir concerts, on Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Among the featured guest performers are David Archuleta, Natalie Cole, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Sissel, Angela Lansbury, Renee Fleming and The King Singers.
Amber Clayson has a bachelor's degree in Communications from BYU and writes for the Church News and Mormon Times. She can be reached at aclayson@deseretnews.com.