It’s not really the Christmas season until you hear something from the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas, the iconic Peanuts television special that’s been an annual viewing tradition for generations since its 1965 debut.
For me, that moment officially arrived today upon hearing the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Christmas Time Is Here” playing not once, but twice as I passed through the lobby of my building. It’s been a relentlessly rainy Wednesday here in San Francisco, and without snowfall as my seasonal cue, this double-shot of the classic instrumental was the gentle (and literal) reminder I needed to realize that Christmas time is indeed here.
Now I may be in the minority, relying on weather to precipitate my holiday prep, but I imagine most homes own either the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas (vinyl, cassette, CD, or digital download) or the special itself (VHS, DVD, and now Blu-ray). In case you’ve gone without, get the season going with a free download of “Christmas Time Is Here” via iTunes. If you missed last night’s showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas (damn you, Glee!), a repeat airs next Thursday at 8/7c. But since it is 2010 and all, you can stream the special right now at ABC.com with limited commercial interruptions (something I’m sure Charlie Brown would appreciate).
Free download of Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Christmas Time Is Here” via iTunes.
