Six childhood Christmas specials that deserve a rewatch

5. Noel

Year: 1992

Production company and network: Romeo Muller/Pacific Animation/CBS

In this underrated Christmas special, a hand-blown red glass ornament named Noel holds a cheerful and happy aura.  For 60 years (1932-1992) he learns the meaning of the holiday season, as well as passing around joy.  It is the joy that brings life together and creates memories.

The special was also created by Rankin and Bass screenwriter, Romeo Muller and narrated by actor Charlton Heston.  Heston gave the piece a touch of underscored gloominess to the otherwise jolly theme.  It wasn’t until later in life that the gloom became more clairvoyant and relatable.

What is memorable:  The overall story and how it was carried on for six decades.  Plus, a little bit of history is taught with the Great Depression and the early 1990s respectively.

The adult observation:  If you start to shed tears, that is perfectly normal because the realization of how time is the obscured theme hits you.  When time passes, so does family and the memories are all that is left.  Yet, new memories can be made because time keeps going.  In the special, WWII is mentioned, and by the cryptic hinting of Heston, it most likely had a devasting fate.

Embrace the times now, value the past, and hope for the future.

Where to watch:  Back when Freeform was called Fox Family, Noel was in the 25 Days of Christmas lineup.  Over the years, it quietly slipped out, most likely due to copyright, bringing in new content, and the Disney acquisition in 2001.  However, thanks to Youtube, Noel can be streamed in its entirety.