blogcutter

This year, perhaps for the first time since it was made, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" will not be airing on any of our network TV stations. Apple has bought the rights to it.

So in the very year that people are being discouraged from trick-or-treating and Halloween parties in favour of home-based celebrations, family TV-watching sessions are also becoming a thing of the past. Charles Schulz must be turning over in his grave.

A lot of people like Charlie Brown because they can relate to a perpetual underdog. Many identify with Linus too. With the Coronavirus sweeping the planet, we feel as if the rug - or the blanket - is being pulled out from under us. We're stressed, we're anxious, we worry about what tomorrow or next month or next year may bring.

But pumpkin worship? Well, I'd have thought that would be a definite no-no for dedicated Christians and other monotheists. So it was actually quite a pleasant surprise to see this strong endorsement of the cartoon on a Christian site:

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/halloween/beautiful-lessons-in-its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown.html

Saints alive! The author has opened up a Pandora's box here. I don't expect to get saved any time soon but there is indeed power in the gem of hope!

Happy Halloween and Samhain, everyone!