Christmas Came Once a Year—and So Did These Specials
Before streaming made everything available at any hour, families had one chance to catch their favorite Christmas specials. Miss the broadcast, and you might be waiting until next December. These beloved programs turned ordinary evenings into events.
How many did your family watch every year?
Prime Video, The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974)
#25: The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973)
Tommy Smothers voiced Ted E. Bear, a curious bear who refused to hibernate because he wanted to discover the meaning of Christmas. The gentle animated special also featured Barbara Feldon and Arte Johnson. It was sweet, slightly strange, and guaranteed to make children wonder why bears had better holiday adventures than they did.
Screenshot from The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas, Lionsgate (1973)
#24: The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow (1975)
Angela Lansbury narrated this Rankin/Bass stop-motion special about Lucas, a young shepherd who loses his sight during a storm and is taken in by a group of nuns. Its quieter, more religious storyline distinguished it from the usual North Pole adventures, while Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” supplied a familiar musical moment.
Screenshot from The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow, Warner Bros. (1975)
#23: The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold (1981)
A young sailor accidentally releases the banshee Old Mag the Hag, who needs Christmas gold to avoid turning into tears. Yes, this was technically a Christmas special, though it occasionally felt as if St. Patrick’s Day had wandered onto the wrong television schedule. Its unusual Rankin/Bass story made it difficult to forget.
Screenshot from The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold, Warner Bros. (1981)
#22: Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)
Nestor’s oversized ears make him an outcast until they help him guide Mary and Joseph through a dangerous storm. Roger Miller narrated the Rankin/Bass production and performed its memorable songs. Children who had already worried about Rudolph being excluded now had another misunderstood animal to become emotionally invested in every December.
Screenshot from Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Warner Bros. (1977)
#21: The Stingiest Man in Town (1978)
Walter Matthau voiced Ebenezer Scrooge in this animated Rankin/Bass adaptation of A Christmas Carol. The story was narrated by a talking insect named B.A.H. Humbug, because apparently Charles Dickens needed more bugs. Its colorful animation and musical numbers made the familiar redemption story easier for younger viewers to embrace.
Screenshot from The Stingiest Man in Town, Warner Bros. (1978)
#20: He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
He-Man, She-Ra, Skeletor, and a pair of children from Earth collided in this cheerfully improbable holiday adventure. Christmas spirit somehow reached Eternia, confusing nearly everyone and even softening Skeletor temporarily. For children who spent the year watching these heroes battle evil, the crossover felt like a toy-box Christmas miracle.
Screenshot from He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special, NBCUniversal (1985)
#19: Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (1991)
Pooh and his friends attempt to retrieve a letter to Santa after worrying it will never reach the North Pole. Naturally, Pooh becomes more concerned about his friends’ wishes than his own. The special originally aired on ABC and delivered the kind of gentle reassurance families expected from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Screenshot from Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, The Walt Disney Company (1991)
#18: Ziggy’s Gift (1982)
The nearly silent newspaper-comic character became a sidewalk Santa in this Emmy-winning animated special. Ziggy’s kindness stands in sharp contrast to dishonest Santas and opportunistic thieves around him. Without relying on much dialogue, the story offered a simple message about generosity—and made viewers feel protective of a man whose pants never seemed to fit.
Screenshot from Ziggy’s Gift, Welcome Productions (1982)
#17: The Christmas Toy (1986)
Jim Henson’s television special imagined toys coming to life whenever people left the room, years before Toy Story reached theaters. Rugby Tiger becomes jealous when he fears a new Christmas toy will replace him. The puppetry, humor, and surprisingly emotional story made this an annual favorite for many Henson-loving households.
Screenshot from The Christmas Toy, The Jim Henson Company (1986)
#16: A Chipmunk Christmas (1981)
Alvin secretly gives away his prized harmonica after learning that a sick boy wants one for Christmas. Unfortunately, Dave has already arranged for Alvin to perform with that same harmonica at Carnegie Hall. The special delivered heart, comedy, and the Chipmunks’ unmistakably squeaky music, which parents either adored or heroically tolerated.
Screenshot from A Chipmunk Christmas, Bagdasarian Productions (1981)
#15: A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
Will Vinton’s stop-motion special featured dinosaurs Rex and Herb introducing elaborate clay-animated versions of Christmas songs. Its rendition of “Carol of the Bells” became especially memorable, while the California Raisins appeared to perform “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It was creative, funny, and unlike anything else crowding the December television listings.
Screenshot from A Claymation Christmas Celebration, Laika, LLC (1987)
#14: A Garfield Christmas (1987)
Garfield, Jon, and Odie travel to the Arbuckle family farm, where holiday chaos gives way to a surprisingly touching story involving Jon’s grandmother. Odie’s homemade gift for Garfield provides the emotional payoff. The special understood that even a famously selfish cat could become sentimental—provided dinner remained part of the arrangement.
Screenshot from A Garfield Christmas, Paramount (1987)
#13: John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)
John Denver joined Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest of the Muppets for a warm mixture of carols, comedy, and wonderfully chaotic puppet business. The television special accompanied their popular Christmas album. Denver’s sincerity balanced the Muppets’ silliness, producing a holiday program parents and children could genuinely enjoy together.
Screenshot from John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, ABC (1979), Enhanced
#12: Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)
Big Bird becomes worried after Oscar questions how Santa can fit through a chimney, prompting an unusually serious investigation. Meanwhile, Bert and Ernie sacrifice treasured possessions to buy gifts for one another. The special combined comedy, music, and tenderness without talking down to children, becoming a treasured tradition in countless homes.
Screenshot from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop (1978)
#11: The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
This Rankin/Bass stop-motion production expanded the famous song into the story of Aaron, an orphan who distrusts people but communicates with animals through his drum. The religious conclusion gave the special a more solemn tone than many animated favorites. Its melancholy story could make Christmas feel magical and emotionally exhausting before bedtime.
Screenshot from The Little Drummer Boy, NBCUniversal (1968)
#10: ’Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
When a skeptical mouse writes a letter insulting Santa Claus, the entire town is removed from Santa’s Christmas route. A clockmaker and his family attempt to repair the damage by building an elaborate musical clock. The Rankin/Bass special gave viewers “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand,” plus an impressively large amount of pressure for one tiny mouse.
Screenshot from ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, Warner Bros. (1974)
#9: Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
Jim Henson adapted Russell and Lillian Hoban’s story about a poor mother and son who enter a talent contest to buy gifts for each other. The Paul Williams songs ranged from tender ballads to the gloriously aggressive Riverbottom Nightmare Band. Its handmade warmth made it feel less like television and more like a family heirloom.
Screenshot from Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, Shout! Studios (1977)
#8: A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
Fozzie unexpectedly brings the entire Muppet gang to his mother’s farmhouse for Christmas, where they are joined by characters from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. The crowded crossover delivered songs, jokes, and genuine warmth. It also confirmed that no holiday gathering is truly full until approximately 200 puppets arrive without reservations.
Screenshot from A Muppet Family Christmas, The Walt Disney Company (1987), Enhanced
#7: Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)
The famously nearsighted Mr. Magoo played Ebenezer Scrooge in the first animated Christmas special produced specifically for American television. Its Broadway-style songs and surprisingly faithful emotional moments helped it outgrow the central visual joke. For many viewers, this was their first introduction to Dickens, ghosts, redemption, and alarmingly bleak Victorian bookkeeping.
Screenshot from Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol, NBCUniversal (1962)
#6: Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)
Fred Astaire narrated the origin story of Kris Kringle, explaining everything from Santa’s red suit to his habit of entering houses through chimneys. Mickey Rooney voiced Kris, while the grouchy Burgermeister Meisterburger tried to outlaw toys. His name alone ensured children would remember him long after forgetting several actual relatives.
Screenshot from Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, NBCUniversal (1970)
#5: The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
Santa considers taking Christmas off because he believes nobody cares anymore, sending Mrs. Claus and two elves on a mission to change his mind. The real attractions were Heat Miser and Snow Miser, feuding brothers with unforgettable musical introductions. Many viewers spent the rest of childhood waiting for those two scenes to arrive.
Screenshot from The Year Without a Santa Claus, Warner Bros. (1974)
#4: Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Jimmy Durante narrated the story of a discarded magician’s hat that brings Frosty to life. Karen and her friends race to save him from rising temperatures and the scheming Professor Hinkle. Its simple animation and catchy title song became inseparable from Christmas television—and convinced generations that every unattended hat deserved immediate testing.
Screenshot from Frosty the Snowman, NBCUniversal (1969)
#3: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Boris Karloff narrated and voiced the Grinch in Chuck Jones’s animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book. Thurl Ravenscroft performed “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” although he initially received no screen credit. The special’s humor, music, and warm conclusion made the Grinch’s annual burglary feel strangely comforting.
Screenshot from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Warner Bros. (1966)
#2: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Rudolph, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, and the inhabitants of the Island of Misfit Toys became annual visitors after this Rankin/Bass production debuted on NBC. Burl Ives narrated as Sam the Snowman. Its songs, stop-motion characters, and message about outsiders turned it into the longest-running Christmas special in television history.
Screenshot from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, NBCUniversal (1964), Enhanced
#1: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown searches for meaning amid the commercial frenzy of Christmas, eventually finding it through friendship, Linus’s recitation, and one famously pitiful tree. CBS executives initially worried about its children’s voices, religious passage, quiet pacing, and Vince Guaraldi jazz score. Audiences loved it anyway, and for generations, Christmas hardly felt official until it aired.
Screenshot from A Charlie Brown Christmas, Apple TV+ (1965)
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