We’ll begin with an absolute classic. Peanuts is not only one of the most groundbreaking and timeless comic strips, but it also inspired one of the most memorable holiday specials in history. A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired in 1965 and featured the entire Peanuts gang trying to lift Charlie Brown’s holiday spirits. In the end, the kids realize that Christmas isn’t about expensive gifts or impressively decorated trees but rather about spending time with those we love.

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You might think a Christmas special without Santa Claus wouldn’t be popular, but leave it to legendary children’s author Dr. Seuss to create a character so endearing and captivating that he steals the show. For many Americans, 1966’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is the ultimate Christmas special—and for good reason. From the stunning animation to Boris Karloff’s incredible narration, this TV classic is truly a gem of American culture.

Image: Alex Stone

We all have warm memories (ironically) of building snowmen with friends and family—sculpting funny features while ignoring our increasingly cold fingers. The 1969 TV special Frosty the Snowman took that childhood experience a step further by bringing to life a wish we’ve all had: What if our beloved snowmen suddenly came alive? The special tells the story of Frosty, a snowman who springs to life when a magic top hat lands on his head.

Image: Ethan Hu

Like many entries in this article, the 1964 stop-motion Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was inspired by the 1939 poem of the same name. It tells the story of Rudolph, a young reindeer ostracized by Santa’s other reindeer for his bright and shiny red nose. However, Rudolph—and the audience—soon learns that our differences are what make us special. In the end, he earns his place by leading Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Image: Tim Gouw

Considering he spends 364 nights a year there, you might think Santa Claus would choose a warmer place to live. Case in point: the 1974 stop-motion special The Year Without a Santa Claus tells the story of Santa waking up one cold December morning with a nasty cold. Because of this, Mrs. Claus embarks on a worldwide adventure to try to lift Santa’s holiday spirit.

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This 1970 Christmas special features an all-star cast, including Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, and Robie Lester. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town tells the story of how Santa Claus and several holiday traditions came to be. It was inspired by the 1934 Christmas song of the same name, which was extremely popular at the time.

Image: Osman Rana

The title of the 1974 TV special ’Twas the Night Before Christmas pays homage to the opening line of Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. However, the special’s plot differs greatly from the original poem. In this version, Santa Claus is offended by a published article claiming he doesn’t exist and refuses to deliver Christmas gifts that year. However, a small mouse known as Father Mouse takes it upon himself to return Santa’s Christmas spirit.

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Drums aren’t traditionally associated with Christmas and are often overshadowed by softer instruments like bells or pianos. However, would you believe that a drum takes center stage in one of the most popular Christmas specials in history? Based on the 1941 song of the same name by Katherine Kennicott Davis, the 1968 stop-motion special The Little Drummer Boy tells the moving story of Aaron, a boy who, after many hardships, experiences the very first Christmas with his loved ones.

Image: Lee Lawson

Many consider A Christmas Carol the ultimate Christmas story, as it has been adapted for film, theater, and television countless times. In that sense, we could have chosen any number of excellent Christmas specials that pay homage to Charles Dickens’s timeless classic. However, we ultimately selected the 1971 version, starring Alastair Sim and Michael Hordern, as it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1972.

Image: Elin Melaas

When you think about it, a Flintstones Christmas special doesn’t really make much sense—after all, this prehistoric family lived centuries before the very first Christmas. However, if we overlook that small detail, the 1977 special A Flintstone Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable holiday TV specials. The episode follows Fred and Barney as they go to great lengths to bring Christmas to the city of Bedrock.

Image: 1950sUnlimited, CC BY 2.0