December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.
It is Christmas Eve in Bear Country and the Bear Family is decorating for Christmas, and Papa has caught a giant salmon for Christmas dinner. Now the only thing they need is the tree, for their many ornaments, which include a Santa Bear sleigh, strings of beads, a musical singing bear, and a glittery bright Christmas Tree star with eighteen points.
Mama suggests Papa and the cubs get a tree from Grizzly Gus' lot, but she reminds them to return home as soon as they can since a snowstorm is likely. Papa, however, scoffs at Mama's weather prediction and decides he can do better than what Grizzly Gus has to offer, and the three head out into the mountains to find the right tree for them.
The first tree they find is in good shape, but it is home to a skunk, some squirrels, a grouse, a chipmunk, and twenty-six crows, who chase them off. But, from their point of view, Christmas is a time for them to celebrate as well, thus forcing them to find another tree.
Papa and the cubs find another tree on a cliff, but it is the home to an eagle, a hawk, a wolf, and a snowy owl who aren't too pleased that Papa wants to chop their tree down either. After narrowly avoiding the eagle's attack, the three continue through the mountains, despite the fact that it is now growing dark, and snowing heavily.
After climbing their way through the snow-covered mountains, Papa and the cubs find a third perfect-looking tree. This time, however, Papa takes a good look at the tree and sees a little window on the trunk. Inside, there is a family of snowbirds decorating a small twig like a Christmas tree. Touched by this, Papa can't bring himself to chop the birds' tree down and tells Brother and Sister that Christmas is the time to be thinking of family and friends.
The three then ski back down the mountain to Grizzly Gus's tree lot, only to find that they are completely sold out (with a small sign below reading "Happy New Year!"). They are all very sad until they find that their treehouse has been decorated by all the animals they met on their way in an act of gratitude, Mama and Papa Bear lead everyone in a Christmas carol about the Christmas star and its meaning.
On Christmas Day, as the family prepares to eat dinner, Sister asks why Papa's lesson of being considerate did not apply to the salmon they are eating. Papa jokes that the family is willing to "make an exception" for the salmon.
This is another new one for me in 2026. I found out about its existence while searching for various Christmas specials I may have missed, and found this one among a handful. It's a lighthearted tale, one I suppose is more so geared towards toddlers, but hey, I'll still take it.
Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:
- Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol
- Holiday Knights from the New Adventures of Batman and Robin
- Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
- Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the 1976 Rankin / Bass classic
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