“Christmas Specials Through the Ages: From Bing Crosby to Polar Express Pajama Parties”

 

There was a time when Christmas meant gathering around the family TV for a holiday special. Bing Crosby crooning “White Christmas,” Andy Williams promising “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and Perry Como bringing warmth into living rooms across America. These weren’t just shows—they were traditions. Today, the landscape looks very different. So, what happened to the Christmas special, and how has it evolved?

The tradition began on the radio in the 1930s, with Bing Crosby’s Christmas broadcasts becoming a seasonal staple. When television arrived, the magic only grew. From the 1950s through the 1970s, variety shows dominated holiday programming. Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Perry Como hosted specials filled with music, celebrity guests, and family-friendly humor. These shows were more than entertainment—they were cultural events that united households in front of the TV.

While live-action specials ruled the airwaves, animated classics carved out their own space in holiday tradition. Rankin/Bass introduced stop-motion magic with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), followed by Frosty the Snowman (1969) and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970). A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) brought an anti-commercialism message and Vince Guaraldi’s unforgettable jazz soundtrack. And who could forget How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), with Boris Karloff’s narration and Dr. Seuss’s timeless story? These specials became annual rituals, passed down like heirlooms.

By the late 1980s, the variety show format faded. Cable TV and home video changed viewing habits, and Christmas specials lost their “event” status. Families no longer had to wait for a single broadcast; they could pop in a VHS tape or, later, stream on demand. The communal experience of tuning in together began to fade.

Today, Christmas specials live on, but in a different form. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have revived the genre with original films such as Klaus (2019) and Jingle Jangle (2020), alongside classics like Home Alone and Elf. Social media and YouTube have become new stages for holiday performances, while artists like Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey dominate modern Christmas music specials. The tradition hasn’t died; it’s just migrated.

For me, two films deserve special mention for creating entirely new holiday rituals:

• The Santa Clause Trilogy (1994–2006)
  Tim Allen’s transformation from a skeptical dad to Santa Claus became an instant favorite. These films blend humor, heart, and holiday magic, earning a permanent spot in family marathons.
• The Polar Express (2004)
  This animated masterpiece didn’t just stay on screen; it inspired real-world experiences. Across the country, families now “board the Polar Express,” don Christmas pajamas, sip hot chocolate, and pay hundreds of dollars for immersive train rides that recreate the film’s magic. It’s proof that a movie can spark traditions that go far beyond the living room.

Christmas specials don’t just entertain, they shape how we celebrate.

• Matching Pajamas & Movie Nights: Families gather for annual viewings of Elf, Home Alone, or The Santa Clause, often in matching holiday PJs.
• Polar Express Excursions: Entire businesses thrive on recreating the train ride experience, complete with golden tickets and hot chocolate.
• Live Performances & Light Shows: From local theater productions of A Christmas Carol to drive-through light displays synced to holiday music, these traditions echo the communal spirit of old TV specials.
• Streaming Marathons: Today’s version of “event TV” is a curated playlist, Rankin/Bass classics, modern hits, and maybe a debate over whether Die Hard makes the cut.

These traditions prove that while the medium changes, the desire for shared holiday experiences remains timeless.

Of course, no discussion of holiday media is complete without great debates. Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Does The Nightmare Before Christmas belong to Halloween or Christmas? These conversations highlight how holiday entertainment continues to evolve—and how fiercely we cling to what feels like tradition.

Christmas specials may look different today, but their purpose remains the same: to bring people together and celebrate the season. Whether it’s Bing Crosby on black-and-white TV, Charlie Brown pondering the meaning of Christmas, Tim Allen suiting up as Santa, or a family streaming Klaus on Netflix, the spirit of the holiday special endures.

What’s your favorite Christmas special? Do you miss the old variety shows, or do you love the new streaming era? Share your thoughts, I’d love to hear them.