History WesternAnimation / ACharlieBrownThanksgiving

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Peppermint Patty after insulting Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving dinner where she apologizes and delivers a nice speech about what Thanksgiving is all about.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Asked to say grace before dinner, Linus provides a thumbnail sketch of the first Thanksgiving in 1621 Plymouth, then recites a paraphrased version of a prayer that Elder William Brewster ''might'' have given for the colonists. (The prayer itself is made up for the special.)

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Lucy isn't seen, or even mentioned, after the Football Gag {{t|heTeaser}}easer at the beginning. This is especially odd given the substantial role that her brother Linus has in the main story.

* CarnivoreConfusion: The ending scene features Woodstock joining Snoopy in eating turkey. On a DVD commentary, Creator/BillMelendez admitted that even he thought the scene was rather morbid[[note]] On the other hand, birds really do eat other ''species'' of bird in nature. A turkey and a (possible) canary like Woodstock are about as closely related as a human being and a cow, so eating turkey wouldn't make actually make Woodstock a cannibal.[[/note]]

The tenth of the ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials, and naturally enough a ThanksgivingEpisode, it first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on November 20, 1973[[note]]though, in a case of ShortRunInPeru, it actually premiered in Canada on Creator/{{CBC}} on October 6, 1973, during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend[[/note]] and became an annual tradition thereafter. Much as Thanksgiving itself is somewhat overshadowed by falling between the higher-profile Halloween and Christmas, this special has never become quite so iconic as the similarly holiday-themed ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'' and ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', though like those it continues to air each and every year.

* CarnivoreConfusion: The ending scene features Woodstock joining Snoopy in eating turkey. On a DVD commentary, Creator/BillMelendez admitted that even he thought the scene was rather morbid. (On the other hand, birds really do eat other ''species'' of bird in nature, so Woodstock, a canary, isn't a cannibal for eating a turkey.)

* NewSoundAlbum: This special marked the point where Music/VinceGuaraldi really started leaning in more of a {{jazz}}-rock fusion direction with his ''Peanuts'' scores, incorporating a Fender Rhodes electric piano and Clavinet keyboard alongside his traditional piano, and adding electric bass, {{Funk}}-inspired drumming and elaborate horn arrangements to the mix. He continued in that mode for the remainder of his ''Peanuts'' work.

The tenth of the ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials, and naturally enough a ThanksgivingEpisode, it first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on November 20, 1973[[note]]though, in a case of ShortRunInPeru, it actually premiered in Canada on Creator/{{CBC}} on October 6, 1973, during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend[[/note]] and became an annual tradition thereafter. Much as Thanksgiving itself is somewhat overshadowed (falling in between the higher-profile Halloween and Christmas), this special has never become quite so iconic as the similarly holiday-themed ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'' and ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', though like those it continues to air each and every year.

[[caption-width-right:350:"We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land. We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."]]

The tenth of the ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials, and naturally enough a ThanksgivingEpisode, it first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on November 20, 1973[[note]]though, in a case of ShortRunInPeru, it actually premiered in Canada on Creator/{{CBC}} on October 6, 1973, during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend[[/note]] and became an annual tradition thereafter. Much as Thanksgiving itself is somewhat overshadowed falling in between the higher-profile Halloween and Christmas, this special has never become quite so iconic as the similarly holiday-themed ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'' and ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', though like those it continues to air each and every year.

The tenth of the ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials, and naturally enough a ThanksgivingEpisode, it first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on November 20, 1973[[note]]though, in a case of ShortRunInPeru, it actually premiered in Canada on Creator/{{CBC}} on October 6, 1973, during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend[[/note]] and became an annual tradition thereafter. Much as Thanksgiving itself is somewhat overshadowed by the higher-profile holidays of Halloween and Christmas, this special never became quite as iconic as the similarly holiday-themed ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'' and ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', though like those it continues to air each and every year.

The tenth of the ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials, and naturally enough a ThanksgivingEpisode, it first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on November 20, 1973[[note]]though, in a case of ShortRunInPeru, it actually premiered in Canada on Creator/{{CBC}} on October 6, 1973, during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend[[/note]] and became an annual tradition thereafter. Much as Thanksgiving itself is sandwiched in between the higher-profile holidays of Halloween and Christmas, this special never became quite as iconic as the similarly holiday-themed ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'' and ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', though like those it continues to air each and every year.

* AnimateInanimateObject: When setting up the Thanksgiving table, Snoopy struggles with a folding chair that won't stay unfolded. The chair comes to life and starts to fight back.

This is not just a Thanksgiving special. This is ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' Thanksgiving special (in part because there [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative aren't all that many]] Thanksgiving specials).

* ChristmasCreep: The characters briefly complain about this; Sally tells Charlie Brown that she went into town to look for a "turkey tree" and could only find Christmas decorations. When Linus joins the conversation and Charlie Brown laments the impending arrival of Thanksgiving, Sally wails, "I haven't even finished eating all of my Halloween candy!" [[note]] Which, by the events of ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', she shouldn't actually have unless she's been eating......[[FridgeHorror on second thought, let's not think about that.]]

* ChristmasCreep: The characters briefly complain about this; Sally tells Charlie Brown that she went into town to look for a "turkey tree" and could only find Christmas decorations. When Linus joins the conversation and Charlie Brown laments the impending arrival of Thanksgiving, Sally wails, "I haven't even finished eating all of my Halloween candy!"

Followed by [[WesternAnimation/ItsAMysteryCharlieBrown "It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown"]] in 1974.

Followed by ''It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown'' in 1974.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Marcie gives Peppermint Patty one when she starts complaining about Charlie Brown's "dinner".

* JerkassRealization: Peppermint Patty has one after Marcie calls her out for yelling at Charlie Brown about the dinner he made.

* ConversationHog: The whole plot is jumpstarted by Peppermint Patty repeatedly interrupting Charlie Brown during a phone conversation and inviting herself over to his house because she thinks he's having a party for his friends. She hangs up before he can even explain to her that he's going to his grandmother's house.

The plot concerns Peppermint Patty inviting herself, Marcie, and Franklin over to Charlie Brown's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately, Charlie Brown is going to his grandmother's house for dinner and he can't seem to explain this fact to Peppermint Patty, so--with help from Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock--he scrambles to throw together a makeshift backyard "dinner" consisting of toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans.

In 2001, annual broadcast rights to the special moved to Creator/{{ABC}}, where it was typically paired with an edited version of "The Mayflower Voyagers," the premiere episode of the 1988–89 mini-series ''WesternAnimation/ThisIsAmericaCharlieBrown'' (the two specials are commonly paired on DVD as well.) In 2020, this and the other ''Peanuts'' specials moved to Creator/AppleTVPlus as part of a streaming deal. However, it [[https://www.pbs.org/video/charlie-brown-thanksgiving-ti4l9s/ aired on]] Creator/{{PBS}} and Creator/PBSKids that year as part of a last-minute arrangement, which ended after 2021.

* {{Homage}}: Towards the end, the special becomes a {{Gender Flip}}ped version of ''Literature/TheCourtshipOfMilesStandish'', with the brusque tomboy Peppermint Patty sending the more eloquent and intellectual Marcie to speak to Charlie Brown on her behalf. The analogy is {{Lampshaded}} by Linus, but Peppermint Patty doesn't see it. Later, Marcie refers to her as "Priscilla," although technically Charlie Brown is Priscilla in this analogy.
* {{Irony}}: Peppermint Patty has an ungrateful rant on a holiday that exists for the explicit purpose of expressing gratitude. Of course, this sets up Marcie's [[AnAesop Aesop]] about the holiday's true meaning.

* LimitedWardrobe: {{Lampshaded}}.

* OneNoteCook: {{Lampshaded}} after Linus suggests that Charlie Brown host a dinner for his friends.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Lucy isn't seen, or even mentioned, after the Football Gag [[TheTeaser teaser]] at the beginning. This is especially odd given the substantial role that her brother Linus has in the main story.

In 2001, annual broadcast rights to the special moved to Creator/{{ABC}}, where it was typically paired with an edited version of "The Mayflower Voyagers," the premiere episode of the 1988–89 mini-series ''WesternAnimation/ThisIsAmericaCharlieBrown'' (the two specials are commonly paired on DVD as well.) In 2020, this and the other ''Peanuts'' specials moved to Creator/AppleTVPlus as part of a streaming deal. However, it [[https://www.pbs.org/video/charlie-brown-thanksgiving-ti4l9s/ aired on]] Creator/{{PBS}} and Creator/PBSKids that year as part of a last-minute arrangement, which has carried on into at least 2021.

This is not just a Thanksgiving special. This is ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' Thanksgiving special (in part because there aren't all that many Thanksgiving specials).

The tenth of the ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials, and naturally enough a ThanksgivingEpisode, it first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on November 20, 1973[[note]]though, in a case of ShortRunInPeru, it actually premiered in Canada on the Creator/{{CBC}} on October 6, 1973, during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend[[/note]] and became an annual tradition thereafter. Much as Thanksgiving itself is sandwiched in between the higher-profile holidays of Halloween and Christmas, this special never became quite as iconic as the similarly holiday-themed ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'' and ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', though like those it continues to air each and every year.

* ASimplePlan: Linus suggests to Charlie Brown that if he has three uninvited guests, he should just put on a second, earlier dinner before leaving for the big celebration at Grandma's. When Charlie Brown argues that he can only make cereal and toast, Linus and Snoopy help him to assemble toast, popcorn, jelly beans and pretzel sticks. It almost works, too; Peppermint Patty complains, but the other kids--after being weirded out by Snoopy tossing them their food--happily dig in.

* CarnivoreConfusion: The ending scene features Woodstock joining Snoopy in eating turkey. On a DVD commentary, Bill Melendez admitted that even he thought the scene was rather morbid. (On the other hand, birds really do eat other ''species'' of bird in nature, so Woodstock, a canary, isn't a cannibal for eating a turkey.)

* YouDidntAsk: Charlie Brown and Linus enlist Snoopy and Woodstock to help prepare and serve their "alternate" meal for the gang. After they leave at the end, Snoopy pulls out a fully-cooked, traditional Thanksgiving meal for himself and Woodstock.