Timeless lessons on property rights and the rule of law from classic holiday specials
The holiday season is a time for nostalgia, joy, and reflection, and few things capture the spirit of the season like the classic children’s holiday specials that have graced television screens for decades. These beloved tales are more than just seasonal entertainment—believe it or not, they offer timeless lessons about the foundations of a free and just society.
Stories like Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer illuminate core principles such as property rights, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the dangers of arbitrary restrictions on individual liberty. These lessons are as essential today as when the specials first aired—which may be why, despite countless new holiday movies added to streaming platforms every year, parents keep returning to the classic specials. It’s more than nostalgia: These stories teach generations of Americans about how our society should—and shouldn’t—work.
Frosty the Snowman and the case for property rights
Frosty the Snowman is, at its heart, a story about the sanctity of property rights. In the tale, a discarded magician’s hat, tossed away in frustration, becomes the property of the children who find it. When they place it on Frosty’s head, it not only brings the snowman to life but also becomes his rightful possession. However, the magician, realizing the hat’s magical properties, spends the rest of the story attempting to reclaim it, arguing that it was originally his.
This conflict reaches a resolution when Santa Claus, acting as a neutral adjudicator, asserts that the hat belongs to Frosty because it was abandoned by the magician and found by the children, who then used it to bring Frosty to life. In the real world, background principles of property law provide that abandoned property may transfer owners so that it goes to a more productive use. Even young kids can understand this when presented with the concept in Frosty the Snowman. Indeed, my three-year-old now shouts “abandoned property!” when the magician throws away his hat and scolds him aloud for trying to take it back. Clear, enforceable property rights encourage creativity, innovation, and peaceful coexistence. They are the bedrock upon which all other liberties rest. Without property rights, Frosty would have melted away forever. Teaching children this principle through the adventures of Frosty is an invaluable way to instill an early appreciation for this cornerstone of freedom.
The Burgermeister and the dangers of centralized power
In Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, authoritarian Mayor Burgermeister Meisterburger wields unchecked power to outlaw toys, plunging the town into a joyless tyranny after he trips on a toy duck. His arbitrary edict banning all toys, issued without input from a legislature or oversight from other branches of government, serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of centralized authority. Had the town required legislative approval for a toy ban, the Burgermeister’s decree likely would have been rejected by representatives accountable to the people. Even if passed, the people could have sought redress through elections or the courts. By showing the misery caused by one individual’s unrestrained authority, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town underscores the value of checks and balances in government—a concept foundational to the U.S. Constitution.
The parallels to modern governance are striking. In the United States, the rise of the administrative state has given unelected bureaucrats the power to issue sweeping regulations with little oversight. Like the Burgermeister’s toy ban, these regulations often escape the scrutiny of the legislative process and impose significant burdens on ordinary citizens. As Pacific Legal Foundation frequently argues in our cases, the proper separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches is an essential protection against government abuse. Teaching children about the perils of unbridled power through the lens of a holiday classic is a wonderful way to instill a lifelong respect for the rule of law and the need for government accountability.
Rudolph and the right to earn a living
In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph’s glowing nose initially disqualifies him from joining Santa’s team of reindeer. This arbitrary exclusion mirrors the barriers faced by many Americans today due to certificate-of-need laws, occupational licensing boards, and other restrictions that limit their ability to work. These regulations often serve not to protect the public but to shield established businesses from competition, leaving would-be entrepreneurs and workers like Rudolph out in the cold.
When Rudolph finally earns his place leading Santa’s sleigh, it’s a triumphant reminder of the value of merit and individual uniqueness. Everyone should have the right to pursue their passions and livelihoods without being hampered by needless or discriminatory barriers. This lesson, delivered through the magic of stop-motion animation, can inspire children to recognize the importance of opportunity and entrepreneurship.
Pacific Legal Foundation: Fighting for freedom
The lessons of these holiday specials are not merely theoretical; they are principles actively defended in courtrooms across America by organizations like Pacific Legal Foundation. PLF fights for property rights, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the right to earn a living free from arbitrary restrictions. These battles are essential to preserving the freedoms that allow individuals to thrive and communities to prosper.
By engaging with children through these timeless tales, we can introduce them to these vital concepts early in life. Whether it’s Frosty asserting his property rights, Santa exposing the pitfalls of unchecked power, or Rudolph triumphing over anticompetitive regulation, these stories provide a foundation for understanding the principles that sustain a free society. This holiday season, let’s celebrate not just the magic of these specials but the enduring values they teach, ensuring that the next generation grows up ready to champion liberty and justice for all.
