Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for December 16, 2024

Just how to save money. A much needed tip.

He wondered if I believed in Santa Claus…..

Something that builds character.

Nowadays, could Dad be charged with child abuse??

When I was a kid, my friend and I would gather the tinsel from discarded Xmas trees. It was fun, although our mothers didn’t agree.

Post Tree Season Disbelief

At the after Christmas sale, you’ll be able to buy next year’s tree at a huge discount.

I see years of therapy ahead for Calvin.

The old man is yanking his chain!!! GOOD!!!!!

Dad’s on form, in this one.

Celebrating holidays late builds character.

I have been in Walmart after Christmas and saw people returning fake trees. I also saw people returning meat and also saw that meat being put back into the meat case. I complained…it went no place!

And people wonder why Calvin is the way he is.

I love this guy, in a manly way.

I’ve told this one before.

One Thanksgiving, my wife had to work in the O.R. on Thanksgiving. I told our kids we were going to get Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army. No hysterics like Calvin, but a very glum group as I drove into town. I stopped at a Safeway, and told them I had to pick something up. I came back with a package to a still quiet car. Then I explained that I had ordered the meal in the package when I had found out my wife would have to work. The relief was quite audible…

I like Calvin’s dad, needless to say.

I think I’ll try that this year!

Another victory for dad. A small victory perhaps, but still a victory!

And people wonder why Calvin is “strange”.

And all the other discarded trees can be chopped up and used as firewood.

In fact, to really mess with him, tell him you did buy one and this log I’m putting on the fire is the last of it.

One of my favorite C & H strips. The hogwash Dad tells him is priceless.

Somehow Calvin’s Dad keeps Calvin in place…on the precipice of belief and disbelief. Exactly as it should be in C&H.

snicker

Best. Dad. Ever.

Why is Dad so mean? Why is Calvin so gullible?

This one was hilarious! :-)

Nice going, Mr. Character Building Dad! Do you even stop and think for a second asking yourself why exactly Calvin acts out on a daily basis?

Maybe that explains why Calvin is….the way he is…

Not as many in driveways recent years since some people (one of whom shall not be named) return them to Lowe’s for a full refund under their “No Questions Asked” refund policy. Dilly! Dilly, boy howdy!

Today’s strip just emphasizes how Christmas (being so commercialized) appeals to kids mostly and is a groan for adults. Kids get to enjoy the jolliness, Santa bringing presents, all the bright and beautiful displays. Whereas the grownups have to buy all the presents, put up the displays etc., etc. No wonder MOST but not all of us dread the season.

Payback.

Don’t tell Calvin about Krampus…

Stop messing with your son’s mind!

Dad is good at kinda getting back at Cal for some of his behavior. Doesn’t use force or anger, just a bit of off hand kidding. Cal just takes it all too seriously, especially when it comes to collecting the goodies.

Oh dad you are so bad. Calvin will have a stroke and so young.

Haha… Dad secretly loves to torment Calvin. Good one.

How about an April genius tree?

1. Plant a fruit bearing tree outdoors on your property.

2. Don’t chop the tree down unless it’s dead.

3. Gather and eat your own produce instead of choking on tinsel and electric light bulbs.

Not many people make it to genius level.

With that type of upbringing, Calvin will most likely grow up to be a cartoonist…

Dad really knows how to push Calvin’s buttons!

One of the guys my wife dated years ago was from a xmas tree farm family. He hated them and she was too busy. His mother insisted, brought a tree over, decorated it and it sat and sat and sat … long about Easter, his mother finally removed it. My wife is a gardener and hates dead plants just for show.

Actually, years ago my neighbor used to do that because she was Russian and they celebrated Christmas later!!

One of my favorites.

Dad is just “messing” with him!!!!!

With all the toys Calvin wants, no wonder dad is broke and needs to save money

Christmas trees lying in the gutter waiting for a garbage truck is one of the most melancholy sights there is.

My dad made the exact same joke in 1969. My mom had to deal with my sobbing sister for a few hours.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Right up there with the K-Mart Blue Light Special.

i once left my Christmas tree up for 9 years

You read these and wonder what we should infer about Dad’s own childhood; or if he’s just messing with Calvin.

Wow, Calvin’s dad finally paid him back….making him go completely apoplectic right before Christmas!

Basically the successor to the strip from December 20, 1987, with the Dad teasing Calvin about acting like Christmas trees aren’t a big deal.

And hey, it can then be a Valentine’s tree!

Sometimes its fun to mess with kids…

And they wonder why Calvin is the way he is.

I had a scheme to ship used Christmas trees to Russia where the holiday is celebrated on January 6th but the transport costs were prohibitive. :)

My SILs always told their kids to hold the though, called me and asked me what I’ve been telling their kids. Sometimes I’d respond Aunt___ says it too.

Not so far from my own Dad’s approach to the whole Christmas Tree thing.

We always decorated it Christmas Eve.

Which meant that he got our tree after they went on Emergency Last Minute Ultimate Reduced Price Sale within a week before Christmas, and it was always a little bald on one side, being one of the picked-over remnants.

LOL! I remember this one either from when it ran in the paper or the book my brother had. Or maybe even both.

Being also another kid who grew up sans siblings, the whole Christmas dog and pony show was pretty irrelevant. And growing up in a one BR small house (the dinner table was one person sequentially occupied), we never had relatives or friends over

Over here in the UK a vicar received criticism for announcing to a class of 10 year olds that Santa doesn’t exist. He told them it was their parents who drank the milk and ate the cookies. Many were reduced to tears.

I didn’t know they were Russian

Mom needs to take a week long retreat and leave the two of them together.

I actually know someone who grew up so poor that, that’s exactly what their parents did. A few days after Xmas they’d pick up a discarded tree with light and decorations still attached, from a “rich neighborhood”.

They should go Eastern Orthodox, with Christmas celebrated on January 7th. They can follow Dad’s suggestion, and make out like bandits on post-Holiday sales.

He is Calvin’s father, alright.

Calvin had it coming.

Not a bad idea! I think I’ll do that this year.

One of my all-time favorites!

Methinks there are reasons why Calvin acts out…

We used to live in Colorado town with a small college. I knew quite a few people that would just wait until the college let out for Christmas break and go check by the dumpsters. They would usually find fully decorated trees that the students put out before they left for home.