It was Thanksgiving yesterday, and that means Christmas movies! I always kickstart my holiday season on Thanksgiving night by watching a Christmas movie, and at least once a week until the Big Day arrives, I watch another. Christmas movies are a wonderful way to bring the joy of the season into our homes.
In no particular order, here are the films I watch every year, without fail.
1. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The Herdsmans are the worst behaved kids in the whole town. When they catch word that the local church serves refreshments, they start attending, and they even steal money from the collection plate. But when they insinuate themselves into the Christmas pageant and take over the main roles, these children, and the congregation, learn the true meaning of Christmas.
2. Elf. This is the film I watched last night, and I love it. Buddy was left as a baby at the orphanage, and crawled into Santa’s sack and taken back to the North Pole. Now, as an adult, he finds out that he’s really a human and not an elf, and he goes to New York City to find his father. This comedic romp will make you laugh out loud. See review here.
3. The Santa Clause. Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a busy executive who doesn’t have time for Christmas. When Santa Claus falls off his roof, and he puts on the suit, suddenly Scott finds himself turning into Santa. He fights the process, but in the end embraces it, as it brings him joy and also unites him with his son.
4. The Santa Clause 2. Scott Calvin is now happily Santa Claus and has his role down to a T. But there’s a new clause in the contract – he has to find a Mrs. Claus. He heads down to his old town and asks his son and ex-wife for help, and they end up finding a great woman for him to marry. But now they have to convince her that he’s really the Big Guy himself.
5. Mikhail Baryshnikov’s “The Nutcracker.” I have fond memories of this ballet and the music from it which go clear back to my earliest childhood, and I love to watch this movie. Mikhail is truly one of the best dancers we’ve ever had, and he handles this role masterfully.
6. “White Christmas.” Danny Kaye is a wonderful comedian, and this movie, starring Bing Crosby, Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney, captures the essence of the holidays for me. From the singing to the dancing to the flirting, and at the end, the miraculous, if predictable, snowstorm, it’s truly one of my holiday favorites. See review here.
7. “Mr. Krueger’s Christmas.” Starring Jimmy Stewart, this movie was filmed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and is, without doubt, the star of all Christmas films. Stewart plays Mr. Krueger, a lonely janitor who tries to make Christmas special for himself and his cat, aided by his wonderful imagination which takes him to visit the Christ Child at the nativity.
Curl up with a good holiday movie this year, and don’t forget the eggnog!
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Holiday Date Night – Celebrate with Christmas Movies