A big tradition in my family is watching all the Christmas movies we can during the season. We can never get enough of them especially the classics and the claymation specials. I cannot list all of my favorites but I will narrow it down to 10.

So here it goes:

In no particular order:

• Home Alone (1990) & Home Alone 2 (1992)– This movie series is one of the few Christmas movies my family and I can watch all year-round without fail. Very quotable in my family. My dad even has a Christmas sweater that says “Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal.”
• Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)– Not biblically correct to anything but a sweet movie in claymation. The movie is centered around the donkey who brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. I thought it was a smart, creative take on nativity story.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)– One of my favorite versions of the Christmas Carol. Jim Henson is a genius in the song choices and castings. It is funny and sentimental to the values of Christmas: giving, loving, and caring for your fellow man. Michael Caine is a fantastic Scrooge.
• The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974)– Santa did not feel like Santa-ing. SHOCKER!! I love the storyline and the Miser Brothers songs.
• The Christmas Story (1983)- A Christmas tradition my family and I have is watching it on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Quotable movie. “You’ll shoot your eye out.” P.S. They play the movie for 24 hours on certain channels.
• Elf (2003)-Will Ferrell is a GENIUS. Definitely a must see in my family. It is funny and full of unadulterated fun.
• The Little Drummer Boy (1968)– The Bible does not talk about a drummer boy BUT I still love this movie. A young boy plays for the Messiah and the events that lead up to that moment. I love the song as well, the original one.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)– Fun fact: My siblings were in a small production of this movie at a local theatre many years ago. My sister was Peppermint Patty and my brother was Shermy. It is a great classic movie and holds a special place in my family. It is a fun movie.
• How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)– Dr. Seuss’s rhymes and storyline were quite sublime. (see what I did there). There is not a Christmas we do not watch this special.
• Santa Claus is Coming To Town (1970)– The origins of Santa Claus. I love Fred Astaire’s commentary on the burning questions the people want to know. It is fun. We sing along with the songs and it’s fun.

Blissfully,

Bianca