I love Christmas movies and like most families we have our favorites. We even have some traditions that go along with a few of them. Here are the ones we try to watch every year.
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Our Top Ten Must-See Christmas Movies
Miracle on 34th Street
This one traditionally kicks off the holiday season for us. We like to watch it on Thanksgiving. It’s the perfect bridge between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Which version, you ask? This is one of very few movies that we like old and new almost the same. I lean toward the original a little bit but they are both really good. We alternate versions from year to year. This year we watched the original.
A Christmas Story
For some reason this one wasn’t on our radar for a number of years but it immediately became a favorite. We pick up Chinese food to eat while watching it.
Home Alone
This is Chris’ favorite and he often watches it multiple times during the holidays. We like to order pizza for dinner while watching this one. We always watch the first one and sometimes Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. This year we have already watched both.
Christmas Vacation
I think this is David’s favorite. He loves the slapstick comedy aspect of it.
White Christmas
I’m a sucker for a good musical. We’ve been fortunate to see this on the big screen a couple of times in recent years. What a wonderful experience!
Elf
There is something quite sweet and innocent about this one. It’s truly a feel-good movie.
The Holiday
Okay, this one doesn’t really qualify as a family favorite. I’m not 100% sure if David has seen it. I, however, watch it every year. How can you not love that English cottage? The cast is wonderful and the story is delightful. I’ve already seen it once this year but I just might have to watch it again next week. Maybe I’ll get David to watch it with me.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Our long time family tradition has been to watch this the night we put up the Christmas tree. The past couple of years haven’t coincided but we DO always watch it at some point. For me, it’s just not Christmas without It’s a Wonderful Life.
A Christmas Prince
Okay, I’ll admit it. This Netflix original is about as hokey as they get. But it speaks to my inner princess so it earns a spot on my list. No, the guys haven’t seen it. Yet! This just might be the year I make them watch it with me.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
For many years now, David and I have watched A Charlie Brown Christmas on Christmas Eve after returning from our church candlelight service. I don’t recall how this tradition started but we grill hot dogs and have a late supper while watching this. It’s a sweet way to end Christmas Eve.
There are, of course, lots of other great Christmas movies. What are your favorites?
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I have to agree about Miracle On 34th Street: both the old and new versions are equally good. I also love Home Alone and Elf from your list. My all time favourites though are Santa Clause – The Movie and One Magic Christmas. Oh, and… Don’t hate me, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen A Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s just not as big of a thing over here. Really want to see it though. Interesting how different things are more common in different places. I mean, I hadn’t seen the animated version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas or Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer until the Christmas I spent in Canada when I was 18, and only watched It’s A Wonderful Life a year or so ago.
Oh, and I forgot Prancer. How could I forget that one? It’s been a favourite of mine and my brothers since we were kids too… PrancerReturns is good, but not as good as the first one.
The 1960’s Rudolph with Burl Ives as the voice of the snowman, Love, Actually, and The Family Stone are all movies I thoroughly enjoy at Christmas. My tradition is to watch It’s a Wonderful Life while gift wrapping, and the whole family sits together for Christmas Vacation on Christmas Eve. We also fit in some of the Hallmark Christmas movies.
Those are some great choices. It’s so nice to have family traditions.