Holiday Movie Traditions

Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are a few movies that I must watch to make the holiday season feel complete. I feel it’s only appropriate to share them with you in case you’d like to check one out (if you haven’t see all of them already).

Miracle on 34th St. The original 1934 version with Natalie Wood is so wonderful, how can you not love it? Typically I watch it during Thanksgiving weekend, but Mom’s copy was in a box somewhere (packed up when we put in the new floor) so we didn’t even consider trying to dig it out.

While You Were Sleeping. A new classic. I think I enjoy it so much because I can relate to Lucy (Sandra Bullock). Not in the fact that she has no family – I have more family than I know what to do with – but in that she totally allows herself to be adopted into another family. I raise my hand to guilty on that count. I’ve mooched my way into a couple of bonus families and am blessed to be able to share in their lives. Also, it’s just a great romantic comedy.

White Christmas. I’m a sucker for musicals, and this one is tops for me. Bing Crosby’s rendition of “White Christmas” can’t help but warm your heart as he croons in his smooth-as-silk, deeper-than-the-ocean, voice. Even if you are spending the holidays at a warm sunny beach, you could hear that song and be transported to that lodge in Vermont, with “all that snow”, sipping hot apple cider (the hot apple cider is my addition).

My newest additions, added just two years ago, are The Holiday and Last Holiday.

The Holiday makes me want to travel to England and stay in a cozy cottage with a wood burning fireplace, where I have to bundle head to toe to walk up a snow-filled, windy lane to get to the only pub in town. And when I get there everyone is in a jolly mood and pink-cheeked from winter spirits, and possibly a ruggedly handsome stranger will be there to sweep me off my feet. Hey, it could happen. I also love, love, love, Jack Black in this movie. His character is adorable, kind and funny; Winslet got the best man in this one.

And who wouldn’t want to have a few days of senseless extravagance like Georgia Byrd did in Last Holiday? Granted, she thought she was dying, but it made her realize that you have to live life while you’re alive, otherwise what’s the point? It makes me think of an ad I saw recently that conveyed the sentiment of “don’t wait for a special occasion to use the good china; today is special.” In the end Georgia gets to live her dream AND she gets the guy. I’m may be a sucker for musicals, but I’m an even bigger sucker for romantic comedies – I always say that you know when it’s a good romantic comedy when you’re a bit lonely at the end.

Also, I’d like to give a special mention to my Christmas action flicks: Die Hard and The Long Kiss Goodnight. Any cinema list of mine would not be complete without some action movies; I love watching things blow up and believe that adrenaline is a good thing.

Anyway, those are my holiday movie traditions. If there are any you haven’t seen, maybe give one a shot while you are wrapping gifts or cooking up a holiday pie. Then let me know what you think. Also, if there’s a movie you think I should try, let me know. Have a great holiday season!

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