CLASSIC CHRISTMAS MOVIES THAT SHOULD BE PULLED OUT THIS YEAR

It is once again that magical time of year, where gifts are given and festivities abound. There are many ways in which this season is celebrated: parties, parades, gift giving, spending time with family, and much more. And one popular method of celebration is to watch Christmas movies and much-loved television classics with friends and family.

These are stories of famed figures of Christmas such as Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and the Grinch, to name a few. There are so many movies to choose from though, and the matter has been complicated with certain movies being credited as “Christmas movies” simply because they are set at that time of year.

The question, then, becomes how to determine just what to watch. I would love to help with that decision and so, without further ado, I present a list of some of the beloved classics that deserve a watch or two this month.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

It’s Christmas once again in Whoville, and the Whos are preparing for another great celebration! However, the Grinch, who lives nearby on Mt. Crumpit, despises Christmas, the Whos and their festivities. One year when the Grinch has had enough, he plots to steal Christmas from the Whos. Will he succeed or will he learn about the meaning of Christmas?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

It has been a long-running tradition that on the night of Christmas Eve, Santa Claus delivers presents to all the good girls and boys. This is done via his sleigh, which is pulled by his team of reindeer. One year, one of the reindeer, Donner, becomes a father to Rudolph, a reindeer with a red nose. This comes across as odd and Rudolph is ridiculed for it, since all the other reindeer have black noses. Can Rudolph overcome the adversity? Will the other reindeer ever accept him?

Frosty the Snowman

It is once again winter, and once again the ground is white with snow. One day several children go outside and build a snowman. While doing this, they discover a hat. Little do they know that this hat belongs to a magician and is thus magical. Having found the hat, they place it on the snowman’s head – and he comes to life. What shenanigans will unfold?

The Little Drummer Boy

This is the story of a young poor boy named Aaron who finds joy in playing his drum. When his family is attacked, he is kidnapped and forced to join a caravan of performers. One day, Aaron’s lamb, Baba, becomes injured. Can Aaron overcome the trauma he has experienced? Will Baba be healed?

The Year Without a Santa Claus

One morning, Santa wakes up with a cold and has a visit with his doctor who thinks that nobody believes in Santa anymore. Because of this, Santa decides to take a holiday instead of making his annual journey. Mrs. Claus, unable to convince Santa otherwise, sends two elves on a quest to find out if people still believe in Santa. Does Santa still matter? Will there indeed be a year without Santa?

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

Santa Claus is a beloved figure of Christmas who comes once a year to give gifts to all the good boys and girls. In this telling of his origin story, viewers learn that he was abandoned as a baby and adopted by toymakers. When he grows up, he is tasked with delivering toys to children in a town ruled by Miesterberger Bergermiester. Will he succeed? How does he become the figure we know as Santa Claus?

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Once again it is Christmastime, but Charlie Brown is depressed. Having noticed this, his friends try to cheer him up. One method is the suggestion that he direct a Christmas play. Will the play succeed? Will Charlie Brown cheer up?

Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

In a story similar to that of Rudolph, viewers meet Nestor, a donkey with abnormally long ears. He is thus ridiculed by other animals and is thrown out in the cold by his owner after Roman soldiers raid the stable and take all the other donkeys, without paying. Will Nestor find out why he has the ears he does? Will Nestor find his purpose in life?

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July

Long ago, before Santa moved north and began his yearly trips to give gifts to children, the North Pole was ruled by the evil king, Winterbolt. At one point, Lady Boreal, the queen of the Northern Lights, put King Winterbolt into a deep sleep. But, one year, after Santa took up residency at the pole and started his work, Winterbolt awakens and desires to be rid of Santa so that he can once again rule the North Pole. He devises a scheme that will stop Rudolph’s nose from glowing, permanently. Will the king succeed? Will Rudolph’s nose still glow?

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year

Just after delivering the Christmas gifts for the year, Santa receives a message from Father Time that Happy, the baby new year, has gone missing. If the child isn’t found before midnight on New Year’s Eve, it will be Dec. 31st forever! Rudolph sets out to find the baby with a group of friends he meets along his journey. However, an evil vulture named Eon is out to thwart the rescue. Eon is hoping to prevent the new year because after living for an eon he will turn into snow and ice and be no more – and it just so happens that this year is the end of his eon. Will Happy be returned in time for the new year, or will the world face an eternal Dec. 31st?

Hopefully, this list will inspire at least a little joy for this Christmas season. I know we could certainly use some, after all that the world has seen during 2020. We can still have a holly, jolly celebration in a year where it seems that, unlike the Grinch, we must not stop Christmas from coming.

As the song says, “We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.” This rings very true – not that we need Christmas specifically, but at a time like this, a little joy doesn’t hurt!

Advocate Staff