Xmas WatchingTraditions

So I haven't written on this blog in almost 2 years. Like so many things in my life, I get excited and start something but just don't have time to keep up with it. Right now, I am sitting watching "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" with most of the family and thinking about this holiday season. I have tried to do a bit more to put myself in a Christmas mood by experiencing more Christmas shows. Some have been live - "A ...Redneck Christmas" which a friend was in, "Every Christmas Story Ever Told, and then some" at the theater where I volunteer, A Christmas Cabaret that I thoroughly enjoyed. I've been watching some of the various Christmas specials and movies I have as well. So I wanted to list the top movies or shows that I just don't feel I've experienced Christmas unless I see them from year to year:
1) "A Christmas Story" I just love this movie, and it reminds me of being a child and the crazy fun of family and Christmas and how even when things go wrong they can be memorable in a good way.
2) "It's A Wonderful Life" This movie never fails to warm my heart. Yes, it's sappy but that's what I love about it. If that movie were made today it would be completely different. Mr. Potter would be carted off to jail, George Bailey would have never stopped the pharmacist from making the mistake he did for fear of a law suit, there would be a Congressional investigation into the poor management of the Building & Loan... And I still think of an angel getting his or her wings whenever I hear a bell ring near Christmas.
3) "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" The cartoon version, not the bastardized Jim Carrey movie that missed the whole point of the story. I often feel like and identify with the Grinch near Christmas because it just gets too crazy busy and I stress out a tremendous amount. It helps remind me of what the real meaning of Christmas is when the Whos gather to sing Christmas morning despite all the Grinch has taken from them. I think my heart still grows three sizes whenever I watch this show.
4) "The Bishop's Wife" Again, the original movie. I LOVE Cary Grant. I love this movie and how he is the hero but only in that he makes David Niven the hero to his wife and family by the end. It also makes me believe in angels and how they can touch our lives, and how all the things which seem so important aren't really all that important at all in the grand scheme of things.
5) "Twas the Night Before Christmas" - the 1974 cartoon special with the mice family. I can't really explain why I love this so much other than it really reminds me of my childhood and making sure I watched this when it was on TV each year (it was made when I was 2 years old, so it's really always been in my life). I was always devastated if I missed it and I still get a kick out of it to this day.
6) "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer/ A Charlie Brown Christmas / Frosty the Snowman" I put all these together because I don't always get to see all of them every year, but usually watch at least one of them. They are all, also, a strong part of my childhood. When I watched the show "Every Christmas Story Ever Told..." all three of these shows was mentioned and lampooned a little - and I loved it! I heard "Rudolph" turned into a very sad but hysterical Blues song at the Cabaret I attended last weekend. Whenever I hear the piano music from "Charlie Brown" I automatically start bobbing my head like one of the characters from the show no matter where I am. And I can't help thinking of Frosty at the first snowfall each year when Snowmen pop up around my neighborhood. There isn't anything in particular that jumps out and sticks with me from these shows, I just love them because they tie me to pop culture that I can share with everyone this time of year.
7) Cheesy Hallmark / ABC Family Christmas Movies. I watch at least one or two every year. A couple of years ago I discovered a new favorite: "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", had to get it on DVD when it came out. These movies will never be a part of the grand scheme of Christmas, but who can resist "A Boyfriend for Christmas", or "Snowglobe", fun little fluff movies that the whole family can watch and smile about and drink hot chocolate while watching and be reminded of simple Christmas joys.
8) "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" Now most people have never even seen this show, but my brother and I used to watch this as kids and loved it. I have a soft spot in my heart for all things Muppet related and this is one of those shows. It has a sort of "Gift of the Magi" theme to it, but not in such a sad way as the actual story, and it has a happy ending. The music is kind of catchy and the story is fun and it's something I can share with my brother even though we have kids of our own now, kids who probably don't see what I see in the show. But maybe it will grow on them.
9) "Holiday Affair" / "Miracle on 34th Street". Again, I don't usually get to watch both of these movies every year, but I love the spirit each of them has. And my SIL and I always misquote "Miracle" and say we'd LOVE to have Santa Claus for dinner when we chat with each other year round. Both movies are about tough single moms who are trying to make the holidays work for their kids and end up finding love in the process. What more could a girl want for Christmas?
10) A marathon. This is completely something my family has started doing (it's really more of a New Year's thing, though we sort of did it on Thanksgiving this year as well). We have started watching some sort of themed movie marathon as a family and look forward to it, planning it throughout the year. Our first year it was all 6 Star Wars Movies back to back. Last year it was Indiana Jones movies (and we threw in The Princess Bride at the end for good measure for some reason). Thanksgiving this year it was the Harry Potter movies. This year, we plan to watch the three Back to the Future Movies, then we're debating a second set for the end of the day. When the kids get older we want to do the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but not quite yet. Or maybe our favorite James Bond flicks. The younger kids tend to not want to sit still and watch movies all day anyway so we can choose some more mature fare. This has become our own personal family tradition, though, one of the few we really have, so I am happy to keep it going since it has taken root. I'm hoping for a Hitchcock marathon some day if my family will indulge me - maybe that will be for my Birthday / Labor Day next year.

There are certainly a lot more Christmas movies and specials out there that we enjoy watching - we saw "Nat'l Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" for the first time in years last week, but they don't seem to resonate with me and really MAKE it Christmas like these do. Just thought I would share as I sit here trying to boost my Christmas spirit levels before a busy day tomorrow. Maybe I'll get this blog back up and running in the new year. Don't anyone hold your breath on that, but the whim has been striking me lately to put a few of my random "lists" out there and see if I'm the only one around that is truly nuts, or if others share my crazy views of the world from time to time. Either way, Merry Christmas and Happy Watching!