Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love getting together with friends and family, driving around to look at Christmas lights, and attending our traditional Christmas Eve services at church. To reflect upon our Savior’s birth strengthens my faith and brings about a renewed knowledge of His great love for us.
Around the Hall household, the Christmas season wouldn’t seem complete without watching a few favorite Christmas movies. With all the rushing around, it’s nice to sit back and enjoy a few films. Each year, I pull out the DVDs and watch them at least once. These are a few of my favorites (in no particular order):
- White Christmas—I’ve watched this movie at least once a year since I was a small child. It’s a good old-fashioned movie from a simpler time. The main characters, played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, unselfishly set out to help their old army general who has fallen on hard times. The dancing and choreography is superb, and of course, no one can sing White Christmas like Bing Crosby.
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer—this cartoon classic, narrated by Burl Ives, brings back many happy memories of when I watched it as a child. When it comes to Rudolph, I’m still a kid at heart.
- A Christmas Carol—there have been numerous films made of this Charles Dickens classic, but my husband and I prefer the version with George C. Scott in the role of Scrooge. We’re all familiar with Scrooge’s change of heart after a “ghostly” encounter on Christmas Eve. The message is clear that it is better to give than receive and all people have worth—regardless of their income or social status.
- The Gathering—perhaps not well known, but I first saw this made for TV movie in 1977. Ed Asner portrays a dying man who attempts to restore the relationship between himself and his grown children. The film also stars Maureen Stapleton, Bruce Davison, Stephanie Zimbalist, Veronica Hamel, and more.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas—this film, above all the others mentioned here, truly depicts the real meaning of Christmas. Charlie Brown, frustrated with the commercialism of Christmas, sets out to learn “what Christmas is all about.” Linus’s recitation from the second chapter of Luke reminds us that Christmas isn’t about tinsel, parades, and buying gifts. It is about the greatest gift of all—Jesus.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie or movies? Please share in the comments.
6 Responses
love this!
Thank you, La!
Christmas Child- wonderful story of a journalist, adopted, who goes searching for who he is. Story is by Max Lucado
I haven’t seen this one, Teresa. It sounds like a wonderful story. I also want to see the new movie based on a story by Max Lucado, “The Christmas Candle.”
Blessings!
I love Christmas movies Joan! Some of my favorites: The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant, A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf and one that isn’t strictly speaking about Christmas, but about George Washington’s Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River, The Crossing. It’s a really powerful movie, one of the best about the War of Independence.
Great list. I’d like to see the one about Washington. I love history. Blessings!