OT: Best Christmas Stories, Movies and Traditions
I'm wondering what are your best Christmas Story, Movie and Traditions?
We enjoy listening to SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris.
We also have started to making Christingles, which we started as a tradition after listening to James Acaster.
On a wholesome level, we listen to A Christmas Carol (audiobook with the English accent).
If you have anything we should add, I'd love to know.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
We generally go through every Christmas movie we own leading up to Christmas day and save A Muppet Christmas Carol for Christmas Eve. That movie fucking rules.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:03 PM ^
My tradition is to watch It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve - mostly after the family has gone to bed and all is quiet. Besides that we will try to get in a trip to Frankenmuth most years.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
We usually watch something quaint like “Elf” or “Die Hard”
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:07 PM ^
A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott as Scrooge is amazing! He's such a good Scrooge, and there's enough humor injected and the best drama with the story line, just an excellent version. Plus he is the best converted Scrooge ever (Marley's ghost is pretty cool and scary too - not a show to watch with the little ones. Still a great story of redemption of a miserable old man... great for Christmas.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:38 AM ^
I've always been partial to the 1951 British version with Alistair Sim, but this is an excellent movie. And you're right about George C. Scott being the best "converted Scrooge." I love the sight of "Patton" jumping with joy on his bed on Christmas morning.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:08 PM ^
I make homemade Belgium waffles every Christmas morning.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:13 PM ^
A hidden gem is It Happened on Fifth Avenue. Made in the 1940's. Just discovered it about four years ago and now watch it every Christmas. One of the co-stars is Alan Hale, Jr. - the Skipper from Gilligan's Island.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
Grew up in an Indian Immigrant/Hindu family. We ripped off a Jewish tradition and order Thai food. The day of and after Christmas we raid the stores trying to find deals on discounted stuff post holiday.
Favorite movies are Home Alone 2, Elf, and heckling Love Actually
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
So you do get the true meaning of Christmas. Consumerism!!!
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^
I'm not Jewish, but I often wind up doing this on Christmas with members of that tribe:
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/why-american-jews-…
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:04 PM ^
First of all, it's not Christmas Day, it's Christmas Eve. There are plenty of restaurants open on Christmas Day, but -- at least years ago -- not on Christmas Eve. And here's how it started:
My father's birthday is December 24. (A great day for a Jewish boy's birthday!) When I was a kid many years ago (too many to mention) we'd go out to celebrate his birthday. But the only restaurants open were Chinese. So we always went to a Chinese restaurant. And then we'd go to a movie. We'd be just about the only people in the restaurant and in the theatre.
As years went by, other people, especially our fellow Jews, took up the practice. One year my cousin was amazed that my parents knew just about everyone in the restaurant. And now there are many restaurants open on Christmas Eve, and movie theatres are packed.
I think my father gets the credit.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:28 AM ^
We're eating Chinese on Christmas Day this year, along with a showing of "Young Frankenstein." My kids have grown up with the worst movies; it's time to introduce them to some greats. Also, we watched "Elf" a few days ago, which is our favorite Christmas movie.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:04 PM ^
Actually, I like Love Actually.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:51 AM ^
Same here. A little romance at Christmas is never a bad thing.
December 23rd, 2018 at 8:49 AM ^
My wife and daughter watch that throughout the year. I’ve seen so many bits and pieces of it (while walking through the room). When my wife finally made me sit down and watch it, it was like watching a rerun.
December 23rd, 2018 at 10:23 AM ^
If you get the chance, watch the Love Actually DVD director's cut of scenes he had to delete otherwise it would have been 3+ hrs. Great scenes. But NOTHING beats the English guy going to Milwaukee and being "forced" to sleep with the girls in one bed. They being naked because they were too poor to afford pajamas. Classic.
December 23rd, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^
Classic indeed. I think the same thing every time I see this scene: Where exactly is this bar, and how well can I fake a British accent?
Edit: Never mind. At my age I'd have to fake a lot more than just the accent.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:16 PM ^
I like to sit high above the city, perched on top of a gargoyle, and silently protect the people from crime.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^
keep a close eye on that dude in the red suit. has a sleigh, 8 unregistered caribou, and breaks into homes at an amazing rate.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:27 PM ^
Honestly i've been focusing my attention on more serious criminals of late. Like Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and anyone else with a nice rack in leather.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
I always feel like I’m shitting like a gargoyle when using a squatty potty.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^
Where do you think the idea came from? I emailed a friend i had that knew some people at Wayne Tech, and gave them the specs.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^
Wife and I watch Irving Berlin's White Christmas most nights. Only start to finish on weekends. We love it and don't care if we don't get through it all every time we watch.
Miracle on 34th (1947).
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:45 PM ^
That's a great movie. Someone made a stage musical of it a few years ago, and it was also great.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:52 PM ^
Thanks for the info. Wife and I are pretty much homebodies these days but if it comes to a city near us, we'll go.
Thanks again.
December 23rd, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^
Both very good movies. We love A Christmas Story. Has to be the greatest Christmas movie ever. Also enjoy checking out Christmas light displays
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:29 PM ^
Usually watch miracle. Best sports movie of all time. Never gets old.
Beat those commie bastards
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:40 AM ^
Their time is over!
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
Bought a new house last week, has a movie theater in it, we will be doing Xmas movies every weekend till Xmas. No other traditions really but it locks the kids in while we wrap ?
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:32 PM ^
Christmas Vacation, every year.
Other movies have cycled in and out of the rotation, we never get tired of CV.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^
^ We have a winner.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
There’s a different humor for everyone I guess. These movies are terrible and very unfunny for me. Never understood the attraction.
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^
You cannot be human. Or have a family.
December 24th, 2018 at 1:44 AM ^
Exactly!
The slapstick is just for show, the second level deep is where the humor that makes the movie is - the writing and interaction between the family and characters is priceless and more realistic than any other Christmas movie.
December 23rd, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
"It's nipply outside". "Shitter's full"
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:32 PM ^
When I was a kid we played the dice game. Roll 2 dice, get 2 of a kind grab a gift that was wrapped. After all the gifts are gone when you get two of a kind you get to take from another person. You get 2 of a kind you also roll again. Lots of family would play and taking the same persons gifts until they had nothing.... there will be tears
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:36 PM ^
nothing says 'Christmas spirit' quite like swiping everything from a loved one....
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:40 PM ^
Two great Christmas movies are my family's favorites, both of which have significance for my UM American Culture degree;
1. It's a Wonderful Life, which was one of the subjects of a senior seminar paper.
2. Meet Me in St. Louis, a musical about a family the year before the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904. My other senior seminar paper (yes, I wrote 2) was about the architecture of that fair. The movie ended with a glimpse of that remarkable architecture. My professor included my paper in a journal he published. (I hope you don't mind my bragging about it, but it's one of my proudest achievements.)
On Christmas Eve, my family will celebrate my father's 97th birthday by watching Meet Me in St. Louis with him.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:37 PM ^
For people who haven’t seen “Meet me in St. Louis”, this movie is where the song “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” comes from (Judy Garland in the movie).
(Many St. Louisians are proud of this).
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:54 AM ^
St. Louisians have much to be proud of. If there's a better version of that song, I've never heard it.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:07 AM ^
Since you are well-versed with IAWL, I have to bring up a point that the MGoGirlfriend made to me many years ago, when we were watching the movie.
It always bothered her that in the "Life Without George" scenes, Mary turns out to be a dowdy spinster librarian. Why? In high school, Mary Hatch was a beautiful, intelligent, vivacious girl who drew plenty of attention from guys (including Sam Wainwright, who ended up a rich businessman.)
But just because George Bailey was "never born," Mary ends up frumpy and alone?
Nope. Even for a fantasy film, it doesn't make sense.
PS: Happy Birthday to your father.
December 23rd, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^
And yet the bank's video cameras did not catch Mr. Potter taking the money. Unbelievable! /s
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^
Make homemade pizza with the wife every year on Christmas Eve. We are expecting our first child in June so we’ve been squeezing every bit of “just us” time out of this Christmas season as possible.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:07 PM ^
Speaking as a June born, it sounds like you two were squeezing in that "just us" time since September.
Congrats on the upcoming birth. Maybe your newborn can share June 24th with Rich Eisen and myself.
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
Smart move! There will never be anymore 'just us' time after that kid appears. Bedtime and babysitters don't really change that because its always in the back of your head. You won't care, though. Won't care at all...
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^
Movies. This year will be a double feature of Bumble Bee and Aquaman. Already saw Bumble Bee by myself. It was fantastic. Otherwise, it's overeat and watch TV.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:00 PM ^
Best Christmas movie is A Christmas Story, second is Christmas Vacation. No debates.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:12 PM ^
I agree, those are great Christmas comidies but as someone mentioned above, give White Christmas a try. The comedic timing and dancing of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are top notch. Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen are both great as well. And Bing Crosby can sing Christmas songs with the best of them.