T’was the Month Before Christmas…

Topic this week:
Do you have a favorite Christmas holiday novel? What about your favorite movie? Do you restrict reading/viewing of Christmas/holiday themed books/movies to the holiday season?

We’ve covered holiday movies in the recent past, but I am game!

Yes, I restrict my holiday movies and generally do the reading, to the seasons. It make them all the more special, puts me in the mood and it’s something more to look forward to. My mother used to make special recipes only during certain holidays. When I tried to do some more often, well, they just weren’t the same. Only some of the recipes I make during holidays will be made year round.

George C. Scott’s version of “A Christmas Carol” is a must-see,as are “It’s a Wonderful Life”,
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”,  “Claymation Christmas” and yes, “Die Hard”, (I generally kick off the Christmas season with that one). The newest obligatory movie here is “Christmas in the Clouds”, the best Christmas movie that almost no one knows. I make guests sit down and watch it, and have not had one person who did not have a great time with it.

Although it’s nowhere near like seeing it onstage, I will watch “The Nutcracker” or check out other versions when I find one streaming.
(I was sorely disappointed in Baryshnikov’s version).

Apart from Charlie Brown, other Christmas cartoons get run, if only by The Husband. We have several collections of short cartoons from throughout the decades.
Believe it or not, there is an early “Wiggles” Christmas special that I generally run as well, only for myself. It is particularly cute with a bunch of kid pirates.

I almost forgot “While You Were Sleeping”, one of the best romcoms ever. As for “Hallmark” movies, most are a far stretch. However, “The Twelve Dates of Christmas”, which is basically a “Groundhog Day”, I found truly likable and may try to find again.

As for reading, “A Christmas Carol” is really great. “The Night Before Christmas” doesn’t need to be read, as I had it read to me, I read it for myself, I read it to my nieces, then my sons and my grandkids, so many times that long before the last generations I had it memorized, but  I love the pictures in most books.
“The Christmas Mice”, and a few other kiddie books were read over and over here. I should pull them out for myself, although the nearly-three-year-old is supposed come for a visit from Nevada and I will use that as an excuse.

I wrote a children’s story based on a real situation in our family. I sent it off only once, I believe; I should really submit that again, just to get it out there.

I chaperoned a field trip for my grandson about ten years ago to see a play. No one warned me that “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” was so touching! Although I was determined not to sob, I could not control the tears completely. I picked up the book afterward and found that the story is even better.

It’s worth reading; I’ve done it several times.

I read a few holiday-themed romances and cozy mysteries, (the Santas seem to be the favorite victims). I should indulge in a few more.

I know I will come up with many movies or stories after this posts.

So, we are kicking off the season and I hope it is truly enjoyable for all of you!

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