My Favorite Christmas Flicks

I have a long list of movies that I consider to be Christmas-related (even if Joseph thinks I'm crazy half the time) and that I must watch over the holiday season.  I love Christmas movies!  Here they are, in no particular order:

This is Joseph's favorite, so he'll always watch this one with me.  I love it, too, for so many reasons.  ("My mouth's bleeding!"  "Zuzu's petals!"  "Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!  Merry Christmas, you old Building and Loan!")

"White Christmas" is another must-see that I've watched every year since my childhood.  What's not to love?  Great singing, great dancing, hilarious lines (thank you Danny Kaye!), and filled with Christmas spirit.  Love this one.

"Holiday Inn" is a companion movie to "White Christmas" where the song "White Christmas" was actually first sung (because it was made first).  Another Bing Crosby classic, it actually covers all the holidays, but starts and ends with Christmas.  AND it has Fred Astaire dancing, so you can't go wrong with this.

Now here's where Joseph starts to think I'm crazy.  Why is this a holiday movie he asks?  Because it includes several holidays I answer.  Sometimes that's all it takes.  (Kind of like "Sleepless in Seattle" is another Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan flick that I occasionally watch during the holidays.)  And I haven't faithfully watched this one every year since it came out, just the past couple since I acquired it, but I love it.  I also love the movie it was based on, "The Shop Around the Corner", (which is another great Christmas movie) with the incredible Jimmy Stewart.  Go check that out if you've never seen it.

"While You Were Sleeping" is another one that seems like a strange holiday choice, but it actually all takes place over Christmas and New Years, so it really is a Christmas movie (and it gives me a good excuse to watch it once a year, because it's one of my faves!)

"The Polar Express" hasn't always been a favorite, but it is now that I have kids.  I didn't even grow up reading this book, but I think the movie is very well done and has a great message.

"The Preacher's Wife" isn't my favorite, and I actually don't always watch it, but it's still a cute story that I enjoy.  Plus, it's got easy-on-the-eyes Denzel Washington in it as well as some great songs by Whitney Houston, so it's a fun one.

I love this movie.  Joseph and I actually just went to see it last week on the stage and really enjoyed it.  The actual Tootie from this movie, Margaret O'Brien, was there signing autographs which was fun because she was so great in the movie.  While it's mostly about the World Fair that came to St. Louis in 1904, it's also a sweet love story that occurs over Halloween and Christmas, so I consider it a legitimate Christmas movie.  Plus, Judy Garland sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" at the end, so that seals the deal.

This is our newest favorite Christmas movie, and another that Joseph will always watch with me.  We laugh out loud so many times watching "Elf".  It's one of the only Will Ferrell movies I can actually stomach, and we think it's hilarious.

I know some of you are shaking your heads that I didn't include "A Christmas Story" or "Charlie Brown's Christmas" or other classic favorites on here, but I didn't grow up with those so I just never loved them like I know some of you do.  I guess I'd also include in this list "Miracle on 34th Street", but we don't own it so we don't watch it that often.  I like it a lot, though.  If there's any other movies that you think I have to see at Christmastime, however, I'm open to suggestions (though I barely have enough time for all of these as it is!)  And I hope that maybe I've given someone an idea for a new movie to love at the holiday season.