The holidays always has always been and probably will always be my favorite time of year. It’s blissful atmosphere and countless number of family traditions are only a few of the many things I love about this time. I love littering the house with twinkling lights, a massive evergreen tree, and the notorious and magical “Elf on the Shelf.” But above all, my absolute favorite part of the holiday month is watching an acclaimed selection of holiday movies, and while the 25 Days of Christmas schedule shows a variety of classic films, I thought that I would share my most favorite holiday film selection for you to watch this season.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: 

• The movie begins during the beginning of the month of December. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) hopes to have the perfect family Christmas. He pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and hundred-strand light decorations across his house. However, his holiday does not go quite to plan. His cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. The whole Griswold family is together in one house, where the perfect and idealistic holiday is unrealistic. If you’re looking for a comedic and family friendly classic to watch, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is one I would 100% recommend.

Elf:  

• The notorious movie, Elf, has never failed to make me laugh and put a smile on my face. The storyline includes a human named Buddy (Will Ferrell) who is accidentally transported to the North Pole as a baby. Once finding out that he is not a real elf, he sets out into the big and exciting land called New York City. There, he finds his biological father. Together, they have many humorous moment, such as making spaghetti with maple syrup and spinning around with the revolving doors. By the end of the holiday season, this movie is very overplayed and isn’t watched again until the next year.

The Polar Express:

• The movie begins with a small and quiet boy hearing a sound outside his window. Due to the fact that he thinks it is Santa and his reindeer, he sneaks out of his house and into the cold night. The boy ends up taking an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, full of singing waiters with hot chocolate and golden tickets. He embarks on a journey that shows him that Christmas spirit never fades for those who believe.

A Christmas Story:

• This holiday classic follows a young boy named Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift: a Red Ryder air rifle. Frequently at odds with his cranky dad (Darren McGavin) but comforted by his loving mother (Melinda Dillon), Ralphie struggles to make it to Christmas Day with his glasses and his hopes intact.

The Grinch:

• In this live-action remake of the children’s tale by Dr. Seuss, the repulsive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville. Reluctantly joined by his innocent dog, Max, the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the Whos. However, the bitter monster finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen). Cindy Lou Who changes his view on the holiday and helps him realize the true meaning of Christmas.

These are only a few of many of my favorites. Other movies include:

• The Santa Claus series
• The Home Alone series
• Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
• Muppet’s A Christmas Carol
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
• Frosty the Snowman
• A Charlie Brown Christmas

With the holidays nearby, it is finally time to start blasting the spirited jingles and classic movies. As the snow begins to fall, and the house begins to smell of evergreen and gingerbread, and the sound of cheerful singing circulates throughout, keep in mind that some of the best and classic holiday films are available to watch this season.