Not only does this time of year allow me to eat the dishes I normally stay away from the rest of the year, but I also get the chance to enjoy some of my favorite holiday movies.
A classic viewed in our home on Thanksgiving Day is “Home for the Holidays” with Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr. and the iconic Anne Bancroft. It’s the quintessential and hilarious tale of a dysfunctional family that comes together for Thanksgiving dinner.
No holiday is complete without Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson in “Love Actually.” It’s a great testament to the love we share for family and friends.
I do enjoy all the classic animated films. All of the Peanuts movies are in my collection and no Christmas is complete without Burl Ives’ narration of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
On the opposite end of the festive holiday spectrum is “Bad Santa.”
I know the film may be a bit crass for some, but the performances by Billie Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac and John Ritter are just spot on and hilarious.
Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is also a favorite and I love singing along to the soundtrack.
However, on Christmas Eve, much to the chagrin of my family, the traditional viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” takes place. We all gather around the television with a cup of my dad’s homemade eggnog and enjoy the film’s message of never taking anything for granted.
The best thing about these movie viewings is, they provide my family the opportunity to reminisce about holidays past and ruminate on the blessings of the past year.
Spending time with your family, whether it be watching a holiday movie or attending local holiday events, is what’s really important.
As we enter this holiday season and frantically search for the perfect gifts, I hope you will take a moment and enjoy the pleasures in life that family and friends bring.