‘Tis the season for these holiday classics

The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time for cozy movie nights in. This time of year has brought so many memories to me, and I have numerous holiday films and T.V. classics that need sharing.

My Favorite Christmas Movie: “Eloise at Christmastime” (2003)

There’s a good chance that I’m the only person who’s ever seen this movie which is

truly a disservice considering how good it is.

The film is based on a book series that began in 1955, and the movie itself is a follow-up to “Eloise at the Plaza.“ However, you don’t need to see it to enjoy “Eloise at Christmastime.”

The movie follows Eloise, a six-year-old girl who lives at the plaza hotel with her Nanny, played by the one and only Julie Andrews. Eloise is constantly finding inventive ways to entertain herself and this often leads to trouble.

At her core, though, she’s good-intentioned and always looking to help. In the case of this film, she’s looking to help as she dives into the role of matchmaker.

Eloise hopes to rekindle the romance between a waiter who works at the hotel and the hotel owner’s daughter. However, the deadline to do so is Christmas Eve, as this is when the hotel owner’s daughter is to be married to another man, who Eloise finds suspicious.

This movie has everything you could want in a Christmas spectacular. It has singing and dancing. It has a star-crossed lover’s romance. It has forgery, fraud, and extortion. It has a pug in a tutu. It has a suspenseful kidnapping.

It even has a Christmas shopping montage that includes the New York City Toy R Us. This movie somehow manages to have it all including entrancing you in the Christmas Spirit.

My Favorite Christmas Classic: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)

This is the epitome of a Christmas classic; however, I’ve come to learn that many of my friends haven’t seen it.

Since I was a child I found myself watching this film, and I honestly hated it growing up. It wasn’t until I saw it in high school for the first time in many years that I fell in love.

The story follows George Bailey, a banker during the Great Depression who is drowning in struggles, and on Christmas Eve is considering taking his own life.  He’s visited, however, by a guardian angel who shows him what his life would be like if he’d never existed.

It’s an extremely heartwarming and tear-jerking movie that holds up despite being decades old. As George Bailey re-experiences his life, the audience also lives through those moments and in the end gets a true sense of the Christmas spirit.

My Favorite Unconventional Santa Story: “Klaus” (2019)

I saw this unconventional Santa origin for the first time last year, and it has immediately become one of my favorites.

Set in 19th-century Norway, the story follows Jesper Johansson, the son of the Royal Postmaster General, who’s spoiled, lazy, and the worst student at the postmaster academy. 

In order to teach him a lesson, his father sends him to a frozen town with the task of posting six thousand letters in a year or risk being cut off from the family fortune. 

However, upon arrival, Jesper learns that the town is inhabited by two feuding family clans who are too busy fighting to write letters. Soon, however, Jesper finds hope in a reclusive toy maker named Klaus.

There’s a plethora of stories about Santa out there; however, this one really stands out due to its truly unique view. So, if you’re tired of the classic Christmas stories or just looking for something new I recommend “Klaus.”

My Favorite Holiday Food Network Show: “Gingerbread Showdown”

People build a crazy variety of structures, some even with moving pieces, all out of gingerbread, need I say more?

My Favorite TV Christmas Episode: “The Nanny” Season One Episode Eight

“The Nanny” is my go-to comfort show and every season I love rewatching all the Christmas episodes, but this first one is my favorite.

The episode follows Fran (the nanny) as she finds herself trying to compensate after overspending on gifts while also trying to provide the Sheffield children with the best Christmas she can as their father has to travel for the holiday.

My Favorite TV Show Christmas Special: “Arthur’s Perfect Christmas” (2000)

If you were like me and grew up in the early 2000s without cable, then there’s a good chance you remember “Arthur’s Perfect Christmas” playing on PBS each holiday season.

The special follows Arthur and his friends as they each navigate the holiday season. This special also looks at some of the celebrations aside from Christmas such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even Saint Lucia Day.

Warning: the song “Tina the Talking Tabby” will get stuck in your head.

More Winter Favorites: “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)

This movie follows Sally and Harry, two characters that disagree over the question of whether or not men and women can be platonic friends. The story follows the events that follow this first meeting as their paths manage to keep crossing. 

All the holiday festivities happening in the movie make it a perfect winter watch.

“About Time” (2013)

This movie follows the story of a man who learns that he can travel back in time and as a result utilizes it to try and improve his life. Parts of it take place during New Year’s Eve and the fantastical elements make it a great winter watch.

“I, Tonya” (2017)

This is a mockumentary black comedy that loosely tells the story of Tonya Harding. “I, Tonya” is honestly just one of my favorite movies and much of it takes place on ice and during the Winter Olympics, so it counts.

Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)

There’s something about the adorably ugly clothing Mrs. Weasley seems to make every year, the overly elaborate Yule Ball where 14-year-olds are awkwardly forced to dance with each other, and the sickening amounts of butterbeer they drink that just fit in perfectly with this winter watchlist.