Christmas classics

During this season, I can't help but look back on the things that remind me of the wonderment I felt as a child ... a certain kind of cookie, a holiday carol, a nostalgic ornament or a classic movie.

Here are some of my favorites (movies), almost all of which I must watch during the season.

Hope some of these stir something in you!

"The Christmas Toy"
This 1986 made-for-TV Christmas special centers around a playroom full of toys, including Rugby, a self-centered tiger, Apple, a sweet-natured curly-haired doll, Balthazar, an aged teddy-bear, and Mew, a catnip toy mouse, among others. My favorite was Mew. The toys come alive when no one is around. On Christmas Eve, Rugby learns that he will be 'replaced' by a new favorite toy, and is determined to get inside the box of the new toy. Rugby and Mew go on an adventure to the living room, where Rugby opens the box of Meteora, a She-Ra-esque doll that causes havock. When Rugby and Mew go back to the playroom, Mew lags behind, and becomes frozen, just like the cute little clown doll, Ding-a-Ling. Tha'ts what happens when a human finds you out of the playroom.




"Miracle on 34th Street"

I love the parade scene and the journey the little girl makes to believe in something.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Aside from the songs, I love when Linus reads an excerpt from the Christmas story.


"A Muppet Family Christmas"
The Muppet gang is joined by the Sesame Street cast (and even a few Fraggles!) at Fozzie's childhood farmhouse on Christmas Eve. A blizzard outside keeps everyone in, singing songs and watching home vidoes of the Muppets as babies, as Miss Piggy tries to get there. I laugh hysterically when the Swedish Chef thinks that Big Bird is the turkey dinner, and then later goes after a rooster who is flirting with Camilla, the love of Gonzo's life.



"A Muppet Christmas Carol"
Because I think the black and white version is too serious and a little creepy. It's hilarious when the rats get Bob Cratchet (Kermit) to ask Scrooge for another heap of coal for the fire.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas"

A take on the famous poem by Clement Moore, the story opens on the night before Christmas, but the reading of the poem must be stopped when two creatures in the house begin to stir: family men Mr. Trundle and Father Mouse. Their restlessness stems from the fact that Santa is angry at the residents of Junctionville, returning all their letters without even opening them. The reason? Somebody wrote a letter to the editor of the paper saying that he doesn't exist. In an attempt to fix the situation, Mr. Trundle, a clockmaker, comes up with a plan to lure Santa into town with a clock that will sing an enchanting song at midnight. When the clock doesn't work on its first test, the townsfolk lose all faith in him. Turns out the cause of all the trouble is Albert, a book-smart young mouse who thinks he knows the truth about Santa Claus.

"White Christmas"

This is the only non-cartoon movie on my list. I LOVE the dancing, the innocence, the costumes, the songs ... I wanted to be Judy, one of the sisters, just so I could dance and wear the twirly dresses, especially in this scene:



And this one. I wish I was as leggy as she was.