Top Christmas Music & Movies... According to Me!

As promised yesterday, today I give you  my top Christmas songs and movies (in no particular order). I'd love to hear yours in your comments. So, without further ado...

Songs:

1. O Holy Night

This has long been my very favorite Christmas carol, even more so as sung by Josh Groben. Though I enjoy the soaring melody, it's the heartfelt gratitude for the birth of Jesus that touches me so much.

2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Who doesn't love this cheerful song? Especially when it's about the underdog rising to the top to be the savior of the day.

3. Mary Did You Know

Fav version sung by Donny Osmond. Fantastic song wondering just how much did the mother of this little baby know about what he was destined for. Don't all new mom's wonder about their new baby's destiny?

4. Blue Christmas

As sung by Elvis. I think because it pulls me so strongly back to my childhood (raised by an Elvis fan).

5. Do You Hear What I Hear?

I'm not really sure why I love this one so much, other than I love it when I can sing along with the whole thing and not mess up once on whether it's "do you hear" "do you see" or "do you know".

6. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Yeah, sick, I know. But it makes me laugh every time anyway.

7. In Excelsis Deo

If one can sing the whole "gloria" part without needing a breath, that's pretty impressive. This is an earnest, joyful song.

8. Joy to the World

Uplifting and joyous. Who can sing this in a depressed manner? I'd guess no one.

9. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Who can resist a song by Tony the Tiger ("They're grrreat!") aka Thurl Ravenscroft? I don't believe this can be done as well by anyone else.

10. Silent Night

This is the ultimate Christmas song, encompassing the reason for the season, and the sacredness of it.

11. What Child is This?

Again, a song that reminds us of why we celebrate this particular holiday.



Movies:

1. Elf

I adore this movie! Will Ferrell is earnest and charming as the displaced elf, James Caan is superb as the reluctant "new" dad, and Zooey Deschanel is sweetly cynical. Not to mention Bob Newhart as the undersized foster dad. "Angry elf" anyone? Best. Scene. Ever. Completely quotable movie.

2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

For the same reasons the song is on my list above.

3. A Christmas Story

This movie never gets old. Finally, proof that ignoring your mom's advice just might take an eye out. Tongue stuck to the pole: classic. The leg lamp: coveted. Pink bunny suit: gut-bustingly funny. Santa's elves dropping kids down the slide: horrifying - and yet funny at the same time. Fah-rah-rah-rah-rah: speaks for itself.

4. Frosty the Snowman

Should be creepy, a snowman who comes to life and takes a little girl on a trip without informing her parents, but instead it's charming and heartbreaking.

5. Home Alone

What parent isn't terrified by the idea of forgetting a child somewhere? And then to top it off, said child is harassed by thugs. Good thing he's clever with a streak of cruelty to keep him safe.

6. The Santa Clause

For those of you who have ever wondered what happens when the old guy gets, well, old. Who takes over? Tim Allen, of course.

7. The Shop Around the Corner

Inspiration for You've Got Mail, this classic 1940 movie pairs James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan as the irresistible pair who hate/love one another.

8. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

There isn't anything about this movie that isn't completely hilarious, from the wrapped cat to the over-decorated house to Eddie and his horrible children and RV.

9. It's a Wonderful Life

Don't we all have days when we need to be reminded about how important we are to those in our lives?

10. The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppets + Scrooge = perfection.

11. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I am somewhat fond of the Jim Carrey version, but it doesn't hold a candle to the original, cartoon version straight from Dr. Seuss' book.

12. Mr. Krueger's Christmas

If you haven't seen this holiday gem, immediately hunt it down and watch it. I'm not kidding. Do it right now. James Stewart will break your heart, and completely open your eyes to those around you. Stressed about spending the holidays with your family? You won't be after you watch this. You'll be grateful for every last annoying, irritating one of them.

'Tis the Season

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is that for the most part, people are full of good cheer. Of course you're going to run into plenty of Scrooge's, but to me they are eclipsed by the many people who are cheerful, happy, and most of all, giving.

The local food bank gets more donations this time of year than any other, all of the local charities are full with volunteers, and the Angel Tree's are picked clean. Old toys are donated, new toys are donated, coat, hats, gloves, and socks are freely given.

Christmas music is happy music (if you discount the tear-jerking Christmas Shoes song). Santa is jolly, and you can watch countless reruns of Christmas movies. LMN and Lifetime are an endless string of joyfully cheesy Christmas movies. Houses are festively decorated, cookies are baked without guilt. The other day, driving down the street I saw Santa on a motorcycle with Mrs. Santa in the sidecar, happily waving to all they passed in spite of the freezing weather.

Tomorrow I'll post my top Christmas songs and movies. For today, I'm going to send out my wishes that we can all retain the good cheer we have this time is year, and that we will remember to give, not only of things but also of ourselves, all year long. And my wishes for you all to have a very Merry Christmas wherever you are, and that you get to spend the magical day with someone you love.