Top 4 Must See Christmas Movies

​The holiday is full of many traditions, some old and many unique to each family. In my household when you sort through the delicious food and endless piles of wrapping paper, you can find our most dear tradition, Christmas movies. Movies can be a great way to grow closer as a family and more importantly can teach your kids lifelong lessons. Here are a few go-to classics that will brighten up your holiday season.
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
 
This is hands down my go-to movie the minute the holidays come close. This 1989 classic is a must in my household. The movie stars Chevy Chase, who plays the unforgettable Clark Griswold. Clark spends the majority of the film trying to construct the perfect family Christmas. Soon you will see that the perfect Christmas can turn south quickly. I love this film and the message it brings which is that family is everything. Christmas Vacation is full of heartfelt humor that will have your family filling your home with laughter and joy. My advice is to find an edited version of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Though mostly family-friendly, there are a few scenes that have mature language. 
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Home Alone

Home Alone 
 
While thinking of Christmas in my home growing up the one movie that comes to mind is Home Alone. I spent many Christmas Eves as a kid recreating scenes of this movie. I promise that parents didn't appreciate booby traps Christmas morning. Home Alone gives you a glimpse of the life of a bratty kid named Kevin McCallister. Kevin gets punished the night before a huge family trip to Paris. You can guess what happens next, Kevin gets left behind and needs to fend for himself until his family returns. As the movie progresses Kevin gains a deeper longing for family and the true meaning of Christmas. The great takeaway from this film is that sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone. Home Alone, for the most part, is a safe movie to watch with your kids, there is minor violence, but once you get past that, Home Alone is a timeless classic.
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Jingle All The Way

Jingle All The Way
 
Jingle All The Way is one of those movies that just makes me belly laugh no matter how many times I've seen it. Howard Langston, a workaholic father, is really good at one thing - breaking promises to his family. Jingle All The Way is a story about a dad going through the longest Christmas Eve ever in search of an action figure in order to finally keep a promise to his son Jamie. Once you look beyond Arnold Schwarzenegger starring in a family friendly Christmas flick, there is a beautiful story under some hilarious moments. The message here is like many movies in the holiday genre - family is the most important part of Christmas. Jingle All The Way also exposes how foolish holiday shopping can become, a lesson we can all learn from.
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Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas 
 
All I can say about Arthur Christmas is that it is just a cute movie. In this animated feature, Santa does the biggest no-no and forgets to deliver a present to a child. Cue Arthur, Santa's youngest son. Arthur takes it upon himself to right his father's wrong. Arthur needs to deliver the package to the child before dawn. My kids love this movie, it is so darn cute and the great take away is that of never giving up. The most valuable lesson I can instill in my children is that they can do hard things and Arthur Christmas helps me teach that. This one might have flown under the radar but do yourself a favor and share this one with your kids.
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Honorable Mentions:
 
Toyko Godfathers
The Man Who Invented Christmas
Eloise at Christmastime
 
These selected few are a great way to grow closer to your loved ones this holiday season. What are some of your go-to holiday flicks? Let us know down below. Most of all Happy Holidays and a blessed New Years to you and yours!