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Random contest time: Favorite holiday movie?

Sunday, December 16, 2012
EDIT (12/20/12): Winner!!

Congratulations to MJ on winning the $10 in Strandbucks! :) Please contact me via email at tymberdalton AT gmail.com and let me know what email address to send the code to!

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Okay, it's time for another random contest. Today, you're playing for a chance to win $10 in Strandbucks (usable at Siren-BookStrand).

And if you didn't check back on the last contest to see if you won, make sure you do. I posted the winners and so far only one has contacted me. LOL

What is your favorite holiday movie/TV show, and why?

I personally have a three-way tie. (Okay, quit thinking dirty. I know some of you just snickered.) For TV it's the Charlie Brown Christmas. The story, Vince Guaraldi's music, all of it. For movies, A Christmas Story and American Lampoon's Christmas Vacation tie for first. Did you know...there is a "sequel" to A Christmas Story out now? Also, did you know that a young Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) is Russ in Christmas Vacation? And now Old Navy has a couple of Christmas Vacation spoof commercials reuniting some of the original cast.

I can pretty much recite both these movies by heart, and have all three on DVD. They receive a lot of viewing throughout the year in our household and not just at Christmas time. The two movies make me laugh out loud, something I sometimes need more of in my life. I also collect the Hallmark ornaments for both movies.

So what is your favorite(s)? Tell me why. I'll pick a random winner via random.org from all the commenters to receive $10 in Strandbucks. :) (Hey, it's a better gift than a football, or a boxed cat! LOL)

64 reader comments:

  1. Kimberly said...:

    Favorite Christmas movie? Hm. A Christmas Story! "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" But Miracle on 34th Street is close.

  1. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation ... Still laugh at that one. Home Alone close. A Christmas story is goo also

  1. trinity said...:

    I have two the first Home alone, the first one, it is one the kids and I shared we never laughed so hard. We still watch it every year. My second choice would have to be Jim Carey's How the Grinch stole Christmas. Anything Jim Carey does cracks me up.
    Hope you have a great Christmas.
    Trinity

  1. Year with out a santa clausem. I love frost and heat miser

  1. wendy said...:

    love love love Christmas Vacation could watch it all the time. I did know that Old Navy is running commercials, I just know that all of them got old. LOL I am glad I don't, also Russ is Leonard on Big Bang Theory I think. It reminds me of Christmas of childhood the cops always was there by the end of Christmas day, LOL

  1. I agree, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation is one of my favorites also, it always makes me laugh. And maybe Love, Actually a close second...I'm a sucker for love stories like that :) (plus it has Colin firth, one of my all-time favorite actors!)

  1. CaroleDee said...:

    A Christmas Story is probably #1 in our house. It's just too funny :)

    And I couldn't begin to guess how many times The Nightmare Before Christmas plays in our home from Oct-Dec. The Hubs loves it. He even has the original soundtrack AND the 'Revisited Soundtrack'. Nothing says Christmas cheer like listening to Korn singing 'Kidnap the Sandy Claws' LOL

  1. Unknown said...:

    Favorite Christmas movie is It's a Wonderful Life, I love the part where George finds his daughter's rose petals in his watch pocket.

  1. Lisa Simo-Kinzer said...:

    For me nothing says the holidays better than the movie "The Ref" starring Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey, Christine Baranski and many other wonderful talented actors. I love it because it is about a robber and his bumbling sidekick who break into a house on Christmas Eve as the family is preparing for a huge dinner for family and he takes them hostage while ordering them to continue with their dinner. What is so wonderful you ask? It shows just how hysterically dysfunctional the family is, how they have coped but ultimately how they finally come back together again. I LOVE this movie and watch it every year. Trust me watch it and you will love it.

  1. Pogonip said...:

    A boxed cat is Schrodinger's you know.

  1. SheriV said...:

    The Santa Clause and Christmas Vacation but I also kind of love Jingle All the Way.

  1. @Pogonip - LOL OMG, I hadn't thought of it like that!! LOL ThinkGeek.com has a Schroedinger's Cat decision maker on their website. LOL

  1. laurie said...:

    for me it has always been the black and white a christmas carol. i LOVED that movie

  1. Kimberly said...:

    Sequel? No, I didn't know that! I think that movie's just hilarious, though, especially the part when the "dog's ear" is slammed in the door. And when the dad is fixing the furnace. And and and...

  1. AngieG said...:

    My favorite is "A Christmas Story".... I love that Dad and his crazy fishnet stocking lamp!

  1. Bonnie C said...:

    Miracle on 34th Street for me.

  1. Unknown said...:

    I've always loved Scrooged, since I was a kid. I about cried one year when I realize someone had borrowed my copy of it without permission and I didn't have it when it was time to wrap up presents for my kids. I just love this movie.

    Though I do have a favorite classic Christmas movie as well. I'm a sucker for It's a Wonderful Life. I can pretty much forget whatever I'm doing if it comes on tv, including reading one of your books (happened last year).

  1. Cathy McIntyre said...:

    I have two -- Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Story.

  1. Carla said...:

    My favorite movie isn't really mine at all, but my 10 year old's. Every year we watch Miser Brother's Christmas together.
    planterofhope at aol dot com

  1. redjuliet said...:

    I'm a big fan of A Christmas Story too. I love turning on the TBS marathon on Christmas Eve & laughing my head off, over & over again! I also love It's A Wonderful Life because I'm a sap & I love the message of hope. My other favorite movie is Meet Me In St. Louis because I'm a big Judy Garland fan & I love the close knit family in the movie. Thanks for the contest!

  1. Heidi said...:

    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Just to funny not to watch each year. haha

  1. sara said...:

    I love the classics of course, but Polar Bear Express really teared me up!

  1. tozan said...:

    I would have to say Miracle on 34th Street!

  1. My son looked very much like Ralphie, so A Christmas Story is a family favorite. For many years, though, I watched every made for tv holiday movie that came on. These days, we play a dvd of a log-burning fireplace while the presents are opened.

  1. Lisa G said...:

    White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. I love the music.

  1. Karen said...:

    My favorite is "It's a Wonderful Life."

  1. Mary said...:

    For TV it's The Grinch (cartoon version) the whole way - love him :)

    For movies, it's really hard to choose - so many good ones! I adore Love Actually & watch it every year at Christmas time. But The Christmas Story & It's a Wonderful Life are totally up there. All the others mentioned are also great. Geesh - I will just have to go with how many times I've watched it so the grand winner is Love Actually :)

  1. Yvette said...:

    I love Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation.
    Yvette
    yratpatrol@aol.com

  1. Unknown said...:

    I love the Family Stone...the crazy family dynamic is the best!

  1. sammycat said...:

    Christmas Vacation..We go to a friends house for dinner & started as a tradition, watching it. It never gets boring!

  1. Unknown said...:

    Has to be "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby. It's a classic that will go on forever!!

    gayle2b74@gmail.com

  1. My favorite is always How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I love Suess and the original book. It always brings back wonderful memories and makes you feel young again.

    Gabrielle
    meingee@yahoo.com

  1. "A Christmas Story" is definitely mine and my husband's favorite Christmas movie. We usually watch it Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

  1. My favorite is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it's just he starts out so mean and then when his heart grows and all the Who's come together even when Christmas was taken, it wasn't about the presents but each other. The Grinch realizes that...and I love his poor little dog too!! Happy Holidays sheykay92@gmail.com

  1. Unknown said...:

    I just Love A Muppet Christmas Carol. Michael Caine just IS Scrooge! And Gonzo is my favourite Muppet. Great catchy songs (It's the season to be jolly and joyous traa la la).

  1. Melanie said...:

    We always watch Christmas Vacation! I even researched buying some Marty Moose eggnog mugs last year....yes, they DO sell them =)
    Also love It's a Wonderful Life. Top those off with the old Miracle on 34th street and I am happy =)

  1. Anonymous said...:

    One of my favorites is Frosty the Snowman :)

  1. Ashley said...:

    How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Nightmare Before Christmas for me.

    Merry Christmas All!

    asweet699@gmail.com

  1. My favorite is Scrooged with Bill Murray. I have to watch it ever year or it just doesn't feel like Christmas. On the yummy side, there's the 12 Men of Christmas that Lifetime shows. I got hooked on it a couple of years ago and had to add it to my gotta watch list. Romance and hot, half-naked rescue guys...yep, that gets me in the Christmas spirit. LOL

  1. Sarijane said...:

    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is my favorite. I also love A Christmas Story, and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

  1. Unknown said...:

    My favorite is Meet Me in St. Louis. Not exactly traditional but it just resonates with me.

  1. barbara said...:

    TV show is A Charlie Brown Christmas; it always brings back childhood memories of watching it with my mom.

    Merry Christmas!

    bimmergrlmd at gmail dot com

  1. Jamie said...:

    A Christmas Story is my definite favorite holiday movie because "Fragile, it must be Italian" is probably my favorite line of all time. Not only that but there are so many parts of the movie that make me laugh and happy. It also fills me with happy memories of my family watching it together and introducing my son to it. I love that movie.

  1. Jenn Key said...:

    I love the original A Christmas Carol. The black and white one. I remember staying up late to watch it.

  1. Melanie said...:

    A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim

  1. Annie said...:

    Love Actually is my favorite Christmas movie. It is not uber-christmasy which I like. Its all british actor/res. About 5-6 couples and their relationships around Christmas. Some of the couples are in love, some break up, so meet for the first time. I love it. Its all about love and Christmas and not your fairy tale cookie cutter romance.

  1. Mine is "Its a wonderful life". I picked this because my dad had me watch it one year, he was surprised it was the first older movie I had watched but also I had never heard of it. It's sentiment's to me capture the holiday season, when we have nothing, yet we can practice kindness, and expect nothing in return; Seems that captures the true spirit of Christmas. I have made it a habit now to watch it on my own one night, curled up on the couch with some tissues. Although last year it was skipped due to my dad passing. This movie always makes me grateful for where I am, which at times I'm not sure of why I am here. However as they go over what life would be like having never being born.. It makes me realize that I have a larger effect, even though I may never know, each act of love and kindness reverberates out in the world! So Merry Christmas, and let's not forget to earn our wings; because " every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings"

  1. SusieJ said...:

    Has to be "Miracle on 34th Street"..and for once I don't mind which version...both are good.
    The story just encapsulates what childhood should be....children today grow up way too fast and the magic is lost.
    Hugs xx

  1. Carin said...:

    My most favorite Christmas movie is Christmas Vacation. Carin

  1. Dianna C said...:

    If I have to pick an all time favorite Christmas movie it would have to be White Christmas....it just doesn't seem like the season without watching it at least once.

  1. Debby said...:

    I have a few I like - The Christmas Card, The Christmas Story and Home Alone.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

  1. Nikki said...:

    My favorite is The Santa Clause, but A Christmas Story and Home Alone come in as close seconds.

  1. Ann Q said...:

    Planes, Trains and Automobiles with Steve Martin is my favorite movie for Christmas.A funny but poignant film. annpa@gmail.com

  1. Nikki said...:

    My favorite is The Santa Clause because the story is so cute and Charlie is adorable, but A Christmas Story & Home Alone come in as close seconds

  1. Unknown said...:

    I love so many holiday movies it's hard to decide! I think White Christmas tops the list though - I love the big musical numbers.

  1. MJ said...:

    The Grinch. The original one. Hands down.

    I still watch it several times before Christmas. And sing Da hoo doray all over the place. Drives the family nuts, so well worth it.

  1. Have you ever seen "Better Off Dead"?

    "I've been going to this school for seven and a half years. I'm no dummy!"
    "Sorry your Mom blew up Ricky"
    "Didn't ask for a dime. Two dollars."
    "Dying when you're not really sick is really sick!"

  1. sarah said...:

    How The grinch stole Christmas. And A White Christmas. I'm a sucker for singing and dancing.

  1. Jennifer B. said...:

    The Polar Express. There's something I just find funny about Steven Tyler made into a cartoon elf. Then there's "Holiday in Handcuffs". If only I could do that and get away with it.

  1. Crystal said...:

    My Favorite is Holiday in Handcuffs and Snow Globe.

  1. Anonymous said...:

    I love Home Alone 1 & 2. Something about playing tricks gets me to giggle everytime
    Sandra

  1. Nicole said...:

    Not a traditional christmas movie, but my whole family watch Auntie Mane with Rosalind Russell.

  1. Pauline said...:

    Does this have to be current? Here in the UK by far the best Christmas shows were The Morcombe and Wise shows. They were two incredibly funny comedians who managed to get top actors and musicians like Andre Previn to come on their show. Happy Christmas.

  1. WINNER!!!

    Congratulations to MJ on winning the $10 in Strandbucks! :) Please contact me via email at tymberdalton AT gmail.com and let me know what email address to send the code to!