Family Holiday Movie Traditions - Thanksgiving Day Kick-Off

Families often have their own unique traditions when it comes to the holiday season. Many families I know have begun to include a series of movie favorites into many of those traditions. That is thanks largely to the array of classic holiday films that have consistently put people in the holiday spirit. Thanksgiving Day is usually the kick-off for my family getting in the holiday spirit with the 1947 movie classic "Miracle on 34th Street" - after watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the tube of course. It's the story of a man claiming to be Santa Claus who is deemed insane and a young lawyer and a headstrong young girl come to his rescue.

Other holiday classics that my family fits into the mix every year includes:

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) When distraught George Bailey meets a compassionate angel, he learns what life would have been like if he had never even existed. Holiday magic wins out at the end of the movie. If there are any Jimmy Stewart fans out there, this movie is for you.

"A Christmas Carol" (1951) Mr. Scrooge is a bitter miserly man who doesn't give a bah humbug about the holiday season. A haunting by three ghosts just might change his mind and ill will. Alastair Sim portrays Mr. Scrooge. If you don't like the classic version there are several recent remakes out there that your family might enjoy.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965) Charlie Brown can't find the Christmas spirit and is hugely depressed. He is put in charge of his school holiday pageant and walks into school with a puny sad Christmas tree for the festivities. The school kids learn about the true meaning of Christmas.

"A Christmas Story" (1983) Ralph is a young man in the 1940s who has his heart set on a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas. His mother, teacher and Santa are all convinced he'll shoot his eye out with such a present. Watch this flick to see if Ralph will find his hearts desire under his Christmas tree.

and last but not least...

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989) The Griswold Family Christmas should be merry but turns into an absolutely hilarious disaster. If you need your spirits lifted, this is the holiday movie for you. The all-star holiday classic includes Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and Julia Louis-Dreyfus from "Seinfeld" fame.

These six movies usually keep us busy on the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hopefully you will catch a few of them this year too.

Are there any family holiday movie traditions in your household that I should be adding to my annual holiday ritual? Share please.