Christmas Movies
Featuring a young protagonist left unusually independent during the holidays, this 1990 film answers the age-old question: How many ways can one child outwit two adults with questionable criminal résumés
Home Alone
This crooner’s 1942 rendition of “White Christmas” remains one of the best-selling singles of all time—holiday or otherwise.
Bing Crosby
This sweet, spiced treat is often shaped like a person, decorated with icing, and found hanging from trees or served in mugs of cocoa.
gingerbread cookie
In the workshop, many toys are assembled using this classic building material, often painted bright colors, and historically crafted by hand in Europe
Wood
In the 2009 animated film, this Christmas-hating character attempts to steal all the holiday cheer from Whoville.
The Grinch
In this early-2000s film, a man raised thousands of miles north of Manhattan must reconcile his human heritage with his fondness for syrup as he searches for family in a city unimpressed by cheer.
Elf
Celebrated in many East Asian cultures, this lunar-based holiday marks the beginning of a new year and features traditions like red envelopes and lion dances.
Chinese New Year
This traditional British Christmas dessert is a steamed, fruit-filled cake, often set aflame with brandy before being served.
Christmas pudding
In Canadian folklore, Santa is said to receive letters at this specific postal code, which has been recognized as the “official” address for letters to Santa Claus
H0H 0H0
This actor famously portrayed a modern-day, cynical Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1988 film Scrooged
Bill Murray
Revolving around an upscale department store dispute, this black-and-white holiday tale questions the boundary between myth and man as a kindly bearded stranger undergoes a courtroom evaluation of his own identity.
Miracle on 34th Street
Though written in just 15 minutes, this holiday song by José Feliciano blends English and Spanish to wish listeners a “Merry Christmas.”
Feliz Navidad
This rich custard-based holiday dessert is often baked in a pie shell and seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, especially popular in North America.
pumpkin pie
Released in Japan in 1987 as a successor to the Famicom, this portable Nintendo system laid the foundation for handheld gaming dominance.
Game Boy
In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Scrooge’s clerk, who remains cheerful despite his employer’s grumpiness, is named this.
Bob Cratchit
This 2003 British ensemble film weaves together stories of love gained, lost, and nearly missed—set against a backdrop of holiday concerts, airport reunions, and one unforgettable doorstep confession delivered via cue cards.
Love Actually
This 1994 Mariah Carey powerhouse, built on sleigh bells and whistle notes, has become so dominant each December that it annually returns to the top of the charts like clockwork.
All I Want for Christmas Is You
Originating in Victorian England, this tabletop holiday novelty produces a small “bang” when pulled apart and traditionally contains a trinket, a paper crown, and a witty proverb.
Christmas crackers
This doll line, introduced in 2001 by Mattel, featured fashion-forward teenage dolls with interchangeable outfits and accessories.
Bratz dolls
In a 2003 dark comedy, this disillusioned mall Santa, played by Billy Bob Thornton, is more focused on theft and drinking than holiday spirit.
Bad Santa
This film features the Griswold family attempting to host the perfect holiday, with disastrous results.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
This 1991 wistful holiday ballad by Wham!—though recorded in the ’80s—became a ’90s seasonal staple, detailing a heartbreak that unfolded on the very day it’s named for.
Last Christmas
These small, deep-fried treats, often filled with jelly or custard, are a staple of Hanukkah celebrations, symbolizing the miracle of the oil.
sufganiyot (jelly donuts)
In the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” Santa’s sleigh is described as being pulled by this number of reindeer, which includes the lesser-known Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer.
eight reindeer
In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, this character’s disastrous holiday preparations turn cheerful intentions into stressful chaos, showcasing festive grumpiness
Clark Griswold