Christmas Movie
An eight-year-old troublemaker is accidentally left behind when his family flies to France for Christmas vacation, forcing him to defend his suburban Chicago home from two clumsy burglars using booby traps.
Home Alone
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
This vibrant, tart condiment is an essential partner to the holiday turkey, particularly in North America. It usually involves just one primary berry, some sweetener, and a little water, all simmered on a stovetop until it "pops" into a thick, jewel-toned sauce. It’s so simple even a first-time cook rarely gets it wrong.
Cranberry Sauce
This charming story is a classic stop-motion animated television special that has aired every single year since its premiere in 1964. It is the highest-rated and most-watched Christmas special in history, ingrained in the holiday tradition of multiple generations of American viewers.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye
Tell me, baby, do you recognise me?
Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me
"Happy Christmas," I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying, "I love you," I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again
Last Christmas - Wham!
These flat, brown, highly spiced treats smell like classic Christmas. While making the basic dough is straightforward, the real fun (and time sink) comes when families pull out icing bags and colorful candies to turn them into little people, houses, or festive shapes. It's a project of both baking and artistic decoration.
Gingerbread Cookies/Men
A 2004 fully CGI film utilizing motion-capture technology, starring Tom Hanks in several roles. It tells the story of a young boy who doubts the existence of Santa and takes a magical train ride to the North Pole. While it was a high-grossing film upon release, its "performance capture" animation style was polarizing for some audiences, and it is less frequently cited as an all-time favorite compared to the older classics on this list.
The Polar Express
A pair of Hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben
Dolls that'll talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again
It's Beginning to Look Alot like Christmas - Meredith Willson
This large, savory centerpiece typically sits proudly on the buffet table. It’s a slow-cooked cut of meat, often scored in a diamond pattern, studded with pungent whole cloves, and finished with a sweet, sticky coating made of brown sugar, mustard, or honey. The main challenge is managing the heat and glaze timing.
Christmas Ham
Directed by Frank Capra, this 1946 black-and-white drama is an enduring classic about a frustrated businessman, George Bailey, who is shown the value of his life by a guardian angel on Christmas Eve. It's often cited in polls as a favorite film, particularly among older generations, and its cultural impact is massive despite a lower initial box office than modern films.
It's a Wonderful Life
I left the lights up all year 'round
I just couldn't bear the thought of takin' 'em down
I've been singing "Jingle Bell Rock" since July
All the neighbors look at me like
I'm crazy but I
I, got a feeling that I just can't shake
You see it's lasted three hundred sixty four days
And now I'm too excited, I can't sleep a wink and
I stare at the snow outside my window just thinkin'
Come On, Christmas - Matthew West
Hailing from Italy, this dome-shaped sweet bread is the ultimate holiday baking challenge. It requires a significant time commitment—often spanning several days—and relies entirely on a sensitive natural yeast starter. Temperature control, humidity, and sheer patience are mandatory; the high fat and sugar content make the dough incredibly tricky to proof and bake correctly.
Panettone
This 1988 action film starring Bruce Willis as New York City cop John McClane is set entirely during a Christmas Eve office party that is taken hostage by terrorists. While a massive commercial success as an action movie, its status as a "Christmas movie" is a subject of popular debate, placing it slightly lower in overall "holiday staple" popularity compared to family-oriented classics.
Die Hard
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Holy Night - Placide Cappeau
This classic French dessert is designed to mimic a piece of wood destined for a fireplace. It requires a delicate, thin sponge cake that must be perfectly baked and then meticulously rolled up around a creamy filling without cracking. The final step involves artistic frosting techniques to create "bark" and decorative "mushrooms."
Bûche de Noël