Who doesn’t love Christmas? Okay, confession, I’m too lazy to get into the holiday spirit. It’s not just Christmas, but all the holidays. Halloween (which I refer to a “Satan’s Birthday”), Easter, or the Rogue River Rooster Crow (aka Stoney’s Birthday Party). I’m not a Christmas grinch or anything, but there are certain aspects about it I hate. And since I’m putting all my cards on the table, this includes Charlie Brown, stop-motion, Christmas pageants, claymation, and pretty much every Christmas special ever made. There, I said it.
But in true hypocritical fashion, I have decided to have my very own Christmas special.
This post is dedicated to the Christmas music and movies that I love. But fair warning, some of my Christmas movies aren’t very Christmas-y! But that’s me. Take it or leave it.
It’s Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Chrismas
The very first Christmas CD I ever purchased was A Very Special Christmas. Up until then, I avoided Christmas albums. But there was something about RUN-DMC’s Christmas in Hollis that made me realize that not all Christmas music was the same.
I bought the sequel and the Rock Christmas hymns album you’ll see below, but then probably didn’t buy another Christmas album for almost two decades. It was Mariah Carey who reignited my love for Christmas music. And now, I have a handful of Christmas albums that I love.
Christmas Fun for Everyone – My All-Time Faves
Each of the albums below is unique in its own right, and I love them all for precisely what they are. The Rock Power Praise album is from a series of hard-rock praise albums released in the ’90s. Their version of Silent Night is just mesmerizing. Maria Carey’s Merry Christmas is a Christmas classic, and I don’t think I’m out of line saying Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped in Red should be. And finally, the 5-song EP from Plum introduced me to the song I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Who can’t love that?
 Rock Power Priase 2: Christmas Hymns (1991) |
 Maria Carey – Merry Christmas (1994) |
 Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped in Red (2013) |
 Plumb – It’s Christmastime (2019) |
A Very Special Christmas Collection
The first A Very Special Christmas album holds a place in my heart as the first Christmas album I ever purchased. And the first time I heard a Christmas rap which remains one of my favorite Christmas songs ever. I enjoy the series for what it is but as it aged it became more of the norm than the exceptional. But as far as Christmas music goes, I love the variety of bands and artists they offer.
 A Very Special Christmas (1987) |
 A Very Special Christmas 2 (1992) |
 A Very Special Christmas3 (1987) |
 A Very Special Christmas Live (1992) |
 A Very Special Christmas 5 (2001) |
 A Very Special Acoustic Christmas (2003) |
 A Very Special Christmas 7 (2009) |
 A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Joy to the World (2012) |
 A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earath (2012) |
 ICON: A Very Special Christmas (2013) |
Songs of Christmas Past
The following albums round out my Christmas collection of music. Most of these are from bands I already love, so buying their Christmas albums was a no-brainer. But all of them met or exceeded expectations for Christmas tunes, each bringing their own unique appeal to the genre.
 Mannheim Steamroller – Christmas Extraordinaire (2001) |
 Third Day – Christmas Offerings (2006) |
 Chris Tomlin – Glory in the Highest (2009) |
 Newsboys – Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday (2010) |
 Kutless – This is Christmas (2011) |
 Tobymac – Christmas in Diverse City (2011) |
 Kelly Clarkson – When Christmas Comes Around (2021) |
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Christmas Movies that Put Me in the Christmas Spirt
My favorite Christmas movies are really just movies set over Christmas, having little to do with the season itself. There are a few exceptions, but my list of Christmas movies I love is already few in number.
The movies below are listed by release, not in any particular order of importance.
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A Christmas Story (1983)If you don’t like A Christmas Story, just get off my blog right now and return every word you read. Yeah, I know this movie is on like 24 hours a day, every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most people just have it on in the background, by default, but that is not how this movie should be enjoyed. You must watch it. Deliberately. Like, on purpose. |
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Gremlins (1984)Who needs Halloween when you can have scary monsters for Christmas? Gremlins was the best of the many similar monster movies that cluttered movie screens in the ’80s, and certainly the best one to add the spirit of Christmas. |
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Die Hard (1988)I don’t need to justify why Die Hard is a Christmas movie, nor will I debate the merits of the claim. You’ve got John McClane visiting his wife during her work Chrismas party, throw in a “Ho, Ho, Ho. Now I have a machine gun,” and what you’ve got is solid Christmas cred. Plus, it’s Die Hard! |
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Scrooged (1988)This movie exemplifies the spirit of Christmas for me. But then I find “mean” characters like Frank Cross hilarious. (“They are like this every day of the year, I guarantee it!”) And redemption stories of those mean characters. I dare you to not cry at the end. I never do. |
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Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)Like Die Hard, I don’t wait for Christmas to watch this movie. And I don’t think I have ever sat down to watch it over Christmas, but, hey, it is set over Christmas so it makes the list. Plus, it’s Die Hard! |
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The Addams Family (1991)I loved this movie more when I was younger. A lot less now. But it’s still set up as a Christmas movie, and for that, it makes the cut. Though I’m still trying to figure out how misery makes them happy. If I could bottle that, I’d make a mint this day and age. |
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2005)If it weren’t for the Santa scene, this wouldn’t have made the cut. But Santa = Christmas. That’s the rules. |
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Iron Man 3 (2013)Yes, this is a Christmas movie. Right? RIGHT? Well, the internet told me it is, so I’m running with it. And besides, I like Iron Man 3. I’m not sure why it gets such hate. It’s a solid movie and far superior to Iron Man 2. |
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Fatman (2020)Now this is a Christmas movie I can really get behind. It’s got it all. Santa, snow, Mrs. Clause, elves, and assassins. What’s not to love? This movie is dark, fun, and even a little bloody. All the way around, one of the best Christmas movies I’ve seen in years. |
‘Tis the Season
I warned you, I’m not very Christmas-y. In fact, very little of what we celebrate as Christmas is Christmas-y. I’ve got nothing against the lights, the presents or any of that. But what we lose in all of the hype, hoopla, and even in much of our music and movies is the source of our celebration. While I certainly hope you get all the gifts you want this year, there is no greater gift than the gift of eternal life.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. The creator who became his Creation. A king who chose to be born a peasant, to live among his people with all our pains and suffering, to offer God’s unconditional love. Jesus sacrificed himself, accepted blame for all our wrongs and faults, and offers forgiveness to all who ask. It is this gift, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, that we can have the assurance of a perfect life beyond this one.
God’s love is the ultimate gift that surpasses all gifts. I pray that you will receive this gift that God offers you.
Merry Christmas. Enjoy all the things you love this holiday and know that it is, ultimately, a celebration of God’s love for you.