The Twelve Days of Christmas Family Movies
The countdown to Christmas has begun. By now most have their Christmas trees fully decorated and lights hung. Some have finished their shopping while others prone to procrastinate will make a mad rush for their remaining gifts even as late as Christmas Eve. Work parties and white elephant gift exchanges may have commenced. Christmas carols and the standard holiday tunes are in full swing. Yes, most of the festivities are complete or are well on their way, except for one which will begin very soon — the annual slew of Christmas movies.
The yearly fair of Christmas movies on TV is to nobody’s surprise, rerun after rerun of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Christmas Story” and “A Christmas Carol.” If you and your family stopped watching Christmas movies long ago due to the lack of choices then this is the article for you. Not only will I give you some refreshing alternatives for your family to watch, I will give you 12 Christmas family movies, one for each day until Christmas day. As the title suggests most of the movies will be appropriate for the entire family, though I do intend to throw in a few gems for Mom and Dad to watch after the kids are fast asleep and dreaming of sugar plums. Almost everyone has heard of the old English carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and most can remember several of the twelve verses. Possibly for the first time ever, I am pleased to present to you – “The Twelve Days of Christmas Family Movies” for your viewing enjoyment. Take note that the movie titles are in bold and actually the total number of movies is 13 to be exact. One disclaimer: this parody of the classic song is not meant to be sung aloud. Public embarrassment may result if attempted.
On the first day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
A Miracle on 34th Street.
On the second day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the third day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Seven biblical verses in A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol,
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Eight reindeer a-flying in Arthur Christmas,
Seven biblical verses in A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol,
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Nine holiday parties hosted in Holiday Inn,
Eight reindeer a-flying in Arthur Christmas,
Seven biblical verses in A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol,
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Ten white lies in Christmas in Connecticut
Nine holiday parties hosted in Holiday Inn,
Eight reindeer a-flying in Arthur Christmas,
Seven biblical verses in A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol,
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Eleven Whos in Whoville in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Ten white lies in Christmas in Connecticut
Nine holiday parties hosted in Holiday Inn,
Eight reindeer a-flying in Arthur Christmas,
Seven biblical verses in A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol,
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Twelve booby traps a-triggered in Home Alone,
Eleven Whos in Whoville in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Ten white lies in Christmas in Connecticut
Nine holiday parties hosted in Holiday Inn,
Eight reindeer a-flying in Arthur Christmas,
Seven biblical verses in A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Six muppets a-caroling in The Muppets Christmas Carol,
Five Tom Hanks in The Polar Express,
Four main food groups in Elf,
Three gifts of the magi in The Nativity Story,
Two stop-motion animated movies:
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,
and a Miracle on 34th Street.
Matthew Schramer is an independent filmmaker and oversees the Familius Family International Film Festival.