4 days til Christmas

Ever a traditionalist, I love watching The Nutcracker each year. For so many years, I hunted out the movie production with sets and costumes by Maurice Sendak. This is the standard by which I watch any other production. This year I found one to match, the San Francisco Ballet has re-staged the Nutcracker in 1915 during the Panama Pacific International Exposition. This was just a wonderful piece for Great Performances to air this holiday season.

5 days til Christmas

Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas brings the muppets to my Christmas program list. Once again it's the animals that make this piece. The classic puppetry of Jim Henson's group gives such a connection for me and all the years watching Sesame Street and the Muppet Show.

This story also gives the ever pertinent moral that those around us are more important that any of the things we want. For kids this gives kids today a more direct connection to caring for one another then the O Henry story, The Gift of the Magi.

6 days til Christmas

Returning to the Rankin-Bass productions, A Year Without a Santa Claus is so goofy that I love it. Heat Miser and Snow Miser remind me of kids who never grow up and always compete for top spot. This show also includes one great name - Ignatius Thistlewhite.

This years addition to of A Miser Brothers' Christmas is not bad and I do enjoy the additions of North Wind and other weather "children" of Mother Nature.

7 days til Christmas

Although not a total favorite for me - the kids love watching The Toy That Saved Christmas. Veggie Tales are so popular in my house its almost a mental health issue for the parents. When MM was little she would ask for this video all year long so I either wanted the tape to break or the VCR to quit. Now this and the other holiday specific videos are only out for the holiday season so the adults in the house aren't driven totally loony.

8 days til Christmas

What season would be complete with out watching Miracle on 34th Street at least once. While I love the classic edition with Macy's, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. Mr Gwenn is the real Santa Claus in my book.

For the kids, it's the new edition of Miracle on 34th Street, with a Santa who can sign and Cole's department store. This is a good remake, but I'll always prefer the original.

9 days till Christmas

Back to wonderful period of black and white films, I continued my movie times today with The Bell's of Saint Mary's. I'm sure many would disagree with my addition here, but this movie includes one of the sweetest Christmas pageant scenes. Every school should have a first grade class intent on delivering their own telling of the Christmas story. Also the challenge of doing any thing with children is having a "baby Jesus" who can escape from the manger.

10 days til Christmas

Another good black and white film which introduced the world to Irving Berlin's White Christmas is Holiday Inn. I love the big dance numbers with Fred Astaire and then a lovely crooned as only Bing Crosby delivered it. I enjoy black and white films for all the subtly of color value.

White Christmas is a favorite song of the season. No matter who else sings the song, I always hear Bing Crosby's voice in my head.