What Christmas films mean to us
These movies are dear to us over decades,
and we watch them again and again
By Nikolai Hogan
Knightly News CPC Film Series Correspondent
nikolai.hadleyhogan@mymail.centralpenn.edu
Nothing beats the feeling of sitting down with your friends and family to watch a Christmas flick.
Every year, millions of families enjoy the comedy, drama and heartfelt moments of Christmas classics like “Christmas Vacation,” “The Polar Express,” and “The Santa Clause.”
Even low-budget rom-coms like those shown on the Hallmark Channel have their charm.
So, why are we Americans attached to films that invoke the warm and cozies during the Holiday season?
If there’s one trait almost all Christmas films share, it’s the feeling of giving, family and hope. Even raunchy films like “Bad Santa” have these traits, such as its found-family story, and its message on treating others how you want to be treated.
These themes have sustained across generations, since before films existed. Classic literature like Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” show that we have always had an attachment to wholesome stories that bring us comfort and warmth during the winter months.
Enduring pop-culture fixtures
One could argue that Christmas films are one of the longest-lasting pop culture fixtures, as millions of people rewatch iconic Christmas movies every year, while other film genres, such as film noir, superhero and romantic comedy oftentimes lose their luster at the box office and on television.
I think it’s because the themes of Christmas films persist and people are able to watch them dozens, if not hundreds, of times. People like the subject matter of the films because they serve not only as great movies to watch during Christmastime, but they also bring families together to laugh, cry and comfort each other and one another.
Something else that makes Christmas films consistently relevant is their timelessness. Even films set in specific time periods, like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” show what it means to redeem yourself and show the impact you make on others in your life.
Others, like“A Christmas Story,” show what it feels like to be a kid at Christmastime, where your only worry is whether you’re going to get what you want from Santa Claus. These themes will remain across centuries as they focus on things that we long for because we’re people and not just because we’re chasing a trend or fad.
From books to movies
As we have evolved from a literature-based society to a television-based society, it’s only natural that films based on the holidays become household names. What’s interesting is that, opposed to Halloween, when many films for that season are horror-themed and slashers rather than films set during the season, Christmas films are generally the opposite, using the yuletide season as a basis for the story. This is almost definitely because of the family ties that the Christmas holiday has, making it easy to revolve hundreds of stories around the day.
It’s interesting, too, that Christmas films are often classified as a genre of film, rather than a theme. What makes this interesting is that Christmas films aren’t required to follow any specific rule besides just taking place around Christmas. We have the classic family flicks, sure, but we have Christmas horror films, Christmas comedies and even Christmas-themed sequels to non-Christmas films. It’s fascinating that a holiday has created its own subgenre, and it likely won’t fizzle out.
Christmas films are released every year, and many are often considered modern classics. “Christmas With the Kranks,”“The Polar Express, “Elf” and “A Christmas Story Christmas”(the 2022 sequel to the 1983 film) show that there is simply much more to comment on concerning this time of year.
So, the answer the question of what Christmas films mean to us and why we always enjoy watching them year after year is quite easy. It reminds us of simpler times and allows us to shut off the often-harsh world outside, and to take a moment to be loving with those we love.
To quote film historian Mark Davis: “The beauty of Christmas films lies in their ability to remind us of what truly matters: love, kindness, and the joy of being together.”
Hogan is also secretary of The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College.
Comment or story idea? Contact KnightlyEditors@CentralPenn.Edu.
Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
