“Stories shape our existence because we recognize in a deep part of ourselves that life itself is a story. The tale of the world opens with a sort of divine ‘once upon a time’ or ‘in the beginning’… The gospel itself comes to us in narrative form and one of its great tenets is that we have the chance to join the story of the Kingdom come in this world, to be agents in the ongoing story of redemption…”
Sarah Clarkson, Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading LIfe
It’s snowing lightly outside, blanketing our browns and yellows with sparkling white. We’re coming off a week of 60 degrees (which has been SUCH a blessing!), BUT, Christmas movies feel just right when it feels like Christmastime.
We’re all saying it, but this December we’re weary in our whole beings. It’s not just the hustle and bustle of an average December, it’s a level of emotional exhaustion and anxiety unimaginable a year ago. When my brain needs a break, I go to story. I rarely will pick up a new book. I savor my comfort re-reads. And, when I don’t have the energy to read, I watch movies. I’m always in the mood for story, especially when it takes me out of mine for even a short time.
Movies give my family a chance to rest and to be together—to snuggle under blankets, chat and laugh and share tasty winter treats. And although movies can be just more noise in an already noisy season, we’ve found a stillness, a calm in being together in these stories. We know, as J.I Packer says, that “…nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.” But I believe the movies we love most—the ones we gravitate toward again and again—echo elements and themes from the Story we most want to savor this Christmas season.
Here are a few of our favorites, plus appropriate food pairings for each movie.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Why we love it: Creative and fun, Arthur Christmas is the story of Santa’s youngest son. Awkward, accident prone and overlooked, he doesn’t let anything dampen his love for his family and for the joy of Christmas. He believes wholeheartedly that every child matters and he believes the best of everyone around him.
Movie snacks: Hot cocoa (or just a glass of milk!) and chocolate chip cookies. We are speaking of Santa, after all. Our basic hot cocoa recipe: Simmer four cups milk (or almond/coconut milk) on medium heat, stirring constantly until warm. In a separate bowl, mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and three to four ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped; add mix to milk, reduce heat to simmer and stir until chocolate melts and cocoa is thick (two-ish minutes).
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Why we love it: When we first watched this movie, my youngest girl (then 6-years-old) was captivated. This story creates wonder and laughter. Based on the books by William Joyce, the cast of mythical guardians defies stereotypes (e.g., the Easter Bunny is a sarcastic Australian jackrabbit). We love the humor, the magic but also the message that we are stronger together — isolation leaves us susceptible to despair and hopelessness.
Food of the Guardians: There is literally zero food eaten in this movie, but as my daughter is super into making cupcakes these days, we recommend simple “Jack Frost” cupcakes: white cake mix, vanilla buttercream frosting, topped with shredded coconut.
Elf (2003)
Why we love it: Number one, it’s hilarious. It’s so good to laugh together as a family. Number two, it’s the most quotable movie of the last half century. I can’t even pick one line. I’m smiling just thinking about this movie because “I like smiling. Smiling’s my favorite.” Sorry, had to do it. And number three, we like the themes of family, adoption and finding a place to belong. We cheer for Buddy the Elf and love how genuine and honest he is.
Buddy the Elf hot cocoa: basic hot cocoa recipe (see above), topped with copious amounts of whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate sauce, sprinkled with crushed candy canes and chocolate sprinkles, complete with a candy cane stir stick.
Mrs. Miracle (2009)
Why we love it: Think a Christmas version of Mary Poppins. Based on Debbie Macomber’s book Mrs. Miracle, this movie combines light-hearted fun with a powerful message of forgiveness. (Also check out Call Me Mrs. Miracle, an equally beloved sequel.)
Mrs. Miracle’s dessert of choice: Angel food cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream and homemade Christmas sugar cookies.
White Christmas (1954)
Why we love it: What’s not to love? Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in this Christmas musical classic. These two are amazing — witty, sarcastic, endearing, loyal and kind-hearted.
My kids request it starting in November each year. My girls perform renditions of “Sisters,” choruses of “Snow, Snow, Snow!” are sung at each snowfall and “White Christmas” sing-a-longs abound. It also boasts one of the greatest ending scenes in history. Trust me. I won’t spoil it for you, but this movie is “far superior to my cocker spaniel.” And I loved my cocker spaniel.
White Christmas fare: It’s all about the sandwiches. Ham on rye, turkey or liverwurst (no thanks to liver anything—I’ll roast hot dogs over a fire pit instead). Try a glass of buttermilk if you are adventurous or lemonade (better option) or “a malted,” which is essentially a chocolate malt milkshake.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Why we love it: Julie Andrews. Singing nuns. What more could one ask for? This movie was broadcast on television every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was growing up, so it became a Christmas movie. We love the music and the plot but we also have great discussions on the history behind the movie and the cost of standing for what is right.
The food is in the song:
Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name, I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow So
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will lead us back to Do, oh, oh, oh…
Catchy tune. You’re welcome.
Or buy some apple strudel and Swiss chocolate (Lindt or Toblerone). Sometimes we chop a gourmet chocolate bar into steamed milk for our cocoa, this being a perfect opportunity to make real Swiss cocoa. None of this “Swiss Miss” nonsense.
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005)
Why we love it: Does anyone not love this movie? I’m hard-pressed to think of a movie that better settles our hearts on Jesus this season.
Lucy: “Merry Christmas, sir.”
Father Christmas: “It certainly is, Lucy. Since you have arrived.”
Susan: “I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia.”
Father Christmas: “No. For a long time. But the hope which you have brought, Your Majesties, is finally starting to weaken the Witch’s power.”
The White Witch’s cocoa: Use base hot cocoa recipe but replace cocoa powder with a ¾-ish (to taste) cup white chocolate chips. Top with whipped cream and coarsely chopped white chocolate or Torani’s White Chocolate Sauce. Also, Turkish Delight can often be found in stores (and on Amazon) this time of year.
✤✤✤
These movies make me smile and laugh and cry for many reasons, but they all share one common theme. One person. One person comes into a family or a community and changes it for the better. We can all feel like Buddy the Elf as he writes: “I’m sorry I ruined your lives…and crammed 11 cookies into the VCR.” We feel our failure and inadequacies. We can’t see that we make a difference.
These movies portray characters who changed their space by being exactly who they were created to be—bumbling and flawed yet beautiful with invaluable gifts and strengths. We cheer for them because we want to believe that what we do matters. But most importantly, they reflect the miraculous, spectacular truth of what we celebrate this Christmas—one person, one baby, God in the flesh who changed the course of history. His first breath, his first cries in a dingy, dirty dwelling, changing my every day and your every day.
And that is the wonder of all wonders, that God loves the lowly. . . . God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would least expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and broken. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Merry Christmas.
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Related Extra Threads:
- A Christmas Booklist ~ Be Still and Gather Together
- Books About Books ~ Books that help you find the best books
- Books for Fall and Winter Reading
- And So It Begins ~ Stepping into the New Year + Books to Guide You
Thanks for reading! Amazon links are affiliate links ~ I only ever recommend my favorites 🙂