I really like Christmas. Don't tell anyone, okay? I like winter and cold and snow (well, frankly, if I could get the cold without the snow that would be better; I hate driving in snow), I like Christmas lights, I like Christmas specials. In fact, each year I make sure to get the same old Christmas specials I watch every year from the library, because I am nothing if not routine-driven and fearful of any kind of change. When I was little, we had this tree topper that was a light-up star, that I loved. Very 9.99 from Walgreen's, with little lights and colored tinsel around it. And then one year my mom decided to get a different tree topper (the star was actually falling apart): an angel who was holding two little white lights. I was so mad at the switch that I actually hated the angel, the first year we had her and every year after. When I picture trees from my childhood, they are always topped by the star.
Yup. Routine is good. So here's the shows I have to watch, or it just doesn't feel like Christmas:
The Simpsons Holiday Special: The very first one. Accept no substitutes. This is the one where Homer works as a Santa, Marge's sisters visit, and Matt Groening gets the experience of school programs exactly right. When Homer and Marge sit through Bart and Lisa's program, at one point Homer whines, "Awww, how many grades does this school have?" Perfect.
The Vicar of Dibley Chrimstas Special--The Christmas Lunch Incident: If you haven't seen the British series The Vicar of Dibley, starring Dawn French, it's about time you started. In the Christmas special, the very hilarious and very rotund vicar gets asked to three--and then four--Christmas lunches, and has to eat up to everyone's expectations at each one.
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Peanuts kids dancing and Linus--"and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men." Quite possibly my favorite 30 minutes of TV ever.
My fourth holiday tradition (well, midwinter's day tradition, actually) is re-reading Susan Cooper's high fantasy classic The Dark is Rising. More on that tomorrow.
Wow, Christmas is different at your house. Last year Rocket Scientist and I watched "Bad Santa" and ate all our favorite greasy foods: spring rolls, onion rings, pizza, and taquitos.
Posted by: Jessica | 17 December 2008 at 11:22 AM
Wow, that sounds fun too (I particularly like the greasy foods part). And "Bad Santa"! How could I forget Bad Santa? I'll have to get that too. It'll be something to look forward to after we're back from Mr. CR's extended family bash. (I'll be glad when that's done, truthfully--my other favorite part of Christmas is the two weeks AFTER it when I just enjoy my tree and don't have to worry about cards, shopping, and family visits.)
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 17 December 2008 at 01:01 PM
That Vicar of Dibley looks fun, thanks! We end up watching lots of Rankin and Bass specials, but finally got Charlie Brown in again last night. It had been too long.
Posted by: Tripp | 17 December 2008 at 02:42 PM
There is so much in that 30 minutes (or less?) of Charlie Brown that it never ceases to amaze me. Even with the cheesy animation, but that's what I grew up on. I think I remember the premiere.
Re the Vicar - didn't she get married at Christmas? Or am I just fantasizing?
I have never read Susan Cooper, but I now know why Celtic and pagan myths appeal to me (my newfound Irish heritage). There are a lot of pagan underpinnings to Christmas, Advent, the Solstice . . . . woo woo. Time for some sacrificial fruitcake (which I make myself and which gets REQUESTED because I don't put in much of the yucky candied stuff).
Our Christmas tradition - watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and a few others (the 1984 Christmas Carol with George C. Scott). I have to leave the room every time Uncle Billy loses the money, and my brother gets mad at me for being such a wuss.
Posted by: Sarah | 17 December 2008 at 03:23 PM
Tripp,
It is truly a great Vicar of Dibley. The whole series is good but the special's most definitely worth catching, particularly before Christmas.
Sarah!
I love Charlie Brown. The cheesy animation is a large part of the charm, I think. Lucy asking for real estate for Christmas also comes to mind as a high point.
Ooh-you must read "The Dark Is Rising" and let me know what you think, with your newfound heritage and all! (I'm not mad at you for leaving the room when Uncle Billy loses the money--I have a hard time sitting through the part where Mr. Gower beats him up in the very beginning.)
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 17 December 2008 at 04:28 PM
The Charlie Brown Christmas special has possibly the best soundtrack for any television special ever, imho. Watching it is pretty much the only guaranteed method of quelling holiday family tension, at least in my experience. I read The Dark is Rising over 24 hours during one of the many snowstorms of last winter, curled up with a cup of hot coffee. Highly recommended.
Posted by: Bibliomane | 17 December 2008 at 07:05 PM
Sarah,
**VICAR OF DIBLEY SPOILER BELOW**
By the way, yes, the Vicar did get married at Christmas, in the last special, "A Holy Wholly Happy Ending." There's also a ten-year anniversary Christmas special that is enjoyable as well, but the Christmas special I watch is early on, from after the first or second series.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 18 December 2008 at 08:00 AM
Bibliomane,
Ooh, Vince Guaraldi. Have you ever listened to the CD "George Winston plays Vince Guaraldi"? It's awesome. I forget the exact title but I think if you search it that way in the library catalog it comes up.
Here's hoping if we get that much snow again, we can all stay in with hot cocoa and our copies of The Dark Is Rising!!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 18 December 2008 at 08:02 AM
First off, even though I didn't comment on the book menage post, I did read most of the books and it made me sad that people work so hard. Life is too short to be stressed out by your job so much.
MY favorite holiday tradition is A Christmas Story. I will watch TBS non-stop between family time on Christmas Day. It actually was the very first movie I saw in the theatre at my friend Heather's 10th? birthday party. Happy Holidays to CR and Mr.CR!
Posted by: Katharine | 18 December 2008 at 09:25 AM
We also have a very old video of a Sesame Street Christmas that we watch every year. Oscar upsets Big Bird by saying that Santa can not possibly get down the narrow chimneys on their street, so Big Bird tries to wait up on the roof during the night during a snow storm to make sure Santa can get in. No one knows where Bi Bird is, so they all start looking. It's very sweet. It is so old that Mr. Hooper is still alive. We have to see it every year.
Posted by: rick roche | 19 December 2008 at 08:00 AM
Katharine,
You did comment on the Menage post, and I was glad to see you there! I agree with you. It seems that after this many years of playing at civilization we could work out a slightly more equitable system, doesn't it? It would be one thing to work hard--but to not be paid for it and to have to do it separated from your family is not right.
And I LOVE A Christmas Story; I almost added it to the list but then just didn't, because I haven't seen it yet this year! I love the way it looked, the story, the Jean Shepherd voiceover--RALPHIE! Have you ever read the book it's based on--"In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash"? Also pretty funny stuff.
Rick,
I had no idea there was a Sesame street special floating around out there. I'm going to have to look into that!!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 19 December 2008 at 11:30 AM