Top 5 Favourite Christmas Movies!

I’m a very very festive person. I’m always the first to start listening to christmas songs. The first to pop on a festive jumper and the first up on christmas morning to see if Santa has been.

This year, however, I’m not feeling too festive yet. I don’t know if it is because I am out of the country. Or if it is because I’ve been too busy recently. Or because a lot of things have been changing with this move out here. But I’m just not quite there yet. (Also, my advent calendar is still in the post, on it’s very slow way up the mountain to me so I haven’t been counting down with festive not-just-allowed-but-actively-encouraged morning chocolate yet either!)

I decided today that once I’ve ticked off my to-do list for the day. Once my meetings are done and my commitments are all finished, I’m going to make the most gluttonous hot chocolate with marshmallows, sprinkles and whatever other high sugar topping I can find, pull on my joggers and have a christmas film binge to get me in the festive spirit.

I have so many Christmas films that I just LOVE but these have to be my top 5. No, they are not the most expected ones. No, they aren’t even necessarily the best quality or the bed performed. But for me they carry sentimental value as well as festive value, and they make me feel like magic is real and bring out the 7 year old listening for reindeer on the roof that I used to be, bursting to sing the “Away In A Manger” solo in the school christmas assembly!

In no particular order, because I can’t label a favourite!

1. Santa Claus The Movie
This is old fashioned, low tech, and absolutely brilliant. Growing up, this was the film that meant it was nearly christmas. It is such a magical movie. And it has some darker bits in it too – but still manages to bring it round to a happy ending. The first half for me is the best. It’s just so magical. Love it!

2. White Christmas
The Music, the Dancing, the Festivities and the Snow – what more do you need out of a Christmas film?
This one has always been a firm favourite of mine – from singing along from a really young age, to watching it last year when I was decorating my Christmas tree in Clapham….it’s a special one.
This has been our decorating-the-tree movie for YEARS and I’m gonna make sure the tradition stays this year when I get my tree delivered!
“May Your Days Be Merry And Bright, and May All Your Christmases Be White”

3. Arthur Christmas
I only came across this film last year and it shot immediately into my top 5 simply from the first 15 minutes. As a child I always wondered how Father Christmas would get around the whole world in one night – I know it is meant to just be by magic, but I wanted more information. The first 15 minutes of this film show a way that it could be done. I mean, I’m not sure how logistically possible it is, but it shows a method. As a child with questions about it, this would have sold me for at least another year or two. It’s magical, but it also makes it all seem feasible – which is just awesome!
And, it’s got the voice of the little girl from “Outnumbered” which makes it a little bit more cute too!

4. The Polar Express
This actually isn’t one of my favourite festive films, but it just has to go on this list because it is such a huge part of my family’s christmas tradition. Christmas eve, after we have come back from our respective drinks dos etc, we all curl up together with a mince pie or a sausage roll, and watch The Polar Express. My sisters love it and it has become such a huge part of our tradition, it just had to make it onto this list!

5. The Greatest Store In The World
Most underestimated christmas movie ever. Mum and two daughters are made homeless. Mum doesn’t want children homeless for christmas, so they move into “Scottley’s”, a department store, a bit like Harrods for Christmas. Camping out in “Camping and Outdoors”, having sleepovers in Wendy Houses and eating “sell by” Chocolate Oranges – its fun, its heart warming, and, randomly, S Club 7 are in it!
I kinda wanna try this, but in ikea. Just living in one of their “This is my 25 square metre home” show flats – I reckon it’d be a laugh!!!
Love, love, love this film!