During the Christmas season there are always a handful of movies that help our house get into the holiday spirit and then keep it there all month.

Holiday Inn

A true gem of a movie that covers all the major holidays. It was this movie that Irving Berlin’s song, White Christmas, debued in. A beautiful song that is only made better by Bing Crosby’s crooning.

White Christmas

If you start with Holiday Inn, it’s almost a crime to not follow it up with White Christmas. Once more Irving Berlin’s White Christmas takes center stage. The other songs and overall movie imagery only helps to add to the spirit.

Miracle on 34th Street

A timeless classic, and one that while I’m sure it already on everyone’s list, is still worth noting for this list. Kris Kringle spreads goodwill around and gets put on trial for if he really is “Santy Claus” or not. We all know he is, but watching John Payne defend him and prove it is classic. Even the most hardened of skeptics will belive in Kris Kringle by the end of the movie.

It’s a Wonderful Life

James Stewart learns what life would be like without him thanks to Henry Travers playing Clarence, an angel who is trying to earn his wings. This one always requires a box of tissues next to the couch. Ever since I first saw this movie as a child I’ve made sure to ring every bell that gets hung on our Christmas tree as I wanted to help as many angels get their wings as I could.

The Shop Around the Corner

Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan are two employees at Matuschek’s shop. They’re always at arms working in the shop but fall in love writing letters to each other. Watching these two dance around each other during the Christmas holiday is wonderful.

The Bishop’s Wife

Cary Grant plays Dudley the angel who is sent to give guidance to David Niven who plays the Bishop, Henry Brougham. The miracles that Dudley performs along the way help warm the heart and propegate the spirit of Christmas.

There are loads of other good holiday classics out there, like A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but these are the true “classics” in our house that we make it a point to watch over and over all throughout the Christmas season.