Christmas Movie Marathon Day
Fast Facts
- CELEBRATION
- A day to indulge in as many Christmas movies as possible
- WHEN
- Celebrated each year on December 23
- FACT
- The first Christmas movie was made in 1898
- VIBE
- Feel-Good, Nostalgic, Reminiscent
CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON DAY
December 23 is Christmas Movie Marathon Day. An entire day dedicated to setting aside the holiday rush, take a much needed breather, before we shift into the busy preparations of our holiday get togethers.
#ChristmasMovieMarathonDay
By December 23, your Christmas shopping should be done, the gifts should be wrapped, and your kids are officially on winter break. Whether you're wrapping last-minute gifts, baking cookies, or simply sinking into the couch in flannel pajamas, this annual celebration provides the ideal day to pause right before the whirlwind of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities.
The first Christmas movie ever made is Santa Claus, a British silent short directed by George Albert Smith in 1898. The film ran 76 seconds and followed two two young children getting tucked into bed on Christmas Eve. After the lights go out, Santa Claus lands on the snowy rooftop, climbs down the chimney into their bedroom, fills their stockings, decorates a small Christmas tree, and vanishes into thin air right before the children awaken to discover their gifts.
Since then, watching Christmas movies has evolved into a family tradition. Whether you love the pure nostalgia of A Christmas Story or love the family chaos of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, watching Christmas movies guarantees a sense of comfort and pause during the busy holiday season.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s masterpiece is one of the greatest holiday films of all time. The storyline addresses the small-town family man George Bailey (James Stewart) contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve. Bailey meets his guardian angel Clarence what life in Bedford Falls would look like had he never existed. The film earns its joyful finale through genuine, heavy stakes, proving that a single decent life radiates far wider than one realizes.
Miracle on 34th Street
When an elderly man calling himself Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is hired as Macy’s department store Santa, his insistence that he is the genuine article lands him in court to defend his sanity. The film balances sharp post-war retail satire with a sincere defense of faith, imagination, and uncommercialized generosity.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) embodies every host who wants a picture-perfect, old-fashioned family Christmas so badly that the pursuit nearly breaks their sanity. Between tangled light strands, uninvited eccentric relatives, dried-out turkeys, and catastrophic electrical surges, it captures the hilarious reality of family holiday stress for anyone who has ever hosted extended family.
Home Alone
This Christmas film captures both sides of childhood holiday fantasy--freedom from adult rules and the terrifying realization of real independence. Kevin McCallister's (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind when his large family flies to Paris for the holidays. On the night before the trip, Kevin gets into a scuffle with his older brother, Buzz, and is sent to sleep in the third-floor attic. Frustrated by his family, he wishes they would disappear. Kevin awakes to an empty house and initially thinks his wish came true but soon learns his house will become a festive fortress against the "Wet Bandits."
Elf
Modern Christmas movies rarely achieve classic status, but Elf is a fish-out-of-water comedy succeeded by leaning into practical effects, stop-motion animation homage, and an all-in comedic performance from Will Ferrell. Buddy the Elf leaves the North Pole for Manhattan in search of his cynical biological father, confronting modern disillusionment with childlike holiday spirit. Buddy’s complete lack of irony or cynicism, turning ordinary interactions into iconic comedic set pieces.
Holiday movies are more than sitting in front of a television screen--they are tied to childhood memories, family traditions, and memories of people we spent our holidays with. They are one of the few movie genres that comfort during a time when our bodies and minds are stressed. Even if your childhood holiday memories are imperfect, Christmas movies are one thing that allow people to experience feelings of happiness during the holidays.
CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON DAY CELEBRATION IDEAS
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Pick a specific holiday vibe, such as Golden Age classics, stop-motion animation, 90s nostalgia, cheesy romance, or quirky holiday comedies.
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Elevate standard movie snacks with holiday twists. Peppermint popcorn, hot chocolate bars with festive toppings, spiced nuts, and warm gingerbread cookies are a few ideas.
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Gather family, roommates, or friends for a full-day screening, or host a synchronized virtual watch party with distant loved ones.
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Wrap While You Watch: Turn tedious last-minute gift wrapping into an enjoyable tradition by setting up wrapping stations in front of the TV.
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Have everyone in the household contribute one must-watch holiday film to the schedule to ensure everyone gets their favorite on screen.
HISTORY BEHIND CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON DAY
We were unable to find the creator behind Christmas Movie Marathon Day. It seems to have appeared some time during the early 2000s by holiday movie enthusiasts looking for a dedicated day of rest and binge-watch right before the Christmas Eve rush.
