25 Days of Christmas On ABC Family
I’ve tried to explain to my kids that watching the Christmas specials on TV isn’t what it used to be. There were a few prime specials that we waited for, and it was always something special when they were on. Shows like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer were only on once a year, and if you missed it, that was it. There were no VCRs, DVDs, or TiVos, let alone cable or satellite. Now we have so many different holiday specials, it’s hard to keep track of them all.
ABC Family runs many of the shows every night from Thanksgiving until Christmas, calling it their 25 Days of Christmas, even though simple counting tells us it’s a few more than that. Tonight they have one of the classic movies on, White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney. Not only does it feature Crosby’s song White Christmas, but also the best song ever made about sisters, titled simply Sisters. After a few drinks, my sister and I will be glad to do our own rendition of the song for you.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the original cartoon, not the film remake starring Jim Carrey, is on midway through December on the 14th, as well as the 20th and 23rd, so that you, too, can “Welcome Christmas.” Twas the Night Before Christmas is on December 5th, The Little Drummer Boy is on December 13th, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and The Year Without a Santa Claus are on December 19th. New favorite, The Polar Express is on December 7th and 12th, as well as Christmas Eve.
ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas also includes some movies that I wouldn’t personally include as holiday classics, but they’re notable nonetheless, with The Incredibles and the first three movies in the Harry Potter series. I suppose if you hum a few Christmas tunes and have a glass of egg nog, anything could be included as a holiday classic.
Of course there’s plenty other classics I didn’t even mention. Go ahead and check out the 25 Days of Christmas calendar for yourself.
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TheGrizz | Nov 23, 2007 | Reply
Hey thanks a lot for this post! Now I know how to set my DVR so I can catch all the awesome shows. Any chance you can track down the Charlie Brown Christmas special? Or maybe a place I can buy them?
LauraBelle | Nov 23, 2007 | Reply
Hi Grizz. A Charlie Brown Christmas is on ABC next Tuesday at 7 PM Central time. It’s on early this year! Just last week they had the Thanksgiving special on.
Jessica | Nov 24, 2007 | Reply
I completely relate back to the days when you were lucky to come upon a once a year showing of the magnificent ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’.
I am hoping they show ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’ - with the Heat Miser, as Veronica Mars has renewed my love for him.
I’m excited! I’m so glad to see that you posted this - giving me advance warning to watch what I want.
LauraBelle | Nov 24, 2007 | Reply
The Year Without a Santa Claus will be on December 19th. That one’s almost like a cult classic. I’m curious to why Veronica Mars renewed your love for the Heat Miser. I was never a fan before, but I watched the entire 3rd season on DVD and renewed it here: (http://www.viewpoints.com/Veronica-Mars-The-Complete-Third-Season-review-118c) So I’m curious to know where the Heat Miser reference fits in.
JessicaRae | Nov 25, 2007 | Reply
In the season one episode: “An Echolls Family Christmas”, Veronica and her Dad are watching it (as well as a few other characters).
I’m a Vmars addict. And I can tell you that the first season is, by far, the best season.
JessicaMcDorman | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
I absoultly loved the movies “Three Days”, “Holiday in Handcuffs”, “Snowglobe”, and all of the cartoon ones.