It’s that time of year. And, no, we don’t mean what you think we mean. Yes, there’s the cheer in the streets, Santas ringing red bells, city sidewalks draped with lights and decorations, snow falling on your head. But what we are talking about is, of course, Christmas movies!!! We here at Doozy Christmas ecards headquarters love popping-in an old timer with popcorn and hot cocoa or just happening upon a jewel of a Christmas movie on ABC Family.

And here it is. Our official Doozy Christmas movie must-see list: (in no particular order)

1. It’s a Wonderful Life

2. A Christmas Story

3. A Christmas Carol (1951)
 

4. Love Actually

5. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare before Christmas

6. Elf

7. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

8. Home Alone

9. The Polar Express

10. Frosty the Snowman (1969)

11. The Snowman, animated short film (1982)

12. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, claymation TV special (1964)

13. Little Drummer Boy, claymation TV special (1968)

13. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

14. A Charlie Brown Christmas

15. Scrooged

16. Prancer

17. Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas

18. Our number 18, Must-See Movie, we’ve listed in the form of a trivia question. Ready to test your Christmas movie knowledge? Ok. What was the name of a biopic movie that tells the story of how St. Nick was given immortality and the parallel life of one of his elves, starring Dudley Moore and John Lithgow? Scroll down to the very bottom of this post to see the answer.

This year, when you send one of our Christmas ecards you will tell your recipient a little Christmas story. Much like curling up on the couch, in front of the fire, with a great Christmas movie DVD, sending Christmas ecards are a great pastime.

The answer to bonus question #18 is Santa Claus: The Movie from 1985.

We just found a Hanukkah kids’ music album that we love! It’s called Let’s Go Coconuts by The Macaroons.

You can download the album on iTunes; then rock out with your kids this holiday season to songs like “Hurry Up and Light the Candles” and “Mezuzah.” If your kids enjoy listening to it with their non-Jewish friends, it’s a great way to explain exactly what a Mezuzah is. For our readers, who aren’t Jewish or may not know the origin, a Mezuzah is the welcoming scrolls that contain a sacred prayer on parchment and are attached to doorways.

Our Hanukah e-cards feature some great ecards for kids that can be used as teaching tools. The Tap Dancing Maccabees e-card references those ancient Jewish leaders from 164 BC. Our Hanukah Bubbies Game ecard is a great to teach your kids about the dreidel, delicious sufganiyot, and gold-wrapped gelt.

Children’s author, Maurice Sendak, noted for his book Where the Wild Things Are and who is Jewish, drew this great illustration for kids called In Grandpa’s House.

I was glad to know that such a famous author reveres his historical roots, and in fact was recently invited by the Jewish Museum of New York to choose menorahs from the 18th-20th centuries for a Hanukah exhibit.

With so many options for music and art this Hanukah season, we hope you will cherish this time with your children and grand-children.

Okay, Christmas decorating is getting a little crazy: stairwells ringed with expensive garlands; bejeweled Santas lighting the mantle … I just don’t know if I agree with going this overboard. Back in the day, a bough of mistletoe would simply do. The folklore behind kissing under the mistletoe is quite interesting. Down through the centuries, Germans, Celts, and Greeks have venerated this plant. According to this article, “it was considered to bestow life and fertility; a protection against poison; and an aphrodisiac.” You can find mistletoe in nature and bring it indoors; then kiss your husband underneath it! Tickle your honey with laughter during this festive holiday season by sending a funny Christmas ecard.

Another simple way to decorate your house for Christmas, is to do like the song says: “Deck the halls with boughs of holly.” Cut bushy twigs from the holly bushes in your backyard and strategically place them around your house. The bright glossy green and red colors will be intoxicating. If it’s the festive smell you’re after go straight for REAL PINE.

– The Douglas fir has the most fragrance.

– The Red fir has spaced-out branches for hanging ornaments.

– The Noble fir that doesn’t easily drop needles.

This year, our Christmas ecards have beautiful animations illustrating the many colorful traditions of Christmas. In the e-cards in her collection, the fabulous Ms. Dionne Warwick dresses in plush fabrics and knee high boots to trim her outdoor garden in her lovely “Dionne Warwick’s Christmas e card“. Shimmery tinsel garlands, shiny bulb ornaments, and tasty peppermint canes are the way to go!

I love the Seasonal Christmas department at Sears for buying cute, affordable decorations: