When you’re taking a break from the endless bustle of the holidays, these Christmas Movies are sure to bring a smile to your face. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

10 – A Christmas Carol (1951)
The Charles Dickens story has been remade into several television and movie adaptations through the years, yet the tale remains the same. Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly businessman in 1840’s London whose only goal is to make more money and keep it for himself. On Christmas Eve, he sees the ghost of his deceased business partner, who tells him that he will be visited by three spirits-Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come. The ghosts appear to Scrooge in an attempt to help him change his ways.

9 – Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised by elves at Santa’s workshop. Santa allows the now-grown Buddy to go to New York to find his birth father and hilarity ensues. The awkward but enthusiastic Buddy is a fish out of water as an elf experiencing human culture for the first time.

8 – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington, aka the Pumpkin King, is bored with the routine Halloween celebration in his town of Halloweenland. He stumbles upon Christmastown, and attempts to bring his discovery back to Halloweentown.

7 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) starring Chevy Chase
Number seven is truly a classic Christmas comedy. The Griswold family struggles to have an old-fashioned Christmas. With crazy Christmas lights, Cousin Eddie, and squirrels hiding in trees, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will keep you laughing all night long.

6 – Bad Santa (2003)
Two men disguised as Santa and Santa’s elf set out to rob a mall instead of spread Holiday cheer. An encounter with an 8-year old teachers the criminals what the true meaning of Christmas is. You’ll hear move ‘f’ words in this movie than in Scarface.

5 – Scrooged (1988) starring Bill Murray
Bill Murray stars as Frank Cross, a cynical TV executive, who just can’t get into the Christmas spirit. When the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future visit him, Frank realizes it’s time to make a change.

4 – The Santa Clause (1994) starring Tim Allen
When Santa is killed, divorced father Scott Calvin is recruited to take his place and complete his Christmas rounds. Scott believes it’s all a dream, until he begins to morph into the jolly old man, much to the delight of his six-year old son Charlie.

3 – Miracle on 34th Street (1947) starring Maureen O’Hara
A kind, bearded old man is put on trial for calling himself Kris Kringle and believing that he is the real Santa. A holiday blockbuster that appeals to the believer in all of us.

2 – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Given the financial events of this year, this one was a close one, almost got number one for me. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that everyone’s life makes a difference, and that your family needs you. Get everyone to sit down together and watch it, enough said.

…This leads us to the number one Christmas movie in 2008…

1 – A Christmas Story (1983) starring Peter Billingsley
All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun. He perseveres, despite the admonitions of all the adults around him who say, “You’ll shoot your eye out with one of those, kid”. A story told from a kid’s point of view to which young and old can relate.

Ho, ho, ho, and pass the popcorn. Enjoy!

Twas the Night Before Congress

Hope for Hard Times Through the Magic of Christmas
- By Paul Schlegel

Twas the night before Congress, with Santa awake
Planning a scheme for his bailout take
The Elves were all panicked from weeks without pay
And Rudolph had flown off to sell off the sleigh

The reindeer were frightened to not have a sled
And mistakenly thought that old Rudolph had fled
Mrs Clause she was miffed with few presents to wrap
And worried of China and the growing trade gap.

Santa came in and asked “Dear, what’s the matter”?
“Well, we’re so short on food and you’re not getting fatter.”
Oh Santa he laughed as he threw up the sash.
“Just pull out your Visa and advance us some cash.”

Mrs. Claus shook her head and said, “Oh my, don’t you know?
Our cards were revoked and our cashflow is slow.
Basically Santa, we’re well in arrears,
You might want to think of some different careers.”

Visit SantasBailout.com For the Full Text and Video With Music.

Well just then ol’ Santa – he had to think quick,
“Congress wants plans – and I just have my schtick.
But if I show them MY plan they’ll make me explain:
‘You give AWAY presents? No profits? Insane!’”

“Hey Dasher, Hey Dancer, Hey Prancer and Vixen!
Hey Comet, Hey Cupid, Hey Donder and Blitzen!
Come here with the elves and give Rudolph a call.
I might have a plan, but I need you ALL!

We don’t need the Congress to make Christmas fly,
It’s all about Christmas demand and supply.
Elves, how many toys were you able to do?
35 Million Three Thousand and two?”

“Well, technically that number is just not enough.
But what if we do all that magical stuff?”
Of course Santa’s magic is world-renowned.
And the elves and the reindeer could help it compound!

Visit SantasBailout.com For the Full Text and Video With Music.

By Amrita Pai

For me, Christmas has always held special significance. As a child my earliest memories revolved around my mother playing the Gunther Kallerman Choir’s renditions of Christmas Carols at home, walks down Park Street with my family, carol sessions at St Paul’s, and evenings spent watching the whole city of Calcutta come alive with the festive spirit. Though we did not have anything to do with the religious or spiritual aspect of the festival, we looked forward to it more eagerly than the Durga Puja or Diwali.

Some of my most memorable Christmas celebrations involved Sister Bell and her family. She was the Head Nurse at my father’s clinic who would unfailingly invite us each year for amazing Christmas gifts like the cute “Masoom” dolls and lovely handmade wooden toys.

The foodie in me was often awakened by the smells emanating from her kitchen and my first target would be the melt in your mouth variety of Christmas cake. After viewing the splendidly arranged miniatures of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the manger and checking out the Christmas tree, the adults would be served some sparkling wine  while we children would attack the delicacies. The afternoon would culminate in a delicious lunch at the restaurant Anarkali followed by a movie, the latest Bollywood fare to be precise. This would be the routine every year till Sister Bell moved to Australia in the late 1980s.

Gradually, Christmas tended to come early. In school, it would be celebrated on the last working day before the winter holidays. Mrs George, our Kindergarten teacher, would be unanimously voted to play Santa not just because of her cheerful nature and wide girth but also because no one could imagine anyone else enjoying themselves to the hilt while dressing up in hot red Santa gear and lugging sacks of heavy presents while being tickled mercilessly by a fake beard. We would offer to be her helpers as she went around climbing five storeys, delivering presents to all the children in the school, keeping something aside for the unfortunate absentees. A Christmas tree became a part of the festivities eventually and would decorate the hall through the holidays till we came back for the new session, the next year.

Having spent the last five years in Bandra, Mumbai, Christmas has taken on a different meaning altogether, that of giving rather than receiving. Though I have been working through Christmas every year, I make sure some of the festivities rub off on my daughter. Our proximity to St Anne’s Church makes it imperative that we go there for the midnight mass, the carol singing sessions and to view the scenes from the manger. Like before, lunches are usually out and a movie is also thrown in for childhood’s sake. Last but not the least, time for Christmas presents! Funding a child’s education is perhaps the best thing we have ever done and Christmas is when the tradition started for a baby girl at the Mount Mary’s Orphanage.