I was curious about the origins and evolution of Presidents Day, so I did a little research. I remember when we had both Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday off, but I had no idea how it came about.
In case you’re a bit curious too, here’s some background from history.com about the history of presidents day.
I’m also wondering how many Americans are off today?
Sometimes we need a little reminder… Yes, my skeptical and jaded readers…there is a living, breathing Christmas Spirit…It lives in us…and it is up to us to share it with not just those we love, but those who need it most.
Image via Wikipedia
DEAR EDITOR:
I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Image by paparutzi via Flickr
We have an ongoing battle in my house regarding what qualifies as a good Christmas movie and what doesn’t. We battle for the television remote when it’s prime time and argue over what to rent at the movie store. I think this dilemma is a an apt representation of the variety of preferences and points of view. Should a Christmas movie make you laugh or cry, teach a lesson or make you cheer for the underdog?
The answer…It depends. On what moves you, what speaks to you, what gets your attention. What one person finds hilarious, another might find offensive or stupid. And what one person finds touching and wise another finds sappy and irrelevant.
I find this to be a good lesson in life. In order to be happy in our relationships, successful in our businesses and content in our lives, we need to remain curious and interested and tolerant of differences. And besides, Christmas movies are fun!
So, at the risk of sparking a heated debate here are my top 10 Christmas movies. Some have changed over the years, and some just keep drawing me back. You’ll notice I have left many holiday classics, like White Christmas and Holiday Inn. They never appealed to me, much to my mother’s dismay.
10. Home alone (1990) – While not technically a Christmas movie per se, we can’t help but laugh at the crazy antics and applaud the determination of one small, but very resourceful young boy.
9. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Because everyone matters! No matter what kind of losers we might think we are, each of our lives mean something and we do make a difference in the world.
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – This brilliantly creative movie from the horrifyingly creative mind of Tim Burton makes my list, because it’s a different twist on the traditional holiday movie with humor, love and fantastical characters. But most of all, it’s a movie that my teens would sit and watch with me every year and that’s what matters most.
7. The Preacher’s Wife (1996) – The songs are wonderful (Whitney Houston,) the cast charming (Denzel Washington) and the message on target. It’s a sleeper that many haven’t seen and it’s worth a look if you’re curious.
6. The Polar Express (2004) – Magnificent animation, heart-warming story and Tom Hanks. A fabulous combination for all ages.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – Jim Carrey…enough said. Jim Carrey makes the Grinch both lovable and laughable at the same time while giving us a little nudge to be kind.
4. The Miracle on 34th Street (1994) – The original was my favorite as a child, but I think this version with Elizabeth Perkins and Dylan McDermott is fabulous. They made this heart-warming story relevant again for a whole new generation of viewers.
3. Elf - (2003) - It took me a few years to warm up to this movie, but now I have a new appreciation for Will Farrell. We laugh hysterically throughout most of this movie and my children still frequently refer to “the throne of lies.”
2. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – I usually get some argument here for going against Jim Carrey or the old version, but Michael Caine and the Muppets can’t be beat.
1. The Santa Claus – (1994) – This movie just hits all the right buttons for me. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy and makes me laugh at the same time. And Tim Allen is hilarious as Santa.
In the interests of fair play I will give an honorable mention to A Christmas Story (1983), my husband’s perennial favorite and Die Hard (1988) because while it’s not really a holiday movie, it always reminds me of Christmas and makes me want to cheer for the good guys!
Bring on the discussion! What are your favorites? Which movies do you agree? Disagree? What have I forgotten?
Military Wife. Freelance Writer. Life Guide. Idea Curator. Work-Life Balance Mentor. Productivity Enthusiast. Book Addict. Mom. I also share lively and informative life tips on my Productive Life Concepts blog.
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