Christmas means lights, food, friends, music and movies and so much more. The food does not really matter, it is the convivial atmosphere within which the meal is served that matters. The lights, candles do a fine job at providing the soft but brilliant light the seasons requires; music, your favourite seasonal songs and, last but oh so not the least, the movies.

My wife and I enjoy movies and we watch them regularly. Come Christmas there are a few favourites that we enjoy over the 12 days. To not watch them would simply seem wrong.

One of my favourite Christmas movies, is not about Christmas, at all, but tells a tale of how one person arrived at an appreciation of what she had and where she was. The Wizard of Oz has charmed young and old for generations and, for me, Christmas would just not be complete without watching it at least once. I have seen this film, at least sixty times and each viewing is as enjoyable as the last.

The next two movies are Christmas classics and in their own way directly address on the underlying spirit of Christmas as a time for sharing and a time for caring.

They appear herein no order. White Christmas with Big Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen is a musical and possibly one of the best musicals made. The Crosby classic, White Christmas, is one of the numbers that make this attractive and warm story shine.

I had a VHS version of this movie, until just recently, when my old VCR finally quit working. I passed that copy along to a friend who I know will enjoy it.

Charles Dickens, Scrooge or A Christmas Carol has been translated into film several times and while I do like the Muppets version, my favourite is the 1951 version with Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. The central theme is redemption as Scrooge finally comes to understand the error of his ways and awakens to the true meaning of the season.

I also had a VHS copy which ahs gone to the same person who scooped White Christmas. Soon I will need to buy these two on DVD or hopefully be able to rent them from my local video rental store. Better get looking now, time is growing short.

There are many movies that enhance the Christmas season and my not mentioning them does not mean I do not appreciate films such as Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the original animated version or It’s A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart or Miracle on 34^th Street; it simply means the three, The Wizard of Oz, White Christmas and the Christmas Carol are my favourites; films and can watch every year and then some.