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Category: 12 Days of Christmas

Published: 19 December 2021

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Once upon a time in a time really not so long ago, a world existed without personal computers, the world wide web, streaming pictures, mobile phones, IMAX and GPS. Communicating by wireless meant locating a phone booth or waiting for your turn at the rotary landline phone; "busy" was a reality and "call waiting" a true novelty. Catching a movie meant everyone got to select from one of the 1 to 4 films that were playing at the local movie theater or waiting with anticipation for the "4:30 Movie" or the Afterschool Special to come on on ABC. ABC, CBS and NBC were the go to networks with better features than than the 8 other local channels; PBS was and will aways be PBS. Christmas meant holiday specials, multiple variety shows hosted by major celebrities and annual re-runs of the same films deemed most suited for the season. As an everyday event, family would gather around the television after dinner to watch their favourite shows, together.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, allow this simple invitation to whisk you back to that time not so long ago and choose to re-watch 4 of your all time favourite holiday films.

There is no denying that movies work a certain magic on us all, as I suppose they were created to do. They let us live a life we can only aspire towards or relive (and possibly learn from) one that has already been experienced. They fill us with emotion or allow us fabulous release. Movies are a special part of many of our days, no less so than during the holiday seasons.

I suppose the major difference between that time really not so long ago and the present day is that as a result of the world not being so individualised, people had more mutual experiences to build upon. Less diversity suggest more closeness and closer begets warmth And perhaps -- just maybe -- this is why some folks can honestly yearn for the closeness and warmth of yesterdays; it was real. There is no blame for feeling disillusioned when these sensations are not achieved, most especially at holiday time. To stave off those unwanted feelings, why not gather the family around this year and watch 4 of your favourite holiday films, together .

My gift... Four of my All Time Favourite Yuletide Films...

These films just fill me with a certain warmth -- who knows why or how. Maybe I first saw them during this special season and the emotions hit me all at once-- and critics have noted that these films do elicit powerful emotional response -- but whatever it was or is, they have remained sentimental favourites of mine just because. The holidays always seem warmer, more special and definitely more complete when I chance to enjoy these features.

#1   White Christmas (1954)

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#2   A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945)

This glorious film relates the story of a young Francie Nolan who yearns for something better and different for her family. The film is based on the best-seller book by Betty Smith which was irst published in 1943; the book was recently brought to light again in 2020 by a reviewer who noted:

With an everlasting pandemic and a tumultuous election coming up, wanting to escape reality has become a reality. The novel, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” diverts you from the grimaces of 2020, by taking you to Brooklyn at the beginning of the 20th century, where protagonist Francie Nolan is getting by day to day. Betty Smith’s classic takes you on a journey plagued by poverty, but powered by hope, with guidance that we can all relish to this day. - Holly Jenvey, Staff Writer of the DePaulia

A guaranteed realisation of the struggles and grit of working-class life with a resounding and much welcomed message of hope. There's that "hope" word agan; yes, definitely fit for the season. Oh, and let us not forget the poignance of the Christmas tree scene.

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#3   It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Would I have gone terribly off-course if this old holiday favourite was not included on my own personal list? Think most readers would say, "You darn tooting you have!". Okay, perhaps not in those words, but I am fairly certain that most folks in the grand ol' USA would admit the season would probably seem like something is missing if they didn't at least catch a glimpse of an advert of "It's A Wonderful Life". Need I say more... onward to film #4.

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#4   I Remember Mama (1948)

This may be telling, but my all time favourite film of the yuletide holiday season since I first had occasion to watch it in my younger days while roast beef and gungo rice and peas arrested the senses and the familarity of family chatter seemed to be in surround sound is "I Remember Mama". Is it the immigrant theme (I always enjoyed a 'foreign touch')?   Or that the film sings praises to 'woman' and 'Mama' which I always have done on my own time?   Or is it that it is just a stellar film with the job of emoting, inspiring and just working that movie magie well done?   Don't know, but it's a definite must see for me every year.

The timeless story of the sacrifices a mother makes to assure her family (especially her children) always have everything they need is a best selling novel, a charming Broadway Musical, and best-known as the star-studded 1948 movie classic. - IMDB reviewer

Just realised that most of my favourites hark back to the 1940's. Don't know, watching these films just make me feel warm and cosy. I also realise that someone could have a field-day psychoanalysing this whole situation... LOL.. but there you have it!   By the way, you can view "I Remember Mama"  in the Christmas Video player on the front page.

So do tell! What are YOUR holiday favourites  

 

Jello and Ice Cream Time

My mother's special gift to me

I still haven't let go of the first television set my parents bought for us when we arrived in the States. And... it still works!   Let's not go into the number of years that have passed since then, but suffice it to say, we did have our time fiddling with the antenna to get the best picture for our analog VHF and UHF band channels. Televisions were placed on the floor back then with enough room in the back to accomodate the rather imposing cathode tube. The television was a family gathering place, and when it was turned on, it was together time. Some family members leaned over the arm of the overstuffed velvet armchair; another might be lounged out on the sofa (which is still quite comfortable even today, by the way); while for others, the floor was just as comfortable as a cosy bed. The gathering would definitely get larger when the Olympics were on (seemed like more of a community event back then) and at other times deemed equally as important (for "Roots"or "Dynasty", let's say). Holiday specials were a smash! And Channel 11's yuletide log presented a warm glow as the family went about the business of preparing for the festivities and non-stop eating to come.

As I mentioned before, Sweet Mama ensured that we were a family that did just about everything together. My brother-in-law still remembers how as soon as my eldest brother learned to drive, the parents bought a second station wagon so that we could bring along friends on our joyous jaunts to Bear Mountain and other places on the weekend. The most blessed warm and comforting family time -- it seems to me -- is when after our family as a group had washed and put away all the dishes following the very satisfying Sunday afternoon meal that our hard working nurse of a Sweet Mama would prepare without a miss, and it was time for ice cream and jello.

The family usually ate together, most especially on Sunday afternoon, and it was a fully-dressed table affair. Sweet Mama was drawn to fancy cutlery and plateware and Sunday meals were the perfect time to put everything to good use: knife, fork, dessert cutlery, soup dish and dessert bowl, serving utensils, cloth napkins with holders and even bone dishes and hand-washing bowls were regulars on the food-ladened dining room table. Then afterwards, when the parents acquired the first, the one and only, color tv, we would all adjourn to their bedroom, snuggling up on the bed together, ice cream and jello bowls suitably filled in hand and watch television, together. Back in those days, it was most likely "Battlestar Galactica" or "The Wonderful World of Disney" or something of that nature that would grab the attention of this contented bunch. Seems like you could easily dismiss any disappointment for the simple pleasure found in these moments of togetherness.

When the television wasn't on, family entertainment would not be at an end. We would have fun playing all sorts of games, most particularly as a tribute to our ethnic background, Jamaican traditional games.