A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987) and The Holly and the Ivy (1952)

Two lesser-known Christmas classics to brighten your home. 🎄 

A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987; Vimeo or Internet Archive)

Two Claymation dinosaurs announce a variety show of Christmas carols--while trying to figure out what "wassailing" means! This 24-minute TV special features a wide variety of creative animation and light humor while bringing life to your favorite Christmas carols. It always amazes me to see the stop-action animation, where they literally photographed these clay figures one image at a time to make them “move”--especially at the end when there are more of them than you can count! You'll remember the Three Kings' camels with sneakers, or that, um, Carol of the Bells... Understated, genuine, and even beautiful amidst the silliness.

For Sensitive Viewers: Occasional fat-shaming of the... gluttonous dinosaur? But he's lovable, so his overeating is in the spirit of festival.

The Holly and the Ivy (1952; Hoopla digital through your library, or Kanopy)

The three adult children of an aging pastor (Ralph Richardson) come home for Christmas, but some unspoken tensions start bubbling to the surface. This rare gem of black-and-white British film will surprise you with its nostalgic-yet-present-day feeling. Likeable characters, moving and smart writing, and even some memorable set design (like that revolving stand or all those cat pictures on the aunt's wall). Some affirming reflections on religious inquiry in an age when religion is often dismissed as closed or judgmental. I'm planning to watch it again this year.

For Sensitive Viewers: A character struggles with alcoholism; emotional discussion of a character's hidden grief.