Advent calendars are popular and there are endless varieties. We decided several years ago to use our Christmas movies as an advent calendar, which means we have at least twenty-five Christmas movies. And with so many streaming channels the offerings are non-stop. Just this week we watched “Christmas on the Bayou”, “Christmas in Mississippi”, and “The Christmas Contract”.

Our favorite movies are so familiar we really don’t need to watch them. We can quote the lines just by thinking of the title. You can too. For example,

”I wouldn’t let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my a**.” Of course you know the movie.

How about, “Thanks for the Christmas card you sent me, Violet!” Sure you know that one, you’ve been watching it every year since 1965.

This might be a little more difficult, “Hey Mack, can you tell me the way to Redbud?”

”How’d you know my name was Mack?”

”Just a guess.”

”Why don’t you guess your way to Redbud?”

Maybe you’ll do better on this one. “Coming into Pine Tree! Coming into Pine Tree.”

No? Well, how about, “If the United States Post Office believes Kris Kringle is the real Santa Clause, we agree. Case dismissed!”

Maybe this will ring a silver bell, “The Rose Suchick Ladder Company.”

Doing better? Try, “Me? You want me to be the director of the Christmas play?”

Another, “You wouldn’t happen to have eight thousand dollars would you?”

”No, we don’t need money in Heaven.”

”Well it sure comes in handy down here, Bub!”

This one is too easy, “Why’d you take your shoes off?” “Why are you dressed like a chicken?”

This is getting ridiculously easy now, “Oh no! No one’s leaving this fun old fashioned family Christmas! We’re gonna press on and have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye!”

Are you feeling pretty confident? Try this, “George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die.”

A little more difficult, “Label-label-label, I must have a label!” “I feel light as a feather, I’m giddy as a school boy! I must stand on my head!”

How about, “That was the dumbest speech ever! It was short. We loved it!!”

Obviously, some of these are in the same movies, like, “I knew it was you. I could smell you getting off the elevator.”

And, “Keep the change ya filthy animal.”

And, “We bein’ scammed by a kindy-gadna.”

From a different one, “I wish I had a million dollars. Ah, hot dog!”

And another favorite, “You don’t honestly believe I would check ten-thousand twinkle lights without making sure they were plugged in.”

Everyone will know this, “Lights please. And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.’”

Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy your favorite Christmas movies, whatever they are, but especially, the time you spend with family watching them.

Still wondering about some of the movie lines? Here they are, in order. And yes, I wrote each of these from memory. Movie lines is a favorite game we play with our family.

Home Alone
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Funny Farm
White Christmas
Miracle on 34th Street
The Santa Clause
A Charlie Brown Christmas
It’s A Wonderful Life
Home Alone
Christmas Vacation
It’s a Wonderful Life
Scrooge (With Alastair Sim)
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Home Alone 2
Home Alone
It’s a Wonderful Life
Christmas Vacation
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Luke 2:8-14)