It's CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Okay it's December, even you die hards can now admit that it is officially Christmas season. Trees can go up with no disdainful looks, cookies can be eaten in abundance as they are calorie free at this time of year (that's true right?) and I can watch a Christmas movie a day from my collection (since I don't have ABC) and Husby can't complain, much!

I love Christmas movies, it's something I got from and share with my Dad. So here are my top ten holiday movies:

1. It's a Wonderful LifeI didn't watch this until I was in my late teens by which point Christmas movies were already a highlight of my year. This is one that I cannot miss, it is usually the movie of choice on Christmas Eve as we drink cocoa and open our Christmas Eve present. This introduced me to Jimmy Stewart, the original Bert and Ernie, and made me realize that my Dad was not the only wonderful guy around, who knew?

2. Santa Claus: The MovieA perennial favourite in England. This is my Father Christmas, when you talk about Christmas this is the face I see in that red suit. And the music sticks with me till April. Season's Greetings!

3. Home AloneReally who doesn't watch this movie at Christmas - for shame if you don't. The cast is superb and it contains the all time greatest version of White Christmas by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters. This is one of those movies that came out when I was a kid and therefore will always love. Just hearing that theme music makes me long for snow.

4. White ChristmasThis movie surpasses the earlier produced Holiday Inn for two reasons, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney. Oh and the Santa Dresses. And the army songs. And it's in actual colour and not fake colour. And Sisters. And The Best things happen while you're dancing. Okay so there are many reasons. This is one that gets watched no matter what - when It's a Wonderful Life seems to long throw in White Christmas. Sometimes this gets watched twice. It is an excellent movie for wrapping to.

5. The Muppet Christmas Carol

Michael Caine is by far the best Scrooge I have ever seen. After Jim Henson died this movie reassured me that the Muppets would not and for that I am eternally grateful. The music in this movie lifts my spirits. This was the first Christmas movie I put on with Toby around though I'm not sure he appreciated it very much!

6.Holiday Inn

The first movie to contain the song White Christmas and for that alone deserves to be on every top ten list. Husby bans all things Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving, but this movie has become part of our Thanksgiving traditions and after we are safely home and Toby has gone to bed we snuggle up on the couch to Holiday Inn.

7. The Bishop's WifeEven though Husby watched the Whitney Houston remake being filmed on a local pond, the Cary Grant version is the one I keep coming back to. David Niven is such a wonderful actor and I personally think his performance as the Bishop far outshines Mr Grant. This is another movie that reminds me of my Dad.

8. Miracle on 34th StreetThe rare occasion on which I toy with favouring the remake is with Miracle on 34th street. I lament the fact that our society saw fit to exclude Macy's and substitute the fictional Cole's but for the most part I love this movie, if only for Attenborough's Santa.

9. The Santa ClauseA more modern Holiday favourite. I'm a huge Tim Allen fan and again going against the grain I love both sequels to this movie.

10. The Christmas ToyJim Henson is on this list twice! This movie is a favourite from when I was a kid and when I saw it in the store two years ago all my childhood Christmases came flooding back to me and I nearly passed out with excitement. If you love Toy Story you will love this!

So far I have watched 4 out of the 10, I have a day of Christmas movies lined up with a friend in a few weeks so I'm sure a few of these will sneak in.