A very noble, giant wannabe elf once said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Now, this elf may have been a human in reality, but his imagination and upbringing led him to believe he was, indeed, an elf. One of the best things about Christmas is the feeling that anything can happen: a giant, rotund man can squeeze down your fireplace to deliver presents and can travel around the entire world in one night. Children are constantly told this story growing up of how Santa Claus comes to their homes, relying on just their imagination and belief alone to explain the abnormality. However, Christmas movies capture our imagination and transpose it into reality, keeping the long held tradition of this story alive.

Whether Santa Claus’s sleigh breaks down in Central Park or Santa is sick in bed just before he is to take off to circumnavigate the globe, he makes an appearance in most Christmas movies, solidifying his importance to the holiday. His appearances, much like any celebrity’s on a talk show, keep his name known throughout the public. However, Santa Claus is not the only “Christmas celebrity” known throughout the world today.

Many have grown accustomed to Buddy the elf, played by Will Ferrell. The Christmas movie Elf is not only my favorite but also is the most quotable out of all the Christmas movies. I constantly catch myself and my family quoting the movie throughout the year. Who could forget the phrases, “Buddy the elf, what’s your favorite color?” or “He’s an angry elf”? Elf takes a whole different approach to the typical Christmas holiday story. Santa Claus is not the focus but merely the “adult” figure in the film, providing guidance and support. The main focus is Buddy, who undergoes a series of struggles to find his family and to adapt to his real home. The mixture of humor and the obvious message embedded in all Christmas movies about spirit and belief forms the perfect combination in this film.
I am not saying that all the other Christmas movies are terrible, but I just feel that this movie portrays our current society more accurately. It incorporates work, school, malls and adults who do not believe in Santa Claus any more, which makes this movie more believable. It also makes it not as dry, sad or boring.

No matter the movie, “Christmas spirit” is found in all of these films to keep the tradition of Santa Claus alive. Kids still hurry down the stairs to see what Santa has left them, and parents sometimes go to great lengths to prove Santa’s existence, leaving pieces of red fabric on the ground to symbolize Santa’s suit or snow footprints of a boot next to the fireplace. But that’s a whole different story.

Though some claim some Christmas movies may be dated, the bottom line is Christmas movies are an important part of the holiday. They provide an illustration of the mystical figure known as Santa Claus and what he would actually be like if he existed.