What’s your favorite Christmas movie? What Christmas songs do you enjoy singing along with?

Let’s start with movies.

Every time I watch “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” I still laugh at the zaniness of it all. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold and Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddy are brilliant and the remaining supporting cast of characters don’t disappoint at all. I always find something new to chuckle about.

Second on my favorite Christmas movie list is “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I watched it so much, my family bought me a DVD of it so I could watch it any time of the year. I also got somewhat banned from tuning it in a few years back by my wife (it is a long movie, with all the commercials taken into consideration), but I just liked the drama and happy ending. It has somewhat run its course with me, however, and I will only tune it in (when I have control of the TV) when there is nothing else interesting on TV. Gotta love Jimmy Stewart’s acting in the film.

The first two “Home Alone” movies and “Elf” – with Macauley Culkin and Will Ferrell, respectively, round out my top four Christmas movies. Both are well done and entertaining.

Though I don’t have a singing voice like my rock ’n roll brother, Glenn – and mine is getting worse – I will sing (in private or in the car – much to the chagrin of my wife) along to “Come All Ye Faithful,” “O Holy Night,” “Joy To The World,” “Silent Night” and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.  

If I really feel like “belting it out,” I will jump in at the chorus of “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.” “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, “Jingle Bell Rock” and “12 Days of Christmas” sometimes get me revved up!

As we celebrate Christmas in a few days, whether it’s movies or songs, or being with family, that help you capture the joy of the season, I hope you have a safe and fun day Dec. 25.