By JENNA MCCASLIN
There are many holiday movies circling around in theaters or on streaming services. Yet, the question is which is better: the new or classic holiday movies? No matter what the answer is, the holidays are about family and cheer. Take time to snuggle up with some hot cocoa and family and try out all different types of movies for the holidays this season, classic or new.
Holiday movies have been around for a long time, with the first one releasing in 1898. It was a British short film according to Oldest.org titled Santa Claus. The newest one, which was released before the holiday season, occurred on Netflix called Best. Christmas. Ever! Overall, people’s favorites consisted more of classics. Wall Street Journal states that “most U.S. households still prefer decades-old Christmas movies,” like many students and teachers at Bellefonte High do.
Government teacher Mr. Edward Fitzgerald is more pleased by the classic things in life.
“I tend to enjoy the classic movies more. They invoke more memories and feelings,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
If he had to choose two, he would not be able to choose between two Christmas movies of the ‘70s.
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970), A Year without a Santa Claus (1974), a musical sing-along feast. What more does one want for the holidays?” He said.
Math teacher Mr. Jonathan Virgilio, along with Mr. Fitzgerald, enjoys the more retro movies when searching for a good watch during the holiday.
“I prefer the older movies because they remind me of childhood,” Mr. Virgilio said.
Like many others, Mr. Virgilio likes to spend the holidays with his family and enjoy the old holiday movies that bring him many memories.
“Every year my siblings and I would watch A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve before bed. We would change into our pajamas, eat popcorn, and watch the movie around the fire.”
Senior Isaac Gearhart, is another fan of the older holiday movies, but he also enjoys a few new ones as well.
“I prefer older Christmas movies better, but there are some good new Christmas movies. Older movies are always a classic and you don’t hear about the bad ones, so it’s a pretty good chance of getting a good movie,” Isaac said.
He has favorites ranging from new to more vintage movies, with one being from 1993, while the other recently released in 2022.
“My favorite is probably Nightmare Before Christmas for old and honorable mention Violent Night as a newer one.”
Senior Leo McKean, watches holiday movies as a tradition with his family.
“I prefer old Christmas movies. I grew up watching those movies and it’s just tradition at my house to watch the same older movies. A lot of these movies are also my dad’s favorite movies, it’s the one time of the year when he gets really excited about holiday movies so we all like to enjoy them together since it makes him happy,” Leo said.
Leo and his father bond during the holidays, watching the seasonal movies together, sharing lots of laughs. These classical movies help to strengthen the cheer during the holiday break from school.
“My favorite Christmas movie has to either be National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation or A Christmas Story. Both of these movies are also my dad’s favorites and it’s something we bonded over, they’re also oddly relatable, which is why we both like them so much besides being funny as well.”
Students and faculty seem to overall enjoy the older holiday movies, over new ones during the holiday season. The joy and cheer being shared as a family through all the classic movies is cherished by many in the school, and our community.
