It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The time when we willingly succumb to mass-hallucination, and for one brief shining period we believe in the enduring strength of the human spirit. Concepts like peace and goodwill no longer seem like political rhetoric, but instead compel us to regain a mythologised compassion for our fellow man. Despite the fleeting nature of this illusion, for a few weeks in December we can believe it to be so. We can also believe that a fat old man in a flamboyant red suit is going to come down our chimney and leave gifts for us under a hewn pine tree. And for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the beginning of summer can seem like a time of snow, sleigh rides, open fires, and knitted jumpers bearing the image of reindeer.

In a modern secular society, people’s responses to the season range from cynicism, to nostalgia, to piousness (if only for a week or two). But cynicism or indifference is too easy. To fully buy into the illusion requires an investment in the cultural ephemera the season provides. Screen culture provides a wealth of content for this very purpose. Recurring themes of redemption, renewed faith and enlightenment make for some of the corniest, soppiest, most far-fetched texts ever produced. And is that not what Christmas is all about? Ebenezer Scrooge learned this the hard way. It may be humbug, but if we collectively will it into existence, it is as much a reflection of the Real as anything else in our perceived reality.

“Don’t you see? This is the one time of year we’re supposed to forget all the bad stuff; stop worrying and being sad about the state of the world and for just one day say, ‘Oh, to heck with it! Let’s sing and dance and bake cookies.’”

– Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo

CARLISLE CLAM AND HIS CHRISTMAS CREATURE – directed by Christian Simmons (2007)

“Oh, to heck with it!” sums it up nicely. When else do we get the opportunity to forget about our troubles and instead turn our focus to ancient rituals and celebrations of peace and renewal? Christian rhetoric surrounding “faith” aside, there is something to be said for not questioning Christmas too deeply. Carlisle Clam and His Christmas Creature is a cute fable about Christmas’ tenuous nature.

CHRISTMAS ON MARS – directed by Wayne Coyne, Bradley Beesley & George Salisbury (2008)

In an interview with Wayne Coyne about Christmas on Mars, he said “In the future I think people will think that The Flaming Lips invented Christmas.” And what a wonderful future that would be. Made over several years without any clear idea of what it was they were doing, the Lips’ managed to find the spirit of Christmas without even trying.

SANTA’S WORKSHOP – directed by Wilfred Jackson (Disney, 1932)

PLUTO’S CHRISTMAS TREE – directed by Jack Hannah (Disney, 1952)

I don’t know how it is today, but when I was little, December mornings were taken over by Christmas cartoons. I think they had more than a little to do with how worked up I used to get about Christmas. Everything always seemed so perfect – the snow, the presents, the Christmas tree. Food for the imagination. Disney’s 1932 short Santa’s Workshop has the jolliest Santa I’ve ever seen, and also some good ol’ early-century racism.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL – directed by Richard Williams (1971)

There are some canonical works that have unquestionably defined the way we understand the Christmas season. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is certainly one of them. Though made and re-made a hundred times over, Richard Williams’ superbly animated (if not a little stiffly voiced) version from 1971 is one of the best. It also features the freakiest incarnation of Jacob Marley ever.

ELF – directed by Jon Favreau (2003)

The Christmas movie is a harsh mistress. Of all the Christmas movies that are released each year, you’re lucky if one of them is worth watching. But when they hit the sweet spot, ooh wee! I have four films that I watch every year without fail: A Charlie Brown Christmas (dir. Bill Melendez, 1965), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (dir. Chuck Jones, 1965), It’s a Wonderful Life (dir. Frank Capra, 1946), and Elf.

THE JUNKY’S CHRISTMAS – directed by Nick Donkin & Melodie McDaniel (1993) based on the story by William S. Burroughs

Charles Dickens, The Flaming Lips, David Sedaris, William S. Burroughs – proof positive of Christmas’ broad appeal. This claymation version of Burroughs’ short story The Junky’s Christmas was produced by Francis Ford Coppola, and scored by Hal Willner and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. It follows Danny the Car Wiper fighting off junk sickness on a cold Christmas Day in New York, looking for a warm bed and his next fix. Bizarrely it appears to have been produced for VH1.

THE JOHNNY CASH CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1976-1979)

A COLBERT CHRISTMAS (2008)

The Colbert Report	Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
A Colbert Christmas: Preview – Jon Stewart
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL (1978)

The Christmas special seems to be a particularly American phenomenon, and something I wish I had the opportunity to see more of. Johnny Cash and his family singing Christmas carols on elaborate sets will beat Hi-5 and Ray Martin in the Bowl in any contest. Even Stephen Colbert has entered the fray. Star Wars’ legendary contribution is awesomely terrible, and their convoluted attempt to create a Christmas-like event unique to the Star Wars galaxy, Life Day, is fascinating. I think it would have been easier to simply supplant Jesus’ birth to Tatooine. Or better yet, install Luke Skywalker as the messiah.

Beverley Hills, 90210 – “It’s a Totally Happening Life” Season 3, Ep. 16 (1992)

Seth Cohen’s Chrismukkah rituals, Mr. Hankey emerging from Kyle Broflovski’s toilet, Bart Simpson first meeting Santa’s Little Helper – these scenes have become as important a fixture of Christmas as Jingle Bells or Christmas Pudding. A good Christmas episode can be as compelling as any Christmas film – sometimes more so, since we’re already attached to the characters. However, a Christmas episode only succeeds when they ask us to suspend disbelief, and dedicate the episode to the well-trodden theme of Christmas’ all-healing power. To simply have Christmas as a backdrop for a regular episode is to miss the point completely. Beverley Hills, 90210 provides us with a prime example of how to do it right.

CHRISTMAS EVE ON SESAME STREET – directed by Jon Stone (1978)

“We should reflect on the tender care we take of Father Christmas, the precautions and sacrifices we make to keep his prestige intact for the children. Is it not that, deep within us, there is a small desire to believe in boundless generosity, kindness without ulterior motives, a brief interlude during which all fear, envy, and bitterness are suspended? No doubt we cannot fully share the illusion, but sharing with others at least gives us a chance to warm our hearts by the flame that burns in young souls.”

– Claude Lévi-Strauss (Father Christmas Executed)