As Christmas approaches, families embrace the holiday spirit with festive traditions like decorating the tree or building a snowman. One of the most cherished activities is gathering in a warm living room to watch holiday movies together—classic favorites like Home Alone and Elf are always at the top of the list. But there are also lesser-known hidden gems worth enjoying during the holidays.

Alongside these holiday classics, students at East have their own favorites that they enjoy every year

Mason Van Denand, a junior here at East, prefers light-hearted family movies for their humor, wholesome messages, and nostalgia.

“Home Alone is my favorite because it’s entertaining. I think all of the traps and antics make it a fun and family-friendly experience,” Van Denand remarked.

Home Alone is the most popular movie, with Elf being the 2nd most voted. There are plenty of other movies that are less popular but still have their own Christmas charm.

Julia Robb, a freshman at East enjoys Christmas classics.

“It’s a Wonderful Life because even though it’s a Christmas movie and obviously has holiday magic, it also has deeper meanings and an amazing plotline that could stand alone without it being about Christmas,” Robb said.

Every Christmas movie has its charm and people who enjoy them. Whether it’s timeless classics or new films, each story brings something special to the holiday season. The favorites are part of the celebration, getting people in the holiday spirit.

Written by junior Nicholas Reingold and senior Ethan Lin. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.