A soothing cup of hot chocolate, the annual hanging of stockings, and the early sprinkle of the first snowfall all mark the beginning of the merriest season of the year. Many warmly welcome Christmas and other winter holidays with a series of traditions that bring people together, making the holiday season one to look forward to. It’s no secret that one of the most iconic traditions for getting into the holiday spirit is having a holiday movie marathon.

To find out more behind the joy that holiday movies bring to the young generation, The Classic interviewed Harrisites on which holiday movie is #1 on their must-watch lists.

Sophomore Meshva Patel said “My favorite Christmas movie is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York because not only does it portray the joy of Christmas during your childhood, but it also highlights the wonder of Christmas in New York, which is recognized worldwide.”

Although universally beloved, the Home Alone film series is not the only Christmas movie that garners laughs. When asking junior Johnathan Prout about his favorite holiday movie, he said, “[It] has to be Elf. My mom and I used to watch it all the time, and it was just something I always loved.” He added that he would “watch The Muppet Christmas Carol anytime [because] it’s really funny; it’s a comfort movie.”

Sophomore Aurelia Liu said, “Christmas with the Kranks is my personal favorite holiday movie because it represents the true spirit of Christmas through elements such as seeing your family [and] decorations, and [it] puts emphasis on comradery and how getting together with people you love is what Christmas is truly about.”

Among these holiday movies, The Polar Express seems to be a Harrisite-favorite to watch. Freshman Kelly Vu said, “During the holidays, I like to watch The Polar Express because of its [music] soundtrack.” Similarly, senior Alex Cho expressed that The Polar Express remains a classic to him. “I would watch [The Polar Express] every year in elementary school…It brought a sense of nostalgia…There were points in the movie where I [wondered] ‘what’s going to happen next?!’ It’s just a very interesting movie.”

No matter how much time has passed since their release, these holiday films are immortalized in people’s hearts because of the nostalgia and joy they bring. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, if you’re in need of a little extra holiday joy, be sure to check out these suggestions.