Friends, 2025 has been a challenging year — and, while no one can know what the future holds, it’s doubtful that 2026 will take its foot off the brake, either.
The uncertainty can make it hard to surrender oneself to the holiday cheer this time of year requires. Here are a few of my favorite things for setting the merry mood …
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Apple TV has this locked away on their content platform for now, but for decades it was a broadcast TV holiday staple. Nothing sets the merry mood better than Vince Guaraldi’s iconic jazz-piano score.
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
As huge DuckTales fans, my family cherishes the “Christmas: Impossible” segment of this festive anthology. https://amzn.to/3XZzj1V
Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic (2017)
It’s weird, but this nearly 20-year-old special starring Whoopi Goldberg really gets us in the holiday mood.
The Real Story of Christmas
I used to watch this religiously (haha) on the History channel every year, over and over on my DVR, before I found it on YouTube, where I have it on in the background this time of year.
Bonus: The Real Story of Halloween
Spooky goodness.
