As Christmas nears, Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” is here, aka the best part of the season. This popular, month-long celebration of Christmas programming involves many of the best holiday shows and movies. While Freeform doesn’t have every Christmas movie and special on its channel, it still has many good ones.
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Watching the “25 Days of Christmas” trumps getting presents, giving gifts and singing Christmas songs. I have waited for this since last Christmas and am unbelievably excited. Here are the must-see top three from this year’s schedule:

3. The Polar Express (2004)
In this movie, Tom Hanks plays the Conductor, Hobo, Father, Santa Claus, Scrooge and Hero Boy. This animated movie delves into what it means to believe and leaves me wanting to be optimistic and never stop believing. As an added bonus, the animation is superbly done, making viewers feel like they are really on the Polar Express heading to the North Pole. In second grade my teacher set up our classroom like the Polar Express with hot chocolate, cementing my love for the movie. As a child all I wanted to do was go on the Polar Express, and watching this movie gave me that experience.

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
This is the epitome of a funny and crazy Christmas movie. Although an oldie, it never fails to make generations of families cackle as they crowd around the TV. It follows the Griswold family and their Christmas, which inevitably ends in disaster. This is mostly because of Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase). He tries so hard to have a pristine and perfect Christmas, but whatever he does, disaster follows. Anyone who’s ever tried desperately to make a holiday work, only to see it fall short of expectations, can relate. This movie is slotted number two because of its relatability and connection to different generations.

1. Elf (2003)
Topping the list at number one is Elf, adored by everyone. This movie follows Buddy the elf (played by Will Ferrell), who is really a human. At 6-foot-4, Buddy feels like he does not  fit in with the elves in the North Pole, so he travels to New York City to look for his biological father (James Caan). In a series of antics and hardships, Buddy ends up saving Christmas and finding love in a department store to boot. While it’s corny and cute, it also leaves you with the message that anything can happen. The movie is just so pure and wholesome that it makes you want to put maple syrup on all of your spaghetti, ultimately making it number one.
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