I'm a new subscriber, so just seeing this post... but must say that my family watches LOTR (extended edition) every Christmas season! Usually between Christmas and New Year's... Love this post and will revisit it in six months!
Yes! Every time is the right time to watch LOTR, but there's something extra special about the Christmas season! Glad you enjoyed it now and will revisit it soon haha
YES!!! Add in his references to the season in his personal letters as more evidence. Obviously JRRT was a man who loved and honored Christmas traditions, both secular and religious..
Haha, I like it! I know that some of the reasons transfer over: Both Hoth and Starkiller Base have plenty of snow, the sequel trilogy was released in December (don't know off the top of my head when the OT and prequels we're released...May?). But others not so much: songs for instance, or elves. But I'm sure you could come up with other reasons they work as Christmas movies to bolster the argument.
Well, we have an old man with a white beard (Obi Wan Kenobi) who gives Luke gifts (lightsaber), lots of trees (Endor, Starkiller Base, etc), time to marathon, The Jedi function a lot like elves narrative wise, we have the galaxy’s saviors being born in Revenge of the Sith, I’m sure there are more
Along with the movies released in December, the speciality box set DVDs with the limited edition figures were released the year after. Got them as a gift every Christmas from 2002-2005. Makes it a Christmas movie for me!
The One Ring was cast into the Crack of Mount Doom and destroyed by Frodo and Sam on March 25, T.A. 3019. That anticipates and foreshadows the Annunciation, the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Feast of which is March 25th, nine months before the Nativity. I’ve always argued that the Annunciation ought to be the primal feast of the year, greater than either the feast of the Nativity or Resurrection , because in the Blessed Virgin’s “fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” the treachery of Eve was undone, and the salvation of mankind ensured. And that’s the most “Christmasy” thing ever, indeed.
Thank you for your careful dedicated scholarship on this critical issue. This will definitely be the essential starting point for all future discussions on the topic!
I feel like I just found my people :-) Can't wait to rewatch the series this holiday season. I didn't even know there was an appendix to the books, and that is super interesting to know about their departure on Christmas Day!
Thank you! My husband is all “December 25 isn’t in the text or movie” but you delivered the goods! We’ve watched all three LOTR movies in one day … the extended director’s cut versions, as part of our New Year’s Day celebrations.
I expected just a few silly reasons but as the list went on, slowly became actually convinced that it really does qualify.
Haha, my plan is working!
I'm a new subscriber, so just seeing this post... but must say that my family watches LOTR (extended edition) every Christmas season! Usually between Christmas and New Year's... Love this post and will revisit it in six months!
Yes! Every time is the right time to watch LOTR, but there's something extra special about the Christmas season! Glad you enjoyed it now and will revisit it soon haha
Another Tolkien-Santa connection: J.R.R. also wrote "Letters From Father Christmas" about the jolly old man.
YES!!! Add in his references to the season in his personal letters as more evidence. Obviously JRRT was a man who loved and honored Christmas traditions, both secular and religious..
I would like to propose for similar reasons that Star Wars is also a Christmas move
Haha, I like it! I know that some of the reasons transfer over: Both Hoth and Starkiller Base have plenty of snow, the sequel trilogy was released in December (don't know off the top of my head when the OT and prequels we're released...May?). But others not so much: songs for instance, or elves. But I'm sure you could come up with other reasons they work as Christmas movies to bolster the argument.
Well, we have an old man with a white beard (Obi Wan Kenobi) who gives Luke gifts (lightsaber), lots of trees (Endor, Starkiller Base, etc), time to marathon, The Jedi function a lot like elves narrative wise, we have the galaxy’s saviors being born in Revenge of the Sith, I’m sure there are more
May. ✅
T
10 is kind of the big reason :D
So you’re positing Gandalf AND Sauron as Santa Claus figures? 😆
The story has multiple Christ-figures (Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo), so why not multiple Santa-figures? 😂
Why hasn't anyone compiled this list yet? You're the best person to do it, anyway ✨
I don't know! I've seen shorter lists, but nothing quite as detailed. And thank you 😊
Along with the movies released in December, the speciality box set DVDs with the limited edition figures were released the year after. Got them as a gift every Christmas from 2002-2005. Makes it a Christmas movie for me!
Yes, that's a great one! Receiving those box sets as Christmas movies definitely ties the movies even closer to Christmas.
The One Ring was cast into the Crack of Mount Doom and destroyed by Frodo and Sam on March 25, T.A. 3019. That anticipates and foreshadows the Annunciation, the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Feast of which is March 25th, nine months before the Nativity. I’ve always argued that the Annunciation ought to be the primal feast of the year, greater than either the feast of the Nativity or Resurrection , because in the Blessed Virgin’s “fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” the treachery of Eve was undone, and the salvation of mankind ensured. And that’s the most “Christmasy” thing ever, indeed.
my good fellow, you have convinced me
I really enjoy the LOTR movies for Easter actually! Especially Return of the King
Thank you for your careful dedicated scholarship on this critical issue. This will definitely be the essential starting point for all future discussions on the topic!
Haha. Love the post!
I feel like I just found my people :-) Can't wait to rewatch the series this holiday season. I didn't even know there was an appendix to the books, and that is super interesting to know about their departure on Christmas Day!
Thank you! My husband is all “December 25 isn’t in the text or movie” but you delivered the goods! We’ve watched all three LOTR movies in one day … the extended director’s cut versions, as part of our New Year’s Day celebrations.
Of course the movies are Christmas movies!!!
It's time for a re-watch of all the extended editions.
Thanks for the reminder 😊🧝♀️🧝♂️🧙♂️🧙♂️
I watch them all every Christmas. And I mean both LOTR and Hobbit 😁 Of course it must be Extended Edition, other wise its criminal.