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All I Want in a Christmas Story

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Raise your hand if you’ve already watched a Christmas movie this year?? Raise your hand if you’ve already watched five?

Aren’t Christmas movies the best? I’ll be honest, I don’t watch a lot of romance movies during the year. Mostly because if I’m watching something it’s either with my kids or my husband. My kids obviously aren’t begging for romance stories, and even though my husband will sit through them, we usually try to pick something we’ll both enjoy. 

But come Christmas, it’s all about those Christmas romance movies! And yes, we laugh at how we know how they will end, and sometimes poke fun at the cheesiness, but we’re still going to watch them!

There are a few things that make those movies worth watching over and over, and they’re the same things we look for in Christmas books. When I starting writing Christmas stories, I knew that there were elements I had to include. 

 

Here are just a few of the things I want in a Christmas story:

 

1 – Decorating the Christmas tree!

What would a Christmas story be without a tree? In “Billionaire Under The Mistletoe”, Abi finds out Stewart doesn’t even have a tree and demands they put one in his office. Of course, sparks fly under the twinkle lights! 

2 – A “Scrooge” or “Grinch” character.

I love watching the grumpy character who’s not excited about the holiday change his tune when love changes his heart. In “Billionaire at the Christmas Inn,” Logan would rather skip right over Christmas, but fortunately, Eva convinces him to join in the celebration. 

3 – Community event.

Whether it’s a festival, a Christmas dance, or a bake sale, the community plays an important part in a Christmas story. In the town of Freedom Ridge, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony is the town’s official start to the holiday season. 

4 – A Christmas tradition.

Maybe the characters drive around and look at Christmas lights, or have a Christmas movie marathon. There are family traditions both serious and silly. But traditions – whether old or new – are a big part of the holiday season. 

5 – A happily ever after at Christmas!

Of course, all romance stories need a happy ending, but for a Christmas story, that magical moment where the couple reunites just in time for Christmas is the whipped cream on top of the hot chocolate. 

 

Those are just a few of my favorite things, I’m sure there are more!

What are your “must-haves” in a Christmas story?? 

Hannah Jo Abbott (12 Posts)

Hannah Jo Abbott is a wife, a mom of four, a homeschool teacher, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. She loves writing stories about life, love, and the grace of God. She finds inspiration and encouragement from reading the stories others share. Hannah lives with her husband and children in Sweet Home Alabama.


Comments

  2. Hi Hannah! A few Christmas traditions that I would love seeing in a Christmas story is a Christmas cookie exchange. One way for busy women to get a variety of cookies in their homes. Everybody brings 3 to 4 dozen of their favorite cookies, along with the recipe. One dozen for eating and the rest for sharing. The cookies are put out and folks take home several dozen for their families. One local church a cookie exchange as their holiday bazaar fund raiser for missions. One could pick cookies and paid by the pound. My most favorite Christmas tradition is a Candlelight Carol Christmas Eve service. Singing carols with the reading of the Christmas story and ending with the lights off / only candles to sing Silent Night. Always brings tears to my eyes.

    As a German, we do NOT decorate the tree as a family. German tradition the tree is decorate privately by mom – then the kids see the splendor of the tree lit. It used to be on Christmas Eve, but in our family St. Nicholas decorates the tree on December 6. St. Nicholas Day. Best wishes.

  3. It has to have the REAL Christmas story in it, or I’m not happy!! It can be a children’s play, or whatever, but the REAL story has to be told!!

  4. I think every Christmas story should have a mistletoe moment, that swoony moment when the lead characters are forced to confront their feelings for each other and decide whether they’ll kiss or not.

  5. I love finding #2 in Christmas books. :) But my must-haves are more along the lines of community events, like a Christmas parade, or Christmas traditions, like baking cookies or having a quiet moment with a cup of hot cocoa gazing at the Christmas tree with its twinkling lights.

  6. I like when they have Christmas plays with the children in books.also should have misletoe moments.

  13. I have not yet watched Christmas movies (unless you count Disney type ones for the grand-girl). I have to admit, I am not a real big fan of Hallmark ones (I know, I know!). I do have maybe two I watch because they are based off of CF books I’ve read. Denise Hunter’s “A December Bride” is one I do enjoy over & over again. Plus, my husband refuses to watch what rare one that I do find interesting…so there’s that! Since we only have one TV, I can’t go to another room to watch :-)

    Though there are movies we do watch every year; George C. Scott’s version of “A Christmas Carol”, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street & the original animated Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Then we like the old fashioned Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, etc….you know, the one they made out of clay (?) and was in the 50’s or so.

    I think what I like best, is character redemption as seen in the Grinch & Scrooge. That’s also the type of stories I like to read best!

  14. Hi, Hannah! You’ve got me pondering. What about having a character who is totally brand new to Christmas. Perhaps he or she grew up in an anti-faith household and now they are seeing the world on their own for the first time. Every tradition is now seen through totally new eyes. The central story of Christ brought to the forefront and met with “Why?”

    “Don’t all the presents cost a lot? Isn’t that a waste of money?”

    “Why a tree? Wouldn’t a table or a hanging decoration be just as good?”

    “What’s so special about this Jesus? He’s a baby like all the others, right?”

    “For me? Why would you get me a present? I don’t really understand all this stuff.”

    “It sure seems like there are plenty of songs to go along with all this. Do you really know all the words?”

    I guess this boils down to the idea that I enjoy a true sense of wonder for my Christmas stories.

    Merry, Wonderful Christmas!

  15. I enjoy the easiness of the stories. They seem to be more laid back than my life seems to be during the holidays. They sugar coat the stress and tension that can occur in family dynamics. It is a time forlightness, laughter and kindness. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.

  17. I like some Jesus in a Christmas story which is what I love about Inspy Romance Christmas books.. Sometimes movies on Uptv or Pixl weave that in. I’ve been thinking about getting Pureflix, but I saw some on demand movies on Dove that I haven’t watched yet. Not sure about Christmas movies on the last two though. I’ve watched over a dozen Christmas movies and have at least 30 recorded. We have a sunroom next to my office with a TV. I sit in there and watch movies and work on my jigsaw puzzle.

  20. I am late I lost count of the movies I have already watched but its well over 20.

    I have had one or two I quite cos the character was too intense and not at all into Christmas and I know it will change but her attitude at the beginning was so annoying. I did look at the reviews of both I didn’t watch more of and didn’t find one review over 5 stars (they go to 10 stars) Not even die hard Hallmark channel reviewers gave it the 10 stars so figured I would move on.

    I like a scrooge type character to at least have something that makes you want to cheer for them. Some have been intense and work focused but still had something. I do like the decorations. I like carols too. Right now I really want to watch some old fashioned Christmas movies not just the newer contemporary ones. Snow is nice but not needed. Would actually like to see some set somewhere else

  21. Hannah

    I just love your books. The faith and family series is my favorite so far and may reread it again. Have you heard of Karen Kingsbury? She is another one of my favorite authers. I also love the Christmas season of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.

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