Happy Anniversary!

December 2014 is a big month as far as classic holiday movies go – in the past three weeks alone, four longtime favorites marked some pretty major milestones in longevity.

In honor of this festive season, let’s take a look at some of the movies celebrating the anniversary of their debuts this month:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

50 Years

It was Dec. 6, 1964 when this 47-minute TV short, about a misfit reindeer and his friends on the lookout for a place that will accept them, debuted on CBS. Narrated by Burl Ives (as Sam the Snowman), this stop motion animation film is the longest running Christmas TV special in history. In the words of Burl Ives, “How do you measure its worth? Just by the pleasure it gives here on Earth.”

Frosty the Snowman

45 Years

Just five years and one day after Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer taught us that what makes you different can (eventually) help you fit in, an animated, talking snowman by the name of “Frosty” debuted on CBS. It was adapted and expanded for television by veteran writer Romeo Muller (who did the same with Rudolph) and follows the story of a group of young schoolchildren who place a magic hat on a snowman they built, only for the snowman to burst to life and proclaim, “Happy birthday!” TV Guide has rated Frosty the Snowman as No. 4 on its 10 Best Family Holiday Specials list.

The Year Without A Santa Claus

40 Years

The most tragic thought to children everywhere came out in movie form on ABC on Dec. 10, 1974 with The Year Without A Santa Claus, reminding us all of the importance of spreading Christmas cheer in the weeks leading up to Santa’s big day. This one is especially fun with the introduction to the Miser Brothers (Heat and Snow) and their mother, Mother Nature. It’s also nice to see Santa be given some good Christmas cheer when all the world’s children make him presents. And who doesn’t get a little nostalgic when they hear the young girl’s rendition of “Blue Christmas?”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

25 Years

It’s been 25 years since the world was introduced to the third installment of the National Lampoon’s Vacation film series – this one follows the Griswolds attempt at having a “good old-fashioned family Christmas.” It has been hailed a modern Christmas classic and for good reason – I can’t recall any other Christmas classic whose audience-favorite scene is of a cat chewing on a light cord and being electrocuted.

Let’s wish all of these fantastic holiday favorites a happy anniversary and best wishes for many years to come!