Every year it seems as though the holiday season begins earlier. You start to see holiday decorations in stores before Halloween comes, then usually two weeks before Thanksgiving peoples' houses are already aglow with lights. Some people just have that natural cheer, while others it may take until Winter Break to get into the holiday knack. Here's your chance to liven up your holiday spirit with these winter favorites.
Your Top Ten Holiday Movies
1. Home Alone I
2. The Santa Clause
3. The Grinch
4. The Nightmare before Christmas
5. Charlie Brown Christmas
6. Miracle on 34th Street
7. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
8. The Christmas Carol
9. A Christmas Story
10. It's a Wonderful Life
Your Top Ten Holiday Albums
1. �Home for Christmas� by NSYNC
2. �Merry Christmas� by Mariah Carey
3. �This Christmas� by 98 Degrees
4. �8 Days of Christmas� by Destiny's Child
5. �A Chipmunk Christmas� by The Chipmunks
6. �MTV: TRL Christmas� by Various Artists
7. �Now Christmas� by Various Artists
8. �Platinum Christmas� by Various Artists
9. �Merry Christmas & Happy New Year� by Jimi Hendrix
10. �A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra� by Frank Sinatra
Holiday Websites to Visit
1. Christmas.com - Features Christmas links, recipes, crafts, games, news, and the Top Christmas Gifts Lists.
2. Holiday MIDIs and Screensavers - Has holiday screensavers that you can download.
3. Chanukah on the Net - Features games, stories, recipes, music, gift ideas, screensavers, and printable wrapping paper.
4. Khadija�s Kwanzaa Page - Has the days and symbols of Kwanzaa, activities, and much more.
Holiday Light Displays
1. 20360 NW Fourth St. (western Pembroke Pines; Pines Boulevard to Northwest 202nd Avenue; turn north on 202nd Avenue, take the first left to Pasadena Estates and turn right on Northwest Fourth Street.) Have about 40,000 lights and several handmade wooden decorations, some of which are life-size.
2. 1910 N. Hiatus Road (Taft Street to Hiatus Road, then North on Hiatus.) A neighborhood tour that consists of several blocks of lights and decorations. This extravaganza attracts crowds each year.
3. 8260 NW 15th Court (Go south on University Drive, turn west on to Northwest 15th Court, and go one to two blocks.) Consists of six homeowners who decorate their houses for the holidays. Visitors will see thousands of lights and dozens of yard displays. Many of the wooden, painted characters are handmade. Also check out the Santa with alligators pulling his sleigh, displayed on a neighbor's roof.
4. 11734 SW 53rd Court. (Stirling Road to Southwest 118th Avenue, then north to 53rd Place. Turn right, go one block and turn left on 117th Terrace.) Adults as well as children love the train village setup and a village that is surrounded by more than 50 illuminated figures and 20,000 lights. Scripture verses and a plaque explain the meaning of Christmas.
5. 2080 SW 151st Terrace (western Davie; Interstate 595 to 136th Avenue, then south on 136th Avenue south to 14th Street and then west to 145th Avenue. From 145th Avenue, go south to 20th Street and west to the end of 151st Terrace.) Have about 20,000 lights, an illuminated Christmas tree, and two-dozen lawn ornaments, including a life-size manger scene.
Prime-Time Holiday Specials
December 14th
-The Christmas Secret, 8pm (CBS)
-Disney Christmas Gift, 7pm (FAM)
-The Santa Claus Brothers, 8pm (DIS)
-A Different Kind of Christmas, 8pm (ABC Family)
-Call me Claus, 9pm (TNT)
-Rudolph's Shiny New Year, 10pm (ABC Family)
-Jack Frost, 11pm (TNT)
December 15th
-National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 8 pm (NBC)
-The Story of Santa Claus, 8 pm (CBS)
-A Christmas Story, 4pm (TCM)
-Annabelle's Wish, 4pm (ABC Family)
-Bing Crosby Christmas, 5pm (BRAVO)
-Flintstone's Christmas Carol, 7pm (TOON)
-Scrooged, 10 pm (TNT)
December 16th
-Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too!, 7pm (ABC)
-A Town Without Christmas, 9pm (CBS)
-A Diva's Christmas Carol, 5pm (VH1)
-Call Me Claus, 6pm (TNT)
-Charlie Brown Christmas, 8pm (ABC)
-Malcom in the Middle, 8:30pm (FOX)
-Home Alone: 2 Lost in New York, 9pm (A&E)
-A Christmas Carol, 9pm (FAM)
-Candid Camera Christmas, 10pm (PAXTV)
December 17th
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7pm (TOON)
-Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, 7pm (DIS)
-'Twas the Night, 7:30 (HBO)
-Call Me Claus, 8 pm (TNT)
-Santa, Baby, 8pm (FOX)
-Miracle on 34th Street, 9pm (ABC Family)
-Yes, Dear, 9:30 pm (CBS)
December 18th
-The Little Drummer Boy, Book II, 6 pm (ABC Family)
-Jack Frost, 7 pm (ABC Family)
-MGM Parade, 7:30 (TCM)
-Nutcracker on Ice, 8pm (GTV)
-Prancer, 8pm (USA)
-It Nearly Wasn't Christmas, 9pm (DIS)
December 19th
-Sons of Mistletoe, 9pm (CBS)
-'Twas the Night, 8pm (DIS)
-White House Christmas 2001, pm (HGTV)
-A Christmas Story, 9pm (TBS)
December 20th
-'Twas the Night Before Christmas, 8:30pm (ABC Family)
December 21st
-Home for the Holidays with Mariah Carey, 8pm (CBS)
December 23rd
-The Snowman, 4:30pm (ABC Family)
December 25th
-Home Alone 3, 8pm (FOX)
December 31st
-Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, 11:35pm (ABC)
*Every day the Holiday TV Specials are updated. So, for an updated list on days Dec. 20th through the 31st go to TV Guide Online � Holiday Guide.
Holiday Charity Organizations
With the holidays approaching, local charities and organizations have begun annual efforts to ensure holiday cheer is spread to people of modest or no means. These wonderful organizations help thousands of needy people each holiday season and some year-round. Whether giving a basket of food to a family for Christmas or handing a child a shiny new bicycle from Santa, dedicated organizers and volunteers fill voids created by unemployment, sickness and many other woes, some self-inflicted. Without their efforts, the holidays would be just another couple of months out of the year for children and others who have no control of their current situations. For these dedicated volunteers to succeed, they depend on us, a generous public. So remember, going without a pizza and a blockbuster movie one week could enable a child to get a simple new toy. Some of these charitable organizations include:
1. Toys for Tots (For more information go to the Toys for Tots Homepage
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