Does your other half not get Christmas? No more celebrating this season on your own! For all those Yuletide lovers with a partner unaware or uncaring for this holiday, here you’ll find the three basic Dos and Don’ts to succeed in enjoying Christmas with them.

Quick background:

As a Spanish woman, Christmas has been a tradition I’ve celebrated since I was little. Having a Chinese partner, I am faced for the first time with introducing someone to the concept of Christmas for the first time. What fun!☃️ Also, ngl, what a challenge!😫

So I thought I would share the findings of my multiple experiments with you as a guide in case you are ever faced with my situation. As usual, films will be your best allies😉

Now that you know why and how I know this works, let’s get into it, shall we?

Don’ts of the season

Hallmark movies

Do not, I mean, DO NOT start with Hallmark movies. It doesn’t matter if they are Hallmark, or Netflix or any other company, as a Christmas lover you know the type of movies I’m talking about.

They are great, they are ridiculously sweet, fun, and sparkly, especially when you have had too much eggnog, but they are way too much for anyone not used to Yule time. Like, WAAAAAY too much.

If you haven’t watched any sort of Christmas content before, you are not aware of the concept of accepting utter nonsense for the sake of the season. Therefore, you don’t enjoy it. You are too grounded in reality, and the incredible amount of impossible things that go on in those films might be overwhelming, provoking the opposite reaction of what you’re trying to achieve.

Christmas as a background

While starting with movies that don’t saturate with Christmas is a wise choice, beware of going too far.

I had never seen Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) before, and I heard that it was a fun Christmas movie, so I thought why not. It’s got a nice cast and looks promising. BIG MISTAKE.  Yes, part of it is at the end of December, but it has nothing to do with the plot whatsoever. There is barely any mention of the holiday, and it has aged quite poorly.

Beware, not because it happens during December, does it make it a Christmas movie. If you are going to put on a Christmas movie that only uses Christmas as a background, be mindful of using a film that will actually make sense.

First of all, take into consideration the genre your partner likes, for example, if your partner loves sci-fi, try something like Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). If they like action movies, Die Hard (1988) would be a great choice to very slowly start introducing Christmas.

I know what you’re thinking, but if it happens during Christmas Eve, the season is referenced a lot, and one of the main quotes of the movie is Santa related, thus it IS a Christmas movie. I don’t care what Bruce Willis said.

Films for kids

Unless your partner is in touch with their childish self, don’t bother.

Some people are too serious or have a hard time channelling their kid self. If you introduce these festivities with a children’s story, even if it is also directed to adults, it won’t leave much of an impression. The best example I can give is How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).

I consider this film to be one of the best Christmas movies ever. Sadly, for someone who doesn’t have much experience with the celebration, it can get quite boring since the message directed to adults gets pretty much lost. There is no recognition, so there is no interest.

It can be tricky, but if you’re really set on film from your childhood and your partner is more on the serious side, try to make an occasion out of it. For further information on how, check out the Do’s section!

Dos of the season

Mix and match

As I mentioned before, choosing a film that doesn’t have Christmas front and centre, but rather as a silent addition, can work in your favour.

Get a film that doesn’t shove Xmas down your throat, a film that actually tells a story instead of just showcasing tacky traditions and no substance.

After some years, when they already know what Christmas is about and some of the activities that it can involve, then it will be the time for those movies. Patience is key in this case, I’m afraid. Like I said before, recognition is crucial for interest.

Avoid romcom

Obviously, this doesn’t apply to everybody, but it is still important to be aware of it: Christmas movies are more often than not romcoms, and that’s good, but not for everyone.

Think outside the box. If your partner is not too fond of this winter celebration, romance films about the season might be waaay too sweet for their taste. To help them acclimate to the Yuletide, choose a different genre, maybe action or thriller, even a slasher like Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022) if that’s more their jam.

Christmas can still be front and centre, but this change of pace will help them see the season through a lens they are comfortable with and can enjoy. It’s all about connecting something they love with something you love. Remember, it’s not about shooting them up with Christmas, it’s about helping them find which part of the season they resonate with so they can add their own thing and enjoy these weeks with you.

Make it an experience!

My forever trick for everything movies: make it an experience. How? You may be wondering, it’s easy!

Think about it this way: watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) is great, but watching it while drinking butter beer and eating popcorn of various flavours, chocolate frogs and treacle tart is so much better!

The same can be applied for any film you want to create a special occasion around. There are loads of easy themed recipes for most films and, if you want some personal advice, don’t hesitate to contact me through the comments section below or DM me on Instagram!

Creating a whole experience out of it doesn’t only enhance the viewing and create special memories, it can completely change how you feel about a film. I still remember watching The Martian (2015) for the first time with a feast of potato-based plates, and I don’t remember having that much fun watching an astronaut’s film ever! (Bear in mind, anything astronauts usually puts me to sleep)

Remember when I talked about childhoods?

An event like that can also help your partner connect with his child self. Get some candy or make milkshakes or hot cocoa. Cosy up on the couch and leave the phones far, far away. You’ll see how everything changes drastically.

Of course, the choice of food depends on the person and their background. Just try to bring back some of that childhood feeling, however it fits best to your partner’s bringing up. And don’t forget to leave the phones out of the experience. That’s a big, BIG must.

I hope these tips help you, your partner, friend or family member find their own version of Christmas and that you will be able to enjoy the season with your loved ones in a way that makes you most happy!

If you have any questions or advice you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀

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