Today’s Film: A Christmas Story
Less well known in Britain, this film is a staple holiday flick in America. It follows a young boy, Ralphie, and his family through Christmas 1940. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is an Official Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle but is constantly rebuffed. “You’ll shoot your eye out kid.” The film is interspersed with vignettes of family life, including the father’s constant struggle to fix the boiler, and Ralphie’s friends daring him to lick an icy pole, with hilarious results. This film is full of Americana and nostalgia and is much loved around this time of year.
Today’s Tradition: Winterlude, Canada
Located in Ottawa, Winterlude is a three-week festival that celebrates winter with activities like ice skating on the Rideau Canal, snow sculptures, and various family-friendly events. It draws half a million visitors and showcases the beauty of winter in the capital.
