Today’s Film: Die Hard
The debate on whether this qualifies as a Christmas movie has been raging almost since it came out in 1988. However, I definitely say “yes, it is”. We have already featured films in this calendar that some would not count as a Christmas movie but if it is a film that many people watch deliberately during the holidays then it counts! John McClane has traveled to Los Angeles to reunited with his estranged wife, Holly, for Christmas but Holly’s work Christmas party becomes a hostage situation when an armed group of men break into Nakatomi Plaza. It is up to John to save the day, beat the bad guys, and free the hostages. The excellently executed action scenes and on point acting are what makes this film the close-to-perfect action film, especially the performances of Bruce Willis as John McClane and Alan Rickman and the devious Hans Gruber. Whether you think it is a Christmas movie or not, it is definitely worth a watch.
Today’s Tradition: The Advent Wreath, Global
One of the most symbolic and visually striking aspects of Advent is the lighting of the Advent wreath, which consists of a circular arrangement of evergreen branches with five candles. Each candle represents a different aspect of the spiritual journey leading up to the Nativity of Christ. Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Christ. A candle is lit each Sunday during advent and the final candle is lit on Christmas morning.
