While most people only think of December 25 as the day George Washington crossed the Delaware, a minority celebrate a holiday called Christmas. “What is Christmas?” you may find yourself wondering. Christmas is a commercialized holiday celebrating consumerism and materialism with Christmas movies as the backbone of this most joyous holiday.

Here is a countdown of my top five favorite Christmas movies of all time:

5. The Polar Express

The Polar Express is one of the first Christmas movies I remember watching. It is now a tradition that my family does every year, so it holds a special place in my heart. It is a movie that encourages children to sneak out of bed at night, get on a train with strangers, and venture into the unknown, all while eating and drinking “magical” food and drinks on their way to visit a man who is “always watching”.

4. Home Alone

Home Alone exceeds my need to get into the Christmas spirit, but never fails to make me laugh. It’s one of those movies that I could watch at any time of the year, and that puts me in a good mood. There’s nothing that says Christmas more than a young boy being abandoned by his family who then has to fight for his life as two crazed criminals try to murder him. It’s a real thriller.

3. Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street has the perfect amount of cheesy Christmas stereotypes and classic holiday cheer to make me feel excited for the upcoming day. I love watching this because of its spirit of belief and hope. The movie starts with an intoxicated Santa impersonator and continues into trial focused on the real Santa’s insanity.    

2. It’s a Wonderful Life 

It’s a Wonderful Life almost doesn’t qualify as a Christmas movie, but I still love it. Most of the movie is about George Bailey finding himself, the only true Christmas scene is at the end when he goes home to the Christmas party. I consider it to be in the holiday spirit because it’s such a feel-good movie, but I know others will disagree and refuse to associate it with Christmas.

1. Iron Man 3

Picture this. The fire crackles. You’re snuggled up with friends and family on the couch. You’re enjoying hot chocolate and Christmas snacks. You’ve almost opened all of your gifts, only saving one for Christmas morning. You look over to see your sister, asleep on mom’s arm. You look back to the television screen and Iron Man 3 is playing, completing the perfect Christmas moment. In the beginning of Iron Man 3, Tony Stark practices putting his new suit on to “Jingle Bells.” As Stark’s house bursts into flames and is destroyed by the Mandarin, snowflakes slowly fall to the ground, creating a beautiful contrast of a warm fire on Christmas morning. The last scene, the last shot, is Stark making all of his suits explode as a Christmas gift to Pepper. Now, if that isn’t the true spirit of Christmas, I don’t know what is.