The Best Non-Festive Christmas Films

Isn't Christmas the most nostalgic time of year? Memories of past Christmasses seem to serve better feelings than the actual events, and the phrase 'It doesn't feel like Christmas' crops up all too often for my liking. Christmas is what you make it - it isn't the same every year, but I think that's what makes it so special. I find it fascinating how in love so many people are with this time of year. It is around now that I think about all the Christmasses stowed away in my memory. From the most magical, loved up Christmas in 2011, to all my childhood Christmasses in Dover, and angst filled teenage years spent in the yellow house I am back in now with my parents, the good always outweighs the bad and my love for this time of year never diminishes.

One thing remains constant every year, and that is The Radio Times Christmas edition. As soon as it comes out, my mum buys a copy and it makes its way around the house. Each of us exclaim at what films are showing this year, and the excitement has not faded over the years. When I was little, I used to record my favourites on video for a later date. Below are the four non-Christmas films I remember being my favourites at Christmas. Funnily enough, I still love them all today, and make a habit of watching them every year at Christmas time to relive childhood memories, because nostalgia is fantastic. Going back to another time, another place, another person. Relishing in memories is one of the greatest pleasures we have in life.

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Uncle Buck is one of my dad's favourite films and we watch it every year. It's always better watching a film like this with someone else, rather than on your own. It is utterly ridiculous - kidnapping evil boyfriends in the back of his car, making giant pancakes for breakfast, John Candy is fantastically hilarious and every time I watch it I am saddened that he is no longer around.

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Matilda has been my favourite film of all time from the day I saw it at the cinema, aged just four. Seemingly every year after that it was on TV and every year I taped it... and every year it got taped over and I was devastated. Fortunately, one year my Uncle Andrew gave it to me on video and then while at University I bought it on DVD. Unfortunately I have since lost both... I am awful. I keep meaning to buy another copy of this fantastic film as it is rare that I see it on TV anymore, and it always reminds me of watching it at Christmas time. The soundtrack, Mara Wilson, Miss Honey, Bruce Bogtrotter's cake scene all bring timeless entertainment and joy. I know a lot of people think the musical is great - and I agree - but the film is so much better.

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Beethoven and Beethoven's 2nd are kind of brilliant in how awful they are. They serve a dose of my childhood when I, for some reason, loved these two films and, like Matilda, had to tape them every year. I bought them on DVD last summer and of course they were no where near as good as I remembered, but for a lazy snuggle Sunday these make for great easy watching and make me want a puppy really really bad.

Are there any staple non-Christmas Christmas films you just have to watch every year? I love how every year creates new memories for future Christmasses, and films play such a big part in that.