Most people have some favorite holiday movies they watch every year. Even if it's not an official "tradition," they usually end up catching them on TV or throwing in the DVD once a season. And there are a lot to choose from -- everything from classics like Christmas in Connecticut to modern "classics," like Nightmare Before Christmas, romantic comedies, even horror flicks (some of those are my favorites, particularly Silent Night, Deadly Night and Black Christmas).

And one of these modern-day classics that has to be on just about everyone's list is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's so popular, in fact, a new site is selling custom-made Melk Mugs" based on the movie! In general, I don't much care for Chevy Chase (even though he really impressed me on that Law & Order episode last week!), but I do love his Griswold character.

I think my favorite part of this movie is when the icicle smashes through the window and destroys the neighbor's house. It's just too crazy because they have no idea how it happened (the icicle melted) and it seems exactly like something that would happen to me -- especially if I lived anywhere near a family like the Griswolds.

An old friend of mine and his family had a tradition of watching The Santa Clause every year, without fail. I am trying to start one with that Macauley Culkin movie, Home Alone, but I started it last year and left the thing at someone else's house! I'm not that good with traditions, anyway; I'm a loner, Dottie, a rebel.