The 10 Best Christmas Specials

The temperatures are falling and soon the snow will be too. It is a wonderful time of year and to make sure your are at your jolliest, be sure you find out when the Christmas specials are showing. So make up a batch of hot chocolate and stir it with a candy cane if you like and enjoy these classic Christmas specials.

10. A Garfield Christmas: Everyone's favorite lasagna eating orange kitty goes for a holiday visit to Jon's family that includes his Grandma. Garfield and Grandma soon form a bond because they both curmudgeons, at least on the outside. Garfield winds up making a very special gift for Grandma that reveals a softer side of the cat.

9. The Simpson's Christmas Episode from season one: Though technically not a Christmas special this is my list and I think it deserves a spot. Christmas money is a little tight for the yellow clan and Homer is trying all he can think of to save Christmas. When his mall Santa job pays him only $13 he takes that money and heads to the dog track. This is where we are introduced to the family dog, Santa's Little Helper who Homer describes as, "He's a loser, he's pathetic, he's a Simpson."

8. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas: A twist on the ever popular Gift of the Magi, Ma and Emmet Otter each join the Frogtown Hollow talent contest to be able to buy each other Christmas gifts. With puppets and catchy songs like, There Ain't No Hole in the Washtub, this is sure to make a smile come across your face.

7. Yogi's First Christmas: Yogi Bear has always been one of my favorite cartoon characters so I was naturally drawn to this one. Yogi and Boo Boo are unable to hibernate like they usually do at Christmas. Seeing the festivities going on at Jellystone Lodge the two bears are eager to experience their first Christmas, but to do so the bears must thwart the treacherous plot of Herman the hermit and Snively. Will Yogi be able to save Christmas?

6. Twas the Night Before Christmas: The first of five Rankin/Bass productions to make the list it tells the story of a mouse named Albert who doesn't believe in Santa Claus. Albert has written a letter in the local paper and signed it All of Us. When Santa sees the paper he is miffed and everyone's letters to Santa from that town are returned. In an attempt to get back in the good graces of Santa the town decides to build a clock that will sing out to him when it strikes midnight of Christmas Eve. Problems arise when Albert's curiosity leads him to check out the clock and eventually break it. Seeing how the broken clock saddens the town Albert tries to make thing right and fix the clock, but can he do it in time?

5. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town: This one answers all the questions you ever had about Santa Claus, but didn't know who to ask. It all begins in Sombertown, where a baby with a tag of Claus is left on the doorstep of the leader Burgermeister Meisterburger. He orders the baby to be taken to the orphanage, but on the way a wind blows away the baby. The baby is found and taken in by a toy making family named the Kringles and they name the baby Kris. Later Kris runs afoul of the law when he tries to bring toys to Sombertown which recently banned them. With great songs like Put One Foot in Front of the Other, you'll be singing along in no time.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: Dr. Seuss at his best, with the masterful voice of Boris Karloff as both the narrator and the Grinch. My personal favorite part of the story is Max the Grinch's dog because he is the saddest looking reindeer of all time. I love how the special stays true to the book. Also please oh please, please, please, do not confuse this with Jim Carrey's awful live action movie.

3. Frosty the Snowman: What is not to like about a story about a talking snowman that isn't named Frosty Returns? I love Professor Hinkle, Hocus, Frosty, the traffic cop, the ticket master, Karen, and even the kid that after they build the snowman wants to name him Oatmeal. The two things I would change about the story are one put some snow pants on Karen so she doesn't freeze and two at the end Santa really shouldn't leave Karen on the roof. Now I must get busy writing, busy, busy, busy.

2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: Even though at times in this one both Santa, Comet, and Donner are less than nice to Rudolph, this one is still the second best Christmas special. It has so many quotable lines that just throwing out a few wouldn't do it justice. The best thing about this special is the extra characters like Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, the Bumble, and of course the Island of Misfit Toys.

1. The Year Without a Santa Claus: The Christmas special that gave us the Heat and Snow Misers is my favorite of all time. It all starts when Santa has a cold and is going to take a vacation from Christmas. Two elves, Jingle and Jangle, go out to show Santa that the Christmas spirit is still alive and he can't take a vacation because he will be missed. Their travels bring them to the misers where the story really takes off. Once you hear the miser songs you will be singing them for days.

So there is the list, if these aren't showing on TV then go out and rent the DVD and spend some quality time with the kids or the kid in you. Merry Christmas!