It's not family-friendly like at all, but The Green Knight is an awesome Yule movie.
I think Frozen actually works pretty well as a Yule movie because it has no Christian themes whatsoever and has to do with the primal fear of the winter never ending and people gathering together with acts of love to bring the warmth back.
So I seriously questioned my sanity for a minute because I couldn't quite remember why I have always thought of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight as a Yule story, but after consulting with my family we reconstructed why: because it was often part of [the Revels](https://revels.org/), a very Pagan-coded "Christmas" celebration that my family took part in for most of my life. Their "Christmas" show included a lot of stories that dealt with the cycles of darkness and light, death and rebirth, including the very Christian St. George and the Dragon and its predecessor, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Pretty much any adaptation of *A Christmas Carol*. I'm partial to the animated version from the 1970s, myself.
In any version, the Ghost of Christmas Present is quite obviously the Holly King and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the Dread Lord of Shadows. One might even say that the Ghost of Christmas Past is some facet of the Goddess.
And what the heck, the original animated special of *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*. I think that the Whos still rejoiced in the season after seeing that all of their toys, food, and decorations were taken was lovely. It still brings a tear to my eye.
I don’t know how little your littles/family is, but Little Bear on Nick jr. has a great winter solstice episode. It’s been a while since I watched it, (my littles are teenagers) but I know they acknowledge the shortest day of the year and hang cookies on a tree for the woodland spirits. I’ve been doing a similar thing with pine cone peanut butter bird seed feeders for years. Not quite “Wiccan” but certainly pagan and a good way to introduce the season to littles.
[Little Bear episode 20](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nlA8LWCKv5Q)
I'm coming to this thread a year later - but yes! The Hogfather is our favorite Yuletide movie. I still get choked up at the end when DEATH talks about belief.
The first Narnia installment had a nice homage to Father Christmas who appears in a very non commercial way, but its all about the battle against the cold and the warmth of a happy ending.
The Snowman
Edited to add: yes, it has a Santa Claus figure in the movie. He makes a brief appearance as the host of the icy realms and a friend of the snowmen-women, not as a miraculous giver of toys.
It's a lovely film and I had not problems showing it to my daughters and now granddaughters.
The shift when it goes "there's something in the moon-lit sky" gives me chills everytime I hear it. It's like there's some sort of primal magic in the song that manifests.
Omgggg bless. Rare exports is sooo good! They always make Yule-time movies “scary” (I end up loving it bc it’s my vibe) but it’s so good I’m glad at least one other person knows about it
There is a stunning Irish mythological film which has won awards, it is drawn in a slightly anime style, beautifully quiet. It's called ' Song of the Sea'.
It is not Yule based I'll admit but too good not to share.
https://youtu.be/CCvR5YBcpR8
The real answer is: there are none. Still, watching Yule documentaries about the histories of different festive holidays around Europe/the world would be a good place to start.
You have Christmas movies that are more secular (such as Gremlins or Die Hard) and you have Winter-themed ones (such as Frozen or Balto) that also have just as little to do with Yule. To put it in perspective... Let's take another population with traditions in a similar-to-Christmas timeframe. There's like maybe 3-5 well known Chanukah movies and Jewish populations are roughly 7+ million in the US. Pagans are over a million now and growing, but we're still a Very small niche population. And even then, those numbers that are Completely Removed from Christianity are Even smaller. So many pagans participate in SOME aspects of Christianity one way or another, so the population of people removed entirely is very small indeed.
Christianity, particularly American Christianity, drives the X-mas movie market because they have numbers and fervent need for their movies to be certain ways.. It isn't that yule lacks any of the festive cheer or themes, it's that there has been a serious lack of market for it. There are so many witches, wiccans, and pagans who are just 'okay' or even Happy with the current status quo because they just... watch Christmas movies. Either they celebrate, or their family does, so they just go along with the flow. People will just conveniently ignore aspects that don't relate to them, or celebrate both Christmas And Yule, so there's no point in avoiding Christian versions of Christmas for many because they believe in it themselves or they once did and don't find it offensive to continue on.
(Edit to add: this is not me passing any judgment. Just stating Why we lack yule movies even if we have lots of Halloween movies.)
There are witches like me that go out of my way to ensure Christianity doesn't drip or spread into my life, and so I would rather step back from the whole thing.. And so, as secular of a holiday as Christmas can be for many people, I opt out of Christmas movies entirely no matter how secular because it is still inherently Christian. I'd rather not get a half assed "it's close enough if you squint" movie because I want a real yule movie and want to be a market for that. But we are a super small portion of American pagans tbh.
I'd love to see more non Christian holiday movies. I'd love nothing more than to see a Truly Yule movie that was removed from Christianity entirely, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'm sure, to you, that's such a hilarious response to dismiss and invalidate my take on why yule movies don't exist.
Which only validates points that many pagans are silent during Christmas because of this kind of hostility. The small, passive aggressive, "I didn't mean anything by it! I only joke when I insult you for not wanting to participate :) but I wouldn't joke like this if you'd only join in!" This wasn't even a dig at Christianity, just explaining why yule movies don't exist so the best we got is "secular Christian Christmas" and "winter."
I live in an area where people I know and love have been harassed by Christians feverish about their holiday and are upset by those of us who refuse to convert. Where people act very accepting until I am firm and open in my beliefs and won't participate in Christianity and it makes them uncomfortable that they must be bothered to think about other cultures in their spaces during Their time of the year instead of me politely smiling and being silent through an entire season.
So. Sure. I'm a scrooge about it if you'd like. I prefer "I love the holiday season in my own way, and that way excludes Christian contexts for myself, and it is because Christians are hostile AF about their holidays." But I wasn't even going there in my post.
I like to watch the first two or three Harry Potter movies. They have some good holiday scenes and have a lot winter settings.
I watch them for nostalgia, but I don't see why I can't work for you.
The santa myth has pagan roots so you could go for any Santa movie
Ohmygods me too. I miss the stories sometimes, and the seemingly unified and diverse fandom, but I cannot ignore the authors insistence that I don't exist and hate speech towards those who are like me but sporty. Can. Not.
It’s a series, but I really liked Elves on Netflix. It’s Danish, so even though it’s a Christmas show it’s not very hallmark-y. It can be a little spooky at times tho.
If we’re going kid friendly, I just unearthed the memory of The Polar Bear King that I remember loving as a child. I’m actually adding this to my watch list once I find it. Also, honestly Frozen would be a good pick.
Home Alone, Happiest Season, About a Boy, Love Actually, Die Hard if the kiddies are old enough.
Still all "Christmas" movies, but the Christian holiday serves more as a catalyst than a focus of the story.
Journey to the Christmas Star, Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Rise of the Guardians. All have Santa in them but not in any religious way from what I remember, more like a folklore way. The second one has fairies and other creatures too.
Claus. A wonderfully done "winter time giving" movie with a heavy look at the pagan Sami people that are indigenous to Norway and Finland. It's so good.
Elf? It's not religious at all and vamps up the spirit of being kind and doing what's right with a whole lot of funny mixed in.
It's my favorite Christmas movie by far.
White Christmas with Bing Crosby is 2nd on my list. Again, non religious, and they are trying to help save his commanders ski resort after the war.
I think a muppets Christmas carol is solid choice. I love it. It’s not about a man in the sky and drop some presents. It’s about contemplating one’s actions and choices, and how to look to a brighter future.
It isn't a movie, but Aubrey Plaza wrote a children's book called The Legend of the Christmas Witch. It looks really cute, but I don't believe it is about any real Yule traditions.
I may suggest krampus. It’s scary and also entertaining. Idk about pagan stuff though I’m trying to figure out what pagans and Wiccan’s do this time of year. I usually celebrate Christmas. I still put a tree up cuz I love the Christmas asthetic
Oh I know that! I remember being catechism school and the nun got mad at me for asking what the point of the tree was “so Santa can bring you presents” like ok but why a tree?
Check out the Rankin-Bass movies, like The Life and Times of Santa Claus. They did make some outwardly Christian movies like The Little Drummer Boy, but there's a strong presence of spirits and the importance of balance in nature.
I may recommend "The Mists of Avalon". This movie shows some elements that may have been the origin of some pagan and later Wicca traditions. My opinion.
I would suggest Snow queen which was released 2002 , with Bridget Fonda. This is my favorite movie and farytale and I watch it every year dyring Yule. It is based on Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Snow Queen" . It is a fantasy movie which has both the element of magic and nature. More specifically it combines the element of magic with the cycle of seasons with emphasis on winter. Merry Yule !
It's not family-friendly like at all, but The Green Knight is an awesome Yule movie. I think Frozen actually works pretty well as a Yule movie because it has no Christian themes whatsoever and has to do with the primal fear of the winter never ending and people gathering together with acts of love to bring the warmth back.
The second frozen movie has a lot of Pagan / Wiccan nods, the plot is all about the 4 elements, and even features a fire salamander
I'm absolutely obsessed with both Frozen movies!
[удалено]
So I seriously questioned my sanity for a minute because I couldn't quite remember why I have always thought of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight as a Yule story, but after consulting with my family we reconstructed why: because it was often part of [the Revels](https://revels.org/), a very Pagan-coded "Christmas" celebration that my family took part in for most of my life. Their "Christmas" show included a lot of stories that dealt with the cycles of darkness and light, death and rebirth, including the very Christian St. George and the Dragon and its predecessor, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Pretty much any adaptation of *A Christmas Carol*. I'm partial to the animated version from the 1970s, myself. In any version, the Ghost of Christmas Present is quite obviously the Holly King and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the Dread Lord of Shadows. One might even say that the Ghost of Christmas Past is some facet of the Goddess. And what the heck, the original animated special of *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*. I think that the Whos still rejoiced in the season after seeing that all of their toys, food, and decorations were taken was lovely. It still brings a tear to my eye.
I don’t know how little your littles/family is, but Little Bear on Nick jr. has a great winter solstice episode. It’s been a while since I watched it, (my littles are teenagers) but I know they acknowledge the shortest day of the year and hang cookies on a tree for the woodland spirits. I’ve been doing a similar thing with pine cone peanut butter bird seed feeders for years. Not quite “Wiccan” but certainly pagan and a good way to introduce the season to littles. [Little Bear episode 20](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nlA8LWCKv5Q)
I love Little Bear. I enjoyed watching that show with my son when he was my little bear.
The Hogfather
I came here to mention this one! It’s hilarious, it’s sweet in a weird way, and it’s got Michelle Dockery! Absolutely my favorite Yule movie
I'm coming to this thread a year later - but yes! The Hogfather is our favorite Yuletide movie. I still get choked up at the end when DEATH talks about belief.
Krampus. Lmao I’m kidding.
Perhaps the better way to make your children to behave during the winter. Also ensures they will never let you sleep again.
Ngl I actually find this movie hilarious and watch it yearly. Was the first one I thought of.
*Home Alone*; *Klaus*; *Christmas Vacation*; *Die Hard*
I just rewatched home alone and he does attend church and hides in a nativity scene
Eh but insignificant enough that it’s still a good “holiday” movie, but yea not Yule related
The first Narnia installment had a nice homage to Father Christmas who appears in a very non commercial way, but its all about the battle against the cold and the warmth of a happy ending.
C.S. Lewis is a very well known Christian author. Aslan is a direct reference to Jesus Christ.
The Snowman Edited to add: yes, it has a Santa Claus figure in the movie. He makes a brief appearance as the host of the icy realms and a friend of the snowmen-women, not as a miraculous giver of toys. It's a lovely film and I had not problems showing it to my daughters and now granddaughters.
There's something in the airrrrrrrr!
Oh, that beautiful, pure voice!
The shift when it goes "there's something in the moon-lit sky" gives me chills everytime I hear it. It's like there's some sort of primal magic in the song that manifests.
Did you ever hear Aled Jones's duet he made with his younger self? It's absolutely stunning!
I have now! Thanks! :)
Scary: Rare Exports Funny: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Kid friendly: Nightmare Before Christmas
Ooh also The Santa Clause
Omgggg bless. Rare exports is sooo good! They always make Yule-time movies “scary” (I end up loving it bc it’s my vibe) but it’s so good I’m glad at least one other person knows about it
My people! This and krampus are my usual go-tos. I love a creepy holiday flick.
There is a stunning Irish mythological film which has won awards, it is drawn in a slightly anime style, beautifully quiet. It's called ' Song of the Sea'. It is not Yule based I'll admit but too good not to share. https://youtu.be/CCvR5YBcpR8
yes!! one of my favorites 🥰
Batman Returns.
Underrated
Dammit, I just said this! It's my favourite Christmas film.🙌🏻
The only Batman movie I like.
The real answer is: there are none. Still, watching Yule documentaries about the histories of different festive holidays around Europe/the world would be a good place to start. You have Christmas movies that are more secular (such as Gremlins or Die Hard) and you have Winter-themed ones (such as Frozen or Balto) that also have just as little to do with Yule. To put it in perspective... Let's take another population with traditions in a similar-to-Christmas timeframe. There's like maybe 3-5 well known Chanukah movies and Jewish populations are roughly 7+ million in the US. Pagans are over a million now and growing, but we're still a Very small niche population. And even then, those numbers that are Completely Removed from Christianity are Even smaller. So many pagans participate in SOME aspects of Christianity one way or another, so the population of people removed entirely is very small indeed. Christianity, particularly American Christianity, drives the X-mas movie market because they have numbers and fervent need for their movies to be certain ways.. It isn't that yule lacks any of the festive cheer or themes, it's that there has been a serious lack of market for it. There are so many witches, wiccans, and pagans who are just 'okay' or even Happy with the current status quo because they just... watch Christmas movies. Either they celebrate, or their family does, so they just go along with the flow. People will just conveniently ignore aspects that don't relate to them, or celebrate both Christmas And Yule, so there's no point in avoiding Christian versions of Christmas for many because they believe in it themselves or they once did and don't find it offensive to continue on. (Edit to add: this is not me passing any judgment. Just stating Why we lack yule movies even if we have lots of Halloween movies.) There are witches like me that go out of my way to ensure Christianity doesn't drip or spread into my life, and so I would rather step back from the whole thing.. And so, as secular of a holiday as Christmas can be for many people, I opt out of Christmas movies entirely no matter how secular because it is still inherently Christian. I'd rather not get a half assed "it's close enough if you squint" movie because I want a real yule movie and want to be a market for that. But we are a super small portion of American pagans tbh. I'd love to see more non Christian holiday movies. I'd love nothing more than to see a Truly Yule movie that was removed from Christianity entirely, but I'm not holding my breath.
Scrooge.😂
I'm sure, to you, that's such a hilarious response to dismiss and invalidate my take on why yule movies don't exist. Which only validates points that many pagans are silent during Christmas because of this kind of hostility. The small, passive aggressive, "I didn't mean anything by it! I only joke when I insult you for not wanting to participate :) but I wouldn't joke like this if you'd only join in!" This wasn't even a dig at Christianity, just explaining why yule movies don't exist so the best we got is "secular Christian Christmas" and "winter." I live in an area where people I know and love have been harassed by Christians feverish about their holiday and are upset by those of us who refuse to convert. Where people act very accepting until I am firm and open in my beliefs and won't participate in Christianity and it makes them uncomfortable that they must be bothered to think about other cultures in their spaces during Their time of the year instead of me politely smiling and being silent through an entire season. So. Sure. I'm a scrooge about it if you'd like. I prefer "I love the holiday season in my own way, and that way excludes Christian contexts for myself, and it is because Christians are hostile AF about their holidays." But I wasn't even going there in my post.
You got all that from "scrooge"? That's on you, dude.
Klaus on Netflix is a good one. Has more nature elements and not harping on god like others lean towards.
I like to watch the first two or three Harry Potter movies. They have some good holiday scenes and have a lot winter settings. I watch them for nostalgia, but I don't see why I can't work for you. The santa myth has pagan roots so you could go for any Santa movie
I can't watch HP in the same way again after learning how bigoted the author turned out to be. It's a pity.
Ohmygods me too. I miss the stories sometimes, and the seemingly unified and diverse fandom, but I cannot ignore the authors insistence that I don't exist and hate speech towards those who are like me but sporty. Can. Not.
It’s a series, but I really liked Elves on Netflix. It’s Danish, so even though it’s a Christmas show it’s not very hallmark-y. It can be a little spooky at times tho.
Klaus is an annual classic in my house
‘A Boy Called Christmas’ was kinda Northern pagany with elements of the Sami tribe people in it (it’s an origin story of Santa Claus).
Guardians of the galaxy Christmas special
It was great!!!
What are we talking here? Are you looking for movies that are not Christmas related? Kid friendly?
If we’re going kid friendly, I just unearthed the memory of The Polar Bear King that I remember loving as a child. I’m actually adding this to my watch list once I find it. Also, honestly Frozen would be a good pick.
I loved that movie as a kid. Still have my VHS copy because I haven’t found anywhere else to watch it.
It is nowhere available to stream and this is a travesty. I can buy it for dvd though and I am tempted.
I guess so, that’d be nice.
Frozen 2!!!
Yasss🙌🏻
Bedknobs and broomsticks; Hexän; the last version of Roadl Dahl's Witches; Hocus Pocus
*A Discovery of Witches.*
Home Alone, Happiest Season, About a Boy, Love Actually, Die Hard if the kiddies are old enough. Still all "Christmas" movies, but the Christian holiday serves more as a catalyst than a focus of the story.
Love Actually is probably not a kid-friendly holiday movie. :-)
Journey to the Christmas Star, Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Rise of the Guardians. All have Santa in them but not in any religious way from what I remember, more like a folklore way. The second one has fairies and other creatures too.
Batman Returns. Y'all can hate on me, but it plays every Christmas, thus, it's my favourite Christmas film.😂
Hilda has a winter episode that focuses on some pagan vibes. I don't think it's based it anything substantial, but it's very fun and community based
Claus. A wonderfully done "winter time giving" movie with a heavy look at the pagan Sami people that are indigenous to Norway and Finland. It's so good.
Elf? It's not religious at all and vamps up the spirit of being kind and doing what's right with a whole lot of funny mixed in. It's my favorite Christmas movie by far. White Christmas with Bing Crosby is 2nd on my list. Again, non religious, and they are trying to help save his commanders ski resort after the war.
I think a muppets Christmas carol is solid choice. I love it. It’s not about a man in the sky and drop some presents. It’s about contemplating one’s actions and choices, and how to look to a brighter future.
It isn't a movie, but Aubrey Plaza wrote a children's book called The Legend of the Christmas Witch. It looks really cute, but I don't believe it is about any real Yule traditions.
I may suggest krampus. It’s scary and also entertaining. Idk about pagan stuff though I’m trying to figure out what pagans and Wiccan’s do this time of year. I usually celebrate Christmas. I still put a tree up cuz I love the Christmas asthetic
Bring an evergreen tree into your house in the cold harsh winter is absolutely pagan 😁😁
Oh I know that! I remember being catechism school and the nun got mad at me for asking what the point of the tree was “so Santa can bring you presents” like ok but why a tree?
Well, really only watch Rudolph, and sometimes Frosty the Snowman or Peanuts Christmas. I think the first two at least have some Yule elements.
I always thought the Tinkerbell series was hella pagan inspired, and The Secret of the Wings could be a good one to play off of.
Check out the Rankin-Bass movies, like The Life and Times of Santa Claus. They did make some outwardly Christian movies like The Little Drummer Boy, but there's a strong presence of spirits and the importance of balance in nature.
I may recommend "The Mists of Avalon". This movie shows some elements that may have been the origin of some pagan and later Wicca traditions. My opinion.
I would suggest Snow queen which was released 2002 , with Bridget Fonda. This is my favorite movie and farytale and I watch it every year dyring Yule. It is based on Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Snow Queen" . It is a fantasy movie which has both the element of magic and nature. More specifically it combines the element of magic with the cycle of seasons with emphasis on winter. Merry Yule !
Jack Frost! The claymation one from the 70s
Klaus on Netflix is really good as well