During the Christmas and Hanukkah holiday season, time is filled with day-to-day work and family activities, shopping, social and religious gatherings, as well as dozens of other “time-eating” tasks and functions.

A great way to break away from such hubbub is to enjoy a classic black-and-white or color movie with your family and friends.

The following classic movies will most certainly help you laugh, cry, giggle, capture love and romance, stimulate fond memories, or remind you of the holiday’s meaning.

Many of the following movies can be found on cable television, online, or at your local library lending shelf. In many instances, the movies are free or very inexpensive to view.

Here is my personal list of a dozen best picks.

They are not listed in preference nor ranking order, rather alphabetically, with a brief comment

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” — 1965 — Chances are, if you are a baby boomer or gen-Zer, you first saw the animated classic on CBS television. It begins with Charlie and friends on an ice-skating pond and concludes with a rather sad Christmas tree selection and joyous musical conclusion.

“A Christmas Story” — 1983 — Reflective of the Parker family residing in a 1940s industrial city. The plot is filled with childhood antics and memories. The family’s eldest son, Ralphie, wishes for Christmas for a Red Ryder BB gun. The concluding Christmas Chinese family dinner scene wraps up the movie.

“Die Hard” — 1988 — A Bruce Willis classic, where on Christmas Eve he portrays a New York City police officer on a quest to rescue his wife and numerous others from a high-rise tower hostage situation. By the way, the sequel, “Die Hard 2,” was filmed, in part, at the Alpena airport.

“Home Alone” — 1990 — Somehow, Kevin’s parents and family members, enroute to Paris for the holiday, forget him. The family’s Chicago home becomes a target of thieves, Harry and Marv. Kevin provides a variety of techniques to protect the residence. He finds a meaningful relationship with an elderly neighbor.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” — 1946 — Award-winning cast of James Stewart and Donna Reed set in small-town America. Stewart portrays a down-on-your-life businessperson who is visited by an angel who inspires the value of life and friendships versus wealth.

“Miracle on 34th Street” — 1947 — A classic to help you believe in Santa Claus and the meaning of Christmas. Set in New York City at Macy’s department store, a grand love affair occurs between Maureen O’Hara and John Payne. Also appearing is a young Natalie Wood who questions if there really is a Santa Claus. Suggest you pass on the 1994 remake of this movie.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” — 1989 — Chevy Chase is at his finest, playing Clark Griswold. The Griswold family stays at home and family members arrive. Chaos occurs. Redneck cousin Eddie, portrayed by Randy Quaid, helps Clark obtain his Christmas bonus. Funny scenes and accidents galore in this movie.

“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” — 1987 — Starring Steve Martin and the late John Candy, the pair are faced with similar travel barriers. They join forces and resources to both get back home. Martin has significant disdain for Candy until he learns the facts. Then his heart and soul open to him. Like “Christmas Vacation,” loads of hilarious scenes.

“Scrooged” — 1988 — A modern-day parody of Charkes Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the movie stars Bill Murray as a successful television executive. He experiences discourse with key staff and dismisses them. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the three ghosts of past, present, and future. The ghostly visits make him focus upon friendship.

“The Bishop’s Wife” — 1948 — Another movie where an angel appears (Cary Grant) and sparks an unusual relationship between David Niven, who portrays a religious bishop, and his wife, played by Loretta Young. The bishop’s personal quest is to finance a new cathedral.

“The Polar Express” — 2004 — The animated feature focuses upon a young boy who is skeptical of Santa Claus. However, on Christmas Eve, a train arrives, and the lad is headed to the North Pole, where he learns of the true meaning of Christmas. Tom Hanks’ voice is featured. The locomotive shown is patterned after a train housed in Owosso.

“White Christmas” — 1954 — The ultimate singalong Christmas spectacular starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen. The group (the men Army veterans) take a train to Vermont and appear at a historic inn hosted by an Army major general who they knew and deeply respected. Songs, dancing, and costumes galore! In many respects, it is a Hollywood classic which will play forever.

So break out the popcorn, beverages, and comforters and enjoy those and many other movies. You can find a great viewing list of the best 100 Christmas movies at www.imdb.com/list/ls000096828.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers.