more obscure christmas specials to watch this holiday season

Some people love to bake during the holiday season. Others prefer to decorate, expertly wrap presents, or host parties with friends and family. Most of us have a holiday related item on our to-do list that ranks higher than the others. For example, while I love having a decorated home, the actual process of decorating is not my favourite. On the other hand, my mom prioritizes decorating over many other seasonal tasks. My sister likes to bake cookies. My brother wraps presents with impressive precision. And my dad mostly tries to stay out of the way! In previous posts, I have spoken about my love of holiday movies. I realized recently that those movies are my favourite part of the season. I love to sit and watch (either by myself or with a loved one) and simply feel at ease. There are countless Christmas themed movies and television specials to choose from and I love a whole lot of them. As much as I adore beloved films like Elf and Home Alone, there is a special place in my heart for more obscure Christmas specials: ones that are less well known or have been forgotten with time. It feels like finding a hidden treasure. Last year, there was a post highlighting a few of my favourite obscure Christmas cartoons. Now, it is time to highlight additional favourites. Some are cartoons and some are live action. Here are a few suggestions to add to your list.

Santa's Magic Toy Bag. One thing I love about free streaming services? There all sorts of obscure Christmas specials to enjoy. I regularly browse the offerings in search of something new. One Christmas special that wowed was Santa's Magic Toy Bag. This special is about an apprentice elf named Sherman who has struggled in every department he has worked in. Santa tries to boost his self-esteem by asking him to guard his magic toy bag, but Sherman accidentally shrinks the bag by washing it. This is a heart warming holiday special created by Paul Fusco, the creator of Alf. Though it originally aired in 1983 on television, it is a new-to-me discovery. I was able to find it (along with some other seasonal specials from Paul Fusco) on DVD and add it to my collection. I love the puppeteering, the message, and the magic. This holiday special is a sweet treat for anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. Add Santa's Magic Toy Bag to your watch list and stream it this season.

The Trolls and the Christmas Express. This next obscure Christmas special is one that was recommended to me on YouTube - and thank goodness it was. I obviously have a thing for holiday specials from the 80s and 90s, because The Trolls and the Christmas Express was originally released in 1981. It is a story about a group of trolls who use their magic to sabotage Christmas by pretending to be elves. Ultimately, they learn that even though they are not elves, trolls are still included in the Christmas celebrations. (Though the holiday lyric, "troll the ancient yuletide carol.") It is a reminder that Christmas is for everyone who chooses to celebrate. I really love the music in this special, the animation style, and the message of belonging. 

The Wish That Changed Christmas. The next obscure Christmas special on this list is a really sweet cartoon from 1991. The Wish That Changed Christmas is apparently based on a book from 1958 and is about an orphan who wants a grandmother and a doll for Christmas. Through a series of circumstances, her wish - and the wishes of others - come true. Something I really love about holiday specials from the 80s and 90s is how sweet, sentimental, and earnest they were. I also enjoy the animation style, the beautiful doll and the idea that during the holiday season, miracles happen and happy endings are commonplace. 

Buster and Chauncey's Silent Night. Several years back, there was a random bin full of holiday DVDs at Walmart. I saw Buster and Chauncey's Silent Night and decided to purchase it because it mentioned Marie Osmond in the description. This was apparently released in 1998, though it wasn't something that I saw on TV or heard anyone talking about. It has a star studded voice cast, great music, and a cozy animation style. Essentially, this is about two mice named Buster and Chauncy who plan to perform for the Queen during the Christmas pageant. There is a plot about an orphan child (it seems most holiday movies feature someone looking for a family), the visit from the Queen, song writing, theft, and all sorts of other things. There is a lot happening in this movie, but it is an excellent watch and a fun fictionalized story about how the song, Silent Night, came to be. 

Wee Sing - The Best Christmas Ever. Last on this obscure Christmas specials list for the year is one that I saw for the first time fairly recently. Growing up, there was this cassette tape that my family listened to over and over again: Wee Sing For Christmas. Though I loved all of the songs, there was one that I was obsessed with: Alfie the Elf. While visiting my parents recently, I found that beloved Wee Sing For Christmas cassette tape. I finally knew what it was called and did a little Google search. That led me to The Best Christmas Ever special. It has a lot of familiar songs from the cassette along with a bunch of elves at the North Pole. It is silly and sweet - great for kids and nostalgic adults alike. Apparently this special came out in 1990 and it shows. The warm colours, the decorations, the clothes...it all reminds me of my childhood Christmases. It felt like taking a step back in time! 

There you have it. Even more obscure Christmas specials to watch this holiday season. Be sure to share your own obscure suggestions and favourites in the comment section below, because I am always looking to find new-to-me specials. 

What do you like to watch during the holiday season? Have you seen any of these specials?