I have experienced the popular Memorial Day family barbecue, and I have also undertaken a road trip to the cemetery where my grandmother, grandfather, and great-grandmother are buried. Considering the sweltering heat in Florida by the end of May, both of these activities require a certain amount of psyching myself up each year.
While I will remember to honor the soldiers who have died for my country this Memorial Day, I am happily going to stay out of the hot Florida weather and watch Memorial Valley Massacre (1989), which was originally planned for release as Memorial Day.
May Day, celebrating the vibrancy of spring, is directly preceded by Walpurgis Nacht. So our movie watching in celebration will be taking both of these holiday’s into account with a couple of pairs:
La Noche de Walpurgis (1971) – released in the US as The Werewolf vs. The Vampire Woman and also known as Werewolf Shadow, is the fifth in a series of movies about Waldemar Daninsky, played by Paul Naschy.
El Retorno de Walpurgis (1973) – is the seventh in the same series about werewolf Waldemar Daninsky.
Ritual of Evil(1970) – sequel to Fear No Evil (1969) and following the supernatural investigations of psychiatrist Dr. Sorrell.
The Devil Rides Out (1968) –occultists are baptized into their new lives on Walpurgisnacht in the late 1920s.
The Wickerman (1973) – famous folk horror movie; there is nothing more to say.
The Wicker Tree (2011) – created as a companion piece to the 1973 The Wickerman.
I’ve said it before, Charlie Brown is the soundtrack to all holidays through my childhood. Though there are a few holiday’s that might not have gotten the Peanuts treatment, Arbor Day is not among them. It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown premiered in 1976 as the 15th Peanuts special premiering on prime time (Wiki). And so, this Arbor Day, we might plant a tree, we will beg all our baby trees to grow, and we will watch It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown.
And, for thematic watching, we will include some woods-are-alive, the-spirit-of-the-woods-is-going-to-kill-you movies:
The Woods (2006) – is well loved in our house and perfect for Arbor day.
For most of my life, April Fools day would pass me by and I wouldn’t even notice. But, there is always a cause for celebration when you are celebrating with movies, and on April 1st we watch April Fool’s Day (1986). April Fool’s Day is a wonderful little mystery slasher featuring Deborah Foreman of Valley Girl, Real Genius, and a cart load of other films from my 80s childhood. Happy April Fools!
At the last minute we remembered that Killer Party (1986) should also join our celebration. Killer Party was originally going to be called either Fool’s Night or April Fool but was changed when April Fool’s Day was released by Paramount Pictures. Happy April Fools!
Spasmo
April 1st is also when we have estimated Spasmo’s birthday to be. So, Happy Birthday Spasmo!
It may be far from a holiday, especially for kids who would rather have another month of summer, but ‘back to school’ is a seasonal marker for many people, including those that work in the academic industries as I do. I’ve probably already intimated that summer can be a little tiring here in Florida. To me, the start of fall classes means fall is here even if the weather won’t change for months.
Real Genius (1985) – The movie for all those brilliant maladjusted youngins who enter college in their mid teens and find out that the world only wants to use their genius for profit, pollution, and evil. I may not be one of them, but I have loved this movie for ever.
PCU (1994) – “We’re not gonna protest!” But maybe we should protest this being a school starts movie. This is more a spring time, near end of term. Moved to spring break.
Grease (1978) and Grease II (1982) – “The Board of Education took away my parole. We’re gonna go back, back, back to school again.” They both may encapsulate an entire year, but the back-to-school moment is so so extra.
Jawbreaker (1999) – “I killed Liz. I killed the teen dream. Deal with it.”
Heathers (1989) – While it might not be about the beginning of school specifically, it is essential. And now that we’ve rewatched it for the thousandth time, it is more a spring movie. Moved to spring break.
It Was a Short Summer Charlie Brown (1969) – until this year (2023) we were missing a Charlie Brown special for this holiday. This one may reminisce about the whole of the summer, but it is firmly placed during the first week of school.
Of course, if you live within the world of college and university campuses, then rush week comes quickly on the heels of the start of the year. Not being devotees to Greek calendars, we have a selection of rush/hell week movies to fill out the watching.
The Initiation (1984) – young pledges locked up in a mall with a slasher.
Killer Party (1986) – we watched this for April fools earlier in the year thinking the party was more spring themed. It does sorta begin with a music video for a song called April fool. Though there are plenty of pranks, this is all hell week.
Initiation of Sarah (1978) – this is also going on the ultimate witch list I am curating.
Sorority Babes and the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988) – sorority pledges stay overnight in a bowling alley and unleash an evil imp.
If you are feeling like celebrating through movies like I do, check out the other Holidays in the Movies posts.
We don’t celebrate Christmas in July because we have an all encompassing love of Christmas and we just have to have it more than once a year. Our mini holiday is more because we need a little imagined cooler weather; would never turn down the opportunity for another present and some some mulled cider; and could use a reminder that the yuletide feeling of love and hope for humanity doesn’t need to only happen once a year. However, while we spend weeks immersing ourselves in media for Christmas, Christmas in July gets a couple days at most. We make a selection of absolute favorites, White Christmas, and select a smattering of other features. This year that list includes:
Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979) – I have probably talked about Rankin and Bass before. Theirs are the holiday specials of my childhood, along with Charlie Brown. And, the title says it: Christmas in July.
Silent Night Bloody Night (1972) – I now believe that all mansions were once used as asylums or clinics of some kind.
White Christmas (1954) – This may be my favorite Christmas movie of all time, so of course, we watch it in July.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) – Yes, Charlie Brown again.
I play the same record on every patriotic holiday: Timbuk 3’s Edge of Allegiance, because it starts with National Holiday. If we entertain guests, then perhaps I’ll bust out the Sousa, but Sousa takes a level of picnic commitment that is hard to rustle up in the heat of a Florida summer. Of course, like with many other holidays at my house, we get in the mood and stay in the mood with some carefully chosen movies.
Halloween and Christmas are extensive enough to warrant their own zines, but you can check out my previous posts on Thanksgiving,New Year, and Easter if you want more of this holiday moodiness, or check out all the other Holidays in the Movies posts.
4th of July
Music Man (1962): honestly, before checking the date on this, I had forgotten their was a 2003 version. I think I’m going to forget it again, because I love the 1963 film so much, no interlopers could infiltrate this relationship.
This is America Charlie Brown (1988-89): have I said this before: Charlie Brown means the holidays, any holiday, every holiday.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997): This even has a parade it is so 4th of July. There are flags and pageants and fishermen and floats and everything patriotic.
Silver Bullet (1985): Yes, it is a werewolf movie; yes, it happens on the 4th of July.
Martha’s Summer Favorites (2006): Martha Stewart specials on DVD are featured in our house every Halloween season, they help us prep for Thanksgiving and celebrate for Christmas. So, of course, they’re going to help us prep for the 4th of July too. This set could be watched at the start of summer except for an extended sequence on celebrating America, so here it is.
Summer tends to feel terribly devoid of holidays, but there are some important dates to celebrate. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. Like sun lovers who celebrate the winter solstice as a lengthening of days from then on out, I welcome the summer solstice as a herald of shorter days to come. The sun in Florida is blinding and relentless, so the thought of it receding just a bit is a comfort by this time of year. At the same time the hottest and brightest days of summer are still to come. These are the movies we are watching to get in the mood and learn to love summer again:
Race for Your Life Charlie Brown (1977) – I’ve said it before, Charlie Brown is every holiday
Summer School (1987) – for everyone who no longer has summer breaks with no commitment, the feeling of being cooped up in class when you want to be out on vacation is real and familiar
Lost Boys (1987) – except for the fashion, this feels as though it is as hot and blinding as summers where we are
The Burbs (1989) – there is nothing that says summer so much as sitting around the house and indulging in conspiracy theories and paranoia
Sleepaway Camp (1983) – camp isn’t a break from school, its just more of the cliques, awkwardness, and bullying of school without the distraction of class work
Friday the 13th part VII: the new blood (1988) – as described by Richard, “Carrie vs. Jason,” but really, any Friday the 13th movie is appropriate as summer celebration watching
Hausu (1977) – A summer trip to the country complete with watermelon
Hiruko the Goblin (1991) – incredibly strange Japanese horror film with great summer vibes and plenty of school drama
One Crazy Summer (1986) – a silly slapstick comedy with some clever jokes, but not one we watch every year
Summer of Fear (1978) – also known as Stranger in Our House, this TV movie is full of witches and occult intrigue
Cheerleader Camp (1988) – more proof that all summer camps set in the woods are plagued by knife wielding killers
We are a movie watching household, so there is never anything quite so satisfying as being able to gear-up for and celebrate a holiday with some evening viewing. This is the second in a series where I pull out the movies we watch for those holidays that aren’t Halloween and Christmas. The first were Thanksgiving and New Year if you are in to this holiday thing.
Easter
Kiss Me Deadly (1955): heavy on the noir, maybe light on the Easter, but it’s there.
The Being (1983): monsters, murder, green slime, and nuclear waste, what more can one ask for on Easter?
It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974): Charlie Brown = holidays, again and again and again.
The First Easter Rabbit (1976): I love Rankin and Bass productions. I love the animation and I love the clay-mation. Most of the specials I have collected are Christmas, of course, but Rankin and Bass hit all the holidays, or almost all.
Easter Parade (1948): I grew up with musicals, so of course they are prime for inclusion in holiday themed viewing.
Chocolat (2000): I think this movie gets over looked a bunch, and I over looked it too, even though the entire film is building towards Easter.
Some holidays are harder to curate watching for than others. St. Patrick’s Day is one such challenge. According to Wikipedia’s ‘list of films set around St. Patrick’s day’ there are plenty of titles to choose from – some I’ve seen, many I haven’t. But there aren’t too many that I would want to make part of my yearly celebration. Clearly, this list is going to have to evolve, but for now we will be enjoying:
Maniac Cop (1988): When you’re scared on the city streets at night, you’re in luck when you see a cop, right?
The Fugitive (1993): I am now wondering how many cop thrillers have a St. Patrick’s day parade in the middle of them.
Leprechaun (1993): I’d never thought I’d want to see it again, but hey, for St. Patrick’s day, let’s do this.
Now on revisit, I can’t say the above were all repeaters. But we are hurting for a selection of movies to celebrate with instead.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959): Where there is a lack of holiday-centric movies, there are thematic options with pooka, shillelagh, leprechauns and more
Leprechaun 3 (1995): this series gives plenty of selection and the bonkers Las Vegas sequel is just right.
God Told Me To (1976): which of course, since the main character is with the NYPD has a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
My goal this year is to celebrate more holidays instead of just having them pass me by. Valentines hasn’t been very prominent in my life since school, but it can be with just a little dedicated watching and some special foods.
Valentines
My Bloody Valentine (1981): nothing says valentines quite like a coal mine.
Be My Valentine Charlie Brown (1975): I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Charlie Brown brings every holiday.
Hospital Massacre aka X-Ray (1982): old Valentine’s sins will ruin your holiday
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975): Australia, mystery, disappearance, possible historically inaccurate corset lacing. Yes, this is Valentines.
Lover’s Lane (2000): a man with a hook terrorizing teenagers at the local make-out point, just like that urban legend.
We may be reeling from our Christmas watching and happy to finally be free to watch anything we want, but there are movies and specials that make the New Year at our house. Just like Thanksgiving, the pickings may be slimmer for this holiday, but it is more than enough to put us in the mood.
New Year
Terror Train (1980): I was never part of the fraternity and sorority scene in college so the idea of renting a train for a New Year’s party is both plausible and completely unbelievable to me. Hi David Copperfield!
New Year’s Evil (1980): A punk rock Pinky Tuscadero (wiki) terrorized during her TV special by a killer-stalker. The New Year’s countdown happens three times in this movie! What can be more celebratory?
Bloody New Year (1987): This is all kinds of holiday – kids running from thugs get caught in a time travel loop where a whole New Year’s eve party vanished decades ago? Still dressed up for Christmas because it is British.
Get Crazy (1983): Planning for a new year’s party by way of a massive concert overshadows the threat that a much loved theater will be bought out by sleep, punk developers. Hilarious hi-jinks included.
The Fifth Cord (1971): One of the finest examples of the giallo genre with an excellent cast, a great director, and a super cool soundtrack by the great Ennio Morricone. The entire opening sequence and a pivotal part of the plot both take place at a New Year’s Eve Party.
Martha’s New Year’s Celebration (2005): from the Martha’s Holidays collection again. We usually just curl up on the sofa and watch movies for New Year, but we can dream of throwing a fancy party.
Celebrating holidays in my house means media saturation. That is, leading up to Halloween we watch all the Halloween movies, and leading up to Christmas, we watch all the Christmas movies, specials, and television shows. But Halloween and Christmas aren’t the only holidays around which you can structure your movie viewing.
Garfield’s Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982): immensely enjoyable take on the legend of the Chicken Ranch. If Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds aren’t enough to sell it to you, then the in depth study in eighties lingerie should do it.
Madman (1982): horror film taking place in a strange alternate reality where kids are sent off to a woodland camp for Thanksgiving break.
Turkey Hollow (2015): broken family forcing themselves on a grudgingly hospitable distant relative? check. Sibling discord healed by adventure and danger? check. Monsters in the woods? check. Turkeys? check check check check check.
Charlie Brown Mayflower Voyagers (1988): part of the ‘This is America, Charlie Brown” series, but tacked on to the ‘Peanuts Holiday Collection’ without any other episodes.
Martha Stewart’s Classic Thanksgiving (2005): from the Martha’s Holidays collection, because it is necessary to have a couple of hours worth of instruction on making that turkey.
