Betty

Friday Funnies – 12/17/2021

Dan and I spent an afternoon on Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri, where every year there is a “Christmas Traditions” festival. The Main Street Church sponsors a “Gingerbread Contest” with categories for Youth, Adult and Professional. This year’s theme was “Christmas Movies.” Let’s see how much you remember about each movie.

It’s a Wonderful Life

Gingerbread creation of the house in "It's a Wonderful Life."
Who played George Bailey?
Bonus: What year was this movie made?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Gingerbread creation of a scene from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The scene is where Rudolph is talking with Clarice.
What was the name of Rudolph’s girlfriend?
Gingerbread creation of characters in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Characters include the snowman, Yukon Cornelius, the abominable snowman, Rudolph and the elf who wanted to be a dentist.
Who was the voice of the Snowman?

Home Alone

Gingerbread creation of the house in "Home Alone."
What year was “Home Alone” made?
Bonus: What is the last name of the family in the movie?

A Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special

Gingerbread creation of Snoopy lying on top of his doghouse with Woodstock laying on his stomach.
What was the name of Snoopy’s bird friend?
Bonus: What year was this television special released?

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Gingerbread creation of the house in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
How many lights were on the exterior of the house?
Bonus: Who played the neighbor Margo Chester?

A Christmas Story

Gingerbread creation of the iconic lamp in "A Christmas Story."
What did Ralphie call his Christmas gift?
Bonus: If someone in your family won this lamp, would it be in your front window?

While awards were already given in each category, people could vote for their favorite. The one with the most votes would win “The People’s Choice” award. Which is a major award. 🙂 Which gingerbread display would you vote for? What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I hope you enjoyed these beautiful creations, and that they brought you a smile. It’s a wonderful life, isn’t it?

38 comments

    • Yes, it was Jimmy Stewart. The houses were very impressive. I would have pegged you as a no thank you to the lamp. I would agree to put it out during the holidays – but probably not in the front window . However, the rest of the year, that baby is in the basement. Happy Friday!

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  2. I also love the “It’s a Wonderful Life” house. If I was voting, “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” would be a close second for me. Beautiful displays, and yes they did bring a smile. My all time fave Christmas movie is the original b/w “A Christmas Carol” – mainly because it brings back fond memories from when I was a child and we’d always watch this as a family late on Christmas Eve 😊

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    • I thought the Snoopy house looked incredibly good, too! A few years back (pre-Covid), we went to a live performance of “A Christmas Carol.” At the end of the play, I literally had a lump in my throat and a renewed resolve to be more generous and kind – even though I knew the story of this play almost my whole life. It is a true classic!

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  3. Those are all so great! I vote for the It’s a Wonderful Life house. Wow! There is a similar holiday exhibit of very ambitious gingerbread houses in Minneapolis at a place called “The Norway House”. We have been to it a couple of times in the past. One time when my kids were little I bought one of those gingerbread house kits. The pieces of the house kept falling apart and the whole thing was a disaster. I just kept thinking “it is about the process and spending time with the kids….not the result”. haha.

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    • Yes, some people are really talented, and I would guess very patient. And you are absolutely right about the kit you did when your kids were young. I hope it is a good and fun memory. I think I tried a kit once too, but I don’t recall much. My mind is blocking the memory. 🙂 My son lives in Minneapolis – going to Med School. Maybe The Norway House would be a fun day for him and his girlfriend….Enjoy your Friday!

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          • Minneapolis is a wonderful city for enjoying the outdoors. The lakes in the city all have public paths surrounding them where folks are out walking, running, biking, roller blading, roller skiing, cross country skiing, pushing baby strollers, etc depending on the weather. That is a good activity for someone with limited time and budget. The paths also connect to paths along the Mississippi River and a creek that starts at the river and connects to one of the lakes. Many people are out even on the coldest days.

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  4. I would vote for “It’s a Wonderful Life” which is also one of my favorite Christmas movie (we just watched it the other night). Other favorites are the original “Miracle on 34th Street” and “White Christmas”. We usually watch some of the others, too!

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    • Yes, I think “It’s a Wonderful Life” was the top! I remember watching “White Christmas” every year with my mom. Watching it with the ones you love makes for the best memories! Enjoy the season!

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  6. I’d vote for “It’s a Wonderful Life” house and “Snoopy” as runner up. Snoopy’s friend is Woodstock. Rudolph’s girlfriend is Clarice. Our favorite Christmas movies are The Grinch (2018) narrated by Pharrell Williams and Noelle (2019) co-starring Shirley MacLaine.

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  8. What a wonderful afternoon you had! The pictures of houses that you posted are works of art.
    I made a gingerbread house with our two grandchildren on Sunday. It was a prefab model from Costco. With a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old doing their artistic best (eating more candies than we put on the house!), we finished it in about three hours. They exclaimed that it was beautiful and took it home to show off to their friends! Personally, I worried that it looked more like a bad episode of ‘Nailed It’. btw — it took almost three more hours to clean up after they left!

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    • You have me laughing! But your grandchildren have a great memory! I’ve heard a number of stories where people try to make a gingerbread house – even from a kit – and they give up. Yours sounds like a success all the way around! Enjoy the season!

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  10. Got a few answers right without googles help. James Stewart of course, Julia Louis Dreyfus (spelling?) was the neighbor in National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. As for Rudolph: “What he had a girlfriend?”
    The lamp, my husband’s secret would be displayed upstairs and he would lock the room, to make sure I could not put it down. The house, where the movie was filmed, is actually in Cleveland, Ohio, just a few hours away from where we live. No clue what Ralphie called the BB gun and Snoopy’s bird friend’s name is Woodstock.

    My favorite would be “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (just because of the scene when he opens the attic door it makes me laugh every time I see it) and a movie that’s not listed (One special night).

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    • Of course, you are right with all your answers! Ralphie called his BB gun “Red Ryder.” I did not realize the house from “A Christmas Story” was in Cleveland, Ohio. And yes, Rudolph had a girlfriend! She sang a song for him, “There’s Always Tomorrow” – for dreams to come true. It sounds like you know your husband very well; he is quite clever! I have not heard of “One Special Night.” I would bet it is a very good movie!

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  12. What wonderful dislpays, how much work is in it. It must be great walking along hte street with those window displays. I really do like the Snoopy house 🙂 the wonderful life house I am sure is the winner with so many details!

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    • You are right about the winner, of course. Main Street is historic as it is the home of Missouri’s first capitol. The streets are cobblestone. The Missouri River with its parallel Katy Trail (hiking and biking) is one block over. There are lots of shops and restaurants. They hold several festival type events throughout the year. It is about 10 minutes from home, and we often ride our ebikes there. It is a fun place to visit. Hope you have a great day!

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  13. We loved the nostalgic charm of St. Charles and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be decorated for the holidays. The gingerbread houses are quite good. I’ve only had experience with the store bought kits and have memories of my children decorating them. The granddaughters do the decorating now. Funny they never are eaten but rather discarded after the new year , though they may last as long as a fruit cake.

    I can only answer three questions with confidence that you ask about the movies — Jimmy Stewart, Woodstock, and Burl Ives. I could probably guess the decade the movies were made but not the year. From the list of movies, I would pick “It’s a Wonderful Life” but my all time favorite is “Miracle on 34th Street”.

    Have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.

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    • Yes, you are right with your movie answers, and you are right about gingerbread houses never getting eaten. At least, I’ve never known one to be eaten. “Wonderful Life” 1947. “Charlie Brown” – 1965. “A Christmas Story” – 1983. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” – 1989. and “Home Alone” – 1990. I think the years are interesting when one ponders how many years have gone by, but the movie’s memory and charm can be as fresh as ever – if it’s a favorite. I hope you have a blessed Christmas, too, and that the new year holds all good things for you and your family.

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    • Ha ha! Yes, I see exactly what you did there! I can see what you did because I never got a BB gun for Christmas; otherwise I would have….! 😉 Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season!

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