My mother-in-law visits us every Christmas. And each Christmas, she loves watching the Hallmark channel so she can get her fix on their holiday movies. I can’t blame her, I love them, too.
Over the years, how we accessed the Hallmark channel has changed. First, it was Direct TV, then Sling TV, now we use Hulu. And, even though our methods of watching these holiday favorites have changed, they still remain the same. And their popularity has only grown! But, why?
Setting the Scene
Anyone who has ever watched a Hallmark movie knows the plot from the very first scene after the main characters are introduced. It goes something like this:
- Boy meets girl
- There is some sort of angst or animosity between them
- They have to be together to accomplish a goal
- While together, they begin to fall in love and almost kiss
- An issue/problem/fight occurs that drives them apart
- While away, they realize that they truly do love one another and will work through whatever the problem is to be with one another
- Then they live happily ever after in the holiday town of their dreams – castles included!
So, if we know what’s going to happen, why are we so engrossed in watching these movies? What’s the attraction? For me, there are several reasons why these movies never go out of style and why I can watch the same one over and over again.
Familiarity Brings Comfort
Have you ever smelled Christmas cookies or pumpkin pies baking during the holidays and immediately remember how you felt when you were younger, smelling those same aromas? Have you ever wondered why? According to discovermagazine.com’s article “Why Do Smells Trigger Such Powerful Memories” (Alex Orlando, 2023), our sense of smell is directly linked to the limbic system in the brain, which is responsible for processing emotions and memories. So, these Christmas smells trigger our happy Christmas memories.
Because the plots are essentially the same, we know what to look forward to next. And because we have seen these movies many times before, that knowing what comes next brings us comfort. There may be a new plot twist, but essentially, these movies remain unchanged. And the feelings we had when we watched our first Hallmark movie comes back and lives within us again.
The Hope & Dream of Falling In Love
These sweet movies bring out the sweet romantic in all of us. We may not be exactly like the fictional characters portrayed on screen, but we have all had adversity in our lives that we have had to overcome. And, because we are relational creatures, we all think and dream about falling in love. And for those of us who have, these movies help us reaffirm the love we have for our significant others and their importance in our lives. In essence, we appreciate them even more and fall in love all over again.
It’s a Family Affair
These Hallmark movies can be enjoyed by the entire family! It’s not just women and moms who curl up with a cup of hot chocolate who watch these. It’s their boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, and children of all ages that curl up, too! Each story has something for everyone.
We Believe in Happy Endings
Who doesn’t love a happy ending? Unless you are the most heartless Scrooge, you cheer when true love wins out. I know I do!
And happy endings are why we cheer for our favorite sports teams, root for the underdog, and love it when the least, the last, and the lost win over the bully.
Happy endings are what we all want in the end – to be with the ones we love and live a life full of adventures and joy.
So, I’ll keep watching the Hallmark Christmas movies – new and old. Even though I know the plot and even though I know how the story will end, the hope remembering a sweet memory, sharing time with my family, and falling in love all over again never gets old.
Merry Christmas!