Column: Five shows and movies to get you in the holiday spirit

If you’re anything like me, you’re done with 2020, and the only two things standing in between us and 2021 are the holidays and New Year’s Eve. This time of year always has the feeling of hope and magic in the air, whether through movies (old or new), holiday music or houses decorated in lights.

I’ve rounded up my favorite holiday shows and movies to watch right now. No matter how old you are, we all need a little holiday magic this year.

>>>>>“Nailed It! Holiday!” (Netflix) - First of all, host Nicole Byer is an icon. Byer is a comedian and never fails to put a smile on my face during the regular season of “Nailed It!,” and the holiday version is no exception. If you’re not baking desserts during this time, you probably know someone who is, and they may be qualified to be on this show. This show is perfect for family viewing, and the bakers’ flubs are sure to make anyone at any age laugh.

>>>>>“Sugar Rush: Christmas” (Netflix) - At the other end of the spectrum, Sugar Rush features more advanced bakers that are pulled from different backgrounds, and they incorporate how they celebrate into their creations. The viewer gets to see how different cultures and different parts of the US celebrate the holidays, as opposed to the cookie-cutter holiday traditions seen on TV and in movies. Plus, the new season just dropped, so there’s even more to watch.

>>>>>“The Santa Clause” Series (Disney+) - Who doesn’t love a Disney movie? I watched all three of these movies with my sister over Thanksgiving, and we still laugh, just like when we were younger. These movies span so many ages — the first movie came out in 1994 and the third in 2006 — so it has a wide reach. My parents would even walk through the room and then turn around and come back and watch.

>>>>>“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” (Disney+) - This movie is so underrated. It’s one of my favorite Christmas movies to watch, and without fail, I watch it every year. The movie has three main stories, and every year, I come away with a reminder of what the holidays are about. The year 2020 has changed a lot of things, but this movie from 1999 still has messages that hold true, even in the middle of a pandemic.

>>>>>“The SNL Christmas Special” (Hulu) - OK, this one is kind of out there, but between finals and the pandemic, who doesn’t need a laugh right now? This special can be found under season 41 of “Saturday Night Live” and pulls different holiday skits from throughout the history of SNL, not just in recent years. You get to see casts from before you were born and the cast you grew up with, in addition to some new people. You get a hit of nostalgia watching this, and isn’t that what the holidays are about?

Be on the lookout on whatever streaming platform you use, because they’ll have a holiday collection popping up soon — if it hasn’t already. Also, be sure to check out channels like ABC, CBS, NBC and Freeform, because they play holiday classics all month long. Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas is happening now, you can find the schedule here.

Did I miss one of your favorite holiday movies? Let me know what you watch this time of year by tweeting me @MAbanathie.