I love Christmas movies. And one movie we never miss during the holiday season is Christmas Vacation.

It’s cheesy. And hilarious. A bit crass. Incredibly chaotic and totally over-the-top. It’s so many things I would never wish upon our Christmas celebrations, and other moments that I totally love. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, we can still manage to find some joy

And I’ll bet that if you’re like us and watch it every year, you find yourself matching characters in the movie to some of your own family members. But I refuse to name names publicly (wink!)…

And as it so happens, today is the anniversary of this Christmas cult classic. TimeHop informed me that the movie came out on this day in 1989.

Towards the end of the movie, Uncle Lewis manages to do quite a number on the Griswold family’s monstrosity of a tree. And in one famous shot, a charred Santa Claus ornament is shown dropping to the floor.

Growing up, we had that very same ornament on our tree. I loved the little felt-covered plastic figure. I guess it’s silly, but I see the movie and that part reminds me of my childhood tree.

So imagine our delight when we found a VERY close copy of the Christmas Vacation ornament several years ago at a second hand shop in Buford, Georgia. He’s not exactly the same, but he is close enough for us! (He even has a Mrs. Claus!)

Do you and your family have any movies that you absolutely must watch every Christmas season?