Beyond Nostalgia: The #1 Christmas Movie Captures a New Fan 40 Years After Its Release

Talking A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story's appeal as a film goes way beyond nostalgia. 40 years after the movie's original release, it gained a brand new fan, someone who proved what the long-time fans already knew: the film is timeless. Our guest Leah didn't grow up with this movie or any Christmas movies, for that matter - she grew up in a devoutly religious household that did not celebrate Christmas. Through working as a nanny and caretaker and pursuing a love of vocal performance, her eyes were opened to a whole new world. Listen in to hear her open up about her past and share the incredible series of events that led her to be on the show today - including her performance for the VIPs of the 40th Anniversary Event!

Summary
Leah, a guest on the podcast, shares her unique journey of going from not celebrating Christmas to being connected with the movie A Christmas Story. Growing up in a Jewish Orthodox household, Leah didn't watch Christmas movies or celebrate the holiday. However, as an adult, she began incorporating Christmas traditions into her life while still maintaining her Jewish faith. She talks about her experience performing at a Christmas party for the cast of A Christmas Story and how it has impacted her. Leah also discusses her love for the movie and how she relates to the characters and themes. She emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-care and encourages others to be open-minded and open-hearted. Leah's story highlights the universal appeal of A Christmas Story and how it can bring people together, regardless of their background or traditions.

Takeaways
Leah's journey of going from not celebrating Christmas to embracing the holiday and the movie A Christmas Story highlights the power of personal growth and the ability to incorporate new traditions while still honoring one's faith and background.
The universal themes and relatable characters in A Christmas Story make it a film that can resonate with people from all walks of life, transcending cultural boundaries.
Self-love and self-care are essential in finding inner peace and being able to navigate family dynamics and holiday celebrations with grace and understanding.
Being open-minded and open-hearted allows for greater connection and understanding between people of different backgrounds and traditions.
A Christmas Story serves as a reminder of the importance of family, childhood dreams, and the joy of celebration, bringing people together and creating lasting memories.

Sound Bites
"I never saw it, maybe because of A Christmas Story, the title, it maybe threw off my very religious dad."
"I'm still very much Jewish, always going to be because my mom is, I'm very respectful towards the holiday and my family and I observe Hanukkah and I still observe all of the Jewish holidays."
"It's hard because like everybody gets older, have their own families, they move. So it was like really nice to, it's really nice to have holidays together and I miss it."

Chapters
00:00
Leah's Journey: From Not Celebrating to Embracing
15:03
Balancing Jewish Faith and Embracing Christmas
19:28
Missing the Togetherness of Family Holidays
25:12
Finding Self-Love and Self-Care in Traditions
30:57
Being Open-Minded and Open-Hearted
37:26
A Message of Openness and Acceptance