How Movies Shape Our Traditions, Gather Us Together, and Remind Us We’re Part of a Bigger Story
As a kid, movies and TV weren’t just entertainment; they were events, shaping how I saw the world. Some were pure escape (Gilligan’s Island reruns after school—because nothing beats the high-stakes drama of the Professor building a radio out of a coconut while they still couldn’t fix a hole in a boat). Others, especially the holiday staples, carried a weight that went beyond the screen.
The Holiday Classics: More Than Just Movies
There was a rhythm to the seasons, and movies were part of the tradition. Thanksgiving meant The Wizard of Oz—a film both magical and terrifying (those flying monkeys haunted many childhoods). As we sat in the living room, the smells of a turkey in the oven filled the air while Dorothy reminded us that no matter where you go, home is where you belong.
Christmas belonged to Capra. It’s a Wonderful Life was more than a movie; it was an annual lesson in grace, perseverance, and the idea that even in our darkest moments, life has meaning. Clarence got his wings, and we all got a reminder that our little acts of kindness ripple further than we realize.
And then there was To Kill a Mockingbird—a kind of seasonal bridge between Halloween and Easter. It had the shadows and fears of Boo Radley, the injustice of Tom Robinson’s trial, and the quiet heroism of Atticus Finch. Justice, fear, misunderstanding—it all pointed toward something deeper, something that led seamlessly into the themes of Easter.
When Time Was Abundant—And When It Wasn’t
Back then, there was always time to watch, to rewatch, to let the stories settle into us. Now? There’s hardly time to sit still, let alone commit to a three-hour film. But some stories are worth the effort.
I’ve read The Lord of the Rings over 20 times, even out loud to my kids. Each time, something new surfaced—wisdom that met me exactly where I was in my own journey. Then I watched the movies, and suddenly, it seemed like Lord of the Rings was a book about war. Sure, the epic battles were there, but so many subtleties were missing.
Take Gandalf’s moment with Aragorn. In the book, Aragorn catches him talking to himself. When questioned, Gandalf simply says, “It is a habit I have of speaking to the most intelligent one in the room.” Try fitting that into a fast-paced battle sequence! Movies have their limitations, but they also serve their purpose—they give us glimpses of truth, reflections of our own journeys.
Why We Return
Maybe that’s why certain films, like books, call us back. Not because we need to escape, but because they remind us of something deeper—about home, about justice, about hope. They shape our traditions, gather us together, and remind us that, just like Dorothy, Atticus, Gandalf, and George Bailey, we’re all part of a much bigger story.
Forming 2.0 
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