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One of the coolest parts of Christmas is seeing all the different ways people celebrate. For some, it's a huge Christmas Eve dinner with one side of the family and then Christmas morning brunch the following morning with the other. There are those who place importance on cookie baking and Christmas desserts to share with the neighbors. Some always go to mass the morning of December 25th and others use the holiday to give back to the less unfortunate by volunteering. The point is that everyone's celebration might look different, but the true meaning of the season stays the same for everyone, which is why we've rounded up our favorite inspirational, thoughtful and even funny Christmas quotes to remind you just what the Christmas season is all about.
It's easy to forget why we celebrate Christmas among all the gift wrapping, shopping and decorating, but all it takes is a few kind words, wintery phrases and some of our favorite movie quotes from holiday classics like Miracle on 34th Street and A Charlie Brown Christmas to remind you that Christmas is about so much more than the presents under the tree. Use these quotes as an Instagram caption when you go to share some Christmas morning snapshots, add one along with a heartfelt note in a card attached to a white elephant gift or simply scroll through the list with your family and discuss which ones are your favorite. And speaking of — don't forget to check out more of our favorite favorite greetings for your annual Christmas cards.
1
'Miracle on 34th Street'
Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind.
RELATED: 26 Things You Didn't Know About 'Miracle on 34th Street'
2
Nora Roberts
Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard or too sad when you've got a Christmas tree in the living room.
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3
Hamilton Wright Mabie
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
4
'Elf'
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
RELATED: Here’s Where to Watch and Stream ‘Elf’
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5
'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?
6
'A Christmas Carol'
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
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7
Washington Irving
Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
8
Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold
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9
Maya Angelou
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
10
'The Holiday'
It’s Christmas Eve and we are going to celebrate being young and being alive.
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11
'Christmas with the Kranks'
You're skipping Christmas! Isn't that against the law?
12
'Love Actually'
If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.
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13
'The Polar Express'
Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.
14
'Deck the Halls'
That's what Christmas memories are made from, they're not planned, they're not scheduled, nobody puts them in their Blackberry, they just happen.
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15
Richelle E. Goodrich
Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever.
16
Eric Sevareid
Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves.
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17
Rosie Thomas
Christmas works like glue. It keeps us all sticking together.
18
David Grayson
I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year.
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19
Saint Francis of Assisi
For it is in giving that we receive.
20
Bobe Hope
When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things — not the great occasions — give off the greatest glow of happiness.
Cameron Jenkins
Staff Writer
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.