If you believe that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, you will be visited by three ghosts.

The first is George from It’s A Wonderful Life. Christmas may be unnecessary for the plot. But through repeated viewings at Christmas time and an angel getting his wings, it is now the most-famous Christmas movie ever.

The second Ghost is John McClane, the NY police officer who saved 30 people at Nakatomi Plaza…on Christmas Eve. They fooled you into thinking it was “terrorists” who took over the building.

You were likewise fooled by the plot. Christmas is unnecessary, but it’s the holiday that turned a simple action flick into the most-exciting Christmas movie ever, due to Christmas imagery and cultural context.

The final Spirit glides silently toward you. It guides you through a mystical hazy swamp. It turns slowly, like in a dream. It reaches under its cloak and draws a lightsaber.

You respond by igniting yours. Both sabers form into lightsaber guitars. Music begins playing quietly and becomes louder and louder. The song forms into the Christmas song “Jingle Bells”.

Your lightsaber swings and beheads the ghost. The hood falls back. There on the ground is your face staring back at you while the sound of sleigh bells fade into the distance.

Your head drops into tears as a Wookie steps out of the mist and puts his big furry paws around your shoulder. You understand at last.

It came without plot or trimmings from trees.
It came without presents or reindeer fleas.
It came with Christmas context. You see.
Christmas movies are not just the trappings or plot.
It’s how it gives our heart a firm shot
Die Hard is not the first or the last
Great Christmas movie that will come to pass.
As Christmas Eve quiets with the setting sun
Merry Christmas and Die Hard bless us, every one!