Christmas movies are some of our favorites. It’s cold outside, gets dark so early, and cozying up in front of a great feel-good movie full of holiday magic with the kids is my idea of the perfect night. I’ve partnered with Anchor Bay Entertainment to share this new double-feature set, Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake with you. We’ve watched both movies and just love them. These are going to be the kind of movies we watch several times over the holiday season.
Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake
These movies feel like a throwback to classic holiday movies. Not that they’re ‘old’ if you know what I mean, but they just have that classic animated feel, and that nostalgia is such a huge part of the holiday spirit. I’ve loved watching these with my kids and am thrilled that they are so happy to enjoy the messages without all of the buzzing and whizzing and lights flashing on the screen.
Tis the season to bring home some holiday cheer with Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake arriving as a special DVD double feature, as well as individually on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company. Both family-friendly animated tales are also available individually on Digital HD and On Demand. Based on the animated television series “SantApprentice,” the perfect gift for anybody naughty or nice comes with jolly goodies including 16 winter themed decals to help spread the joy!
Santa’s Apprentice is the movie to watch first. This is where the story begins and it’s just so cute. I love a good Christmas story that involves a big-hearted Santa bringing Christmas magic to a child.
In Santa’s Apprentice, starring Julie Gayet (My Best Friend, Select Hotel), Jean-Pierre Marielle (The Da Vinci Code), Max Cullen (The Great Gatsby, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Australia), Gabe Eggerling (The Kicks, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”), Santa doesn’t want to retire, but rules are rules and he must train someone to replace him. The lucky winner, to be chosen from among millions of children, must be named Nicholas, be an orphan and have a pure heart. On the other side of the planet, there is a little boy who is a perfect match, but his lack of self-confidence and fear of heights make him a poor contestant. Will Santa agree to step down, and help his apprentice take his place?
The Magic Snowflake is actually the second piece of Santa’s Apprentice, a continuation of the story. This is such a sweet story about what the magic of Christmas means and how to find it in yourself this holiday season.
In the sequel to Santa’s Apprentice, The Magic Snowflake, starring Vincent Grass (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Ernest & Celestine), Nathan Simony (Santa’s Apprentice, “Merlin”), the new Santa is a seven year-old boy. As Nicholas contracts the illness of those who want to grow up too fast: Grown-up-itis, The Council of Retired Santas is forced to relieve him of his duties and appoint an experienced Santa who will be able to manage the delivery in time. To get his job back, Nicholas must regain the innocence, freshness and carefree attitude of his childhood.
Bonus Christmas Decals
As a bonus to the movies, when you grab the double feature 2-pack, this set of 16 holiday decals is included! They are the clingy kind that go on the walls but come right off cleanly. Aren’t they cute? A fun holiday decoration for the kids’ rooms.
Where Can I Get It?
This double feature set that includes both Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake is available at several retailers. You can see the complete list here. If you’re an Amazon shopper (I am!) this is where you can find it.
I love this set for a holiday gift for families. It’s still before Thanksgiving right now and I’m not exactly thinking too heavily about Christmas but after watching these movies, cuddled up with my kids on the couch, I’m feeling the holiday magic!
The Giveaway
The generous folks at Anchor Bay Entertainment have sponsored this post and a giveaway for my readers! One of you will win a prize pack valued at $69.98:
One (1) winner receives:
- $50 Visa Gift Card to plan a Family Movie Night during the Holiday Season
- Copy of Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake DVD Double Feature
This giveaway is open to US residents only ages 18+, and will end at 11:59pm ET on November 28, 2016.
Good luck!
Jessica To says
Every year we like to take an evening and ride around and look at Christmas lights.
Lisa Brown says
I do not have any traditions right now, it is only my husband and I
shelly peterson says
We like decorating the tree and then have cocoa and cookies afterwards.
Mami2jcn says
Decorating the tree and looking at the Christmas lights are my favorite traditions.
Steve Weber says
We love going to look at Christmas lights and decorations in the neighborhood.
Will G says
My favorite is watching all of the Christmas movies!
Kelly D says
I like to decorate the Christmas tree with the help of my kids.
Janet W. says
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is baking and decorating gingerbread men and women cookies with my grandsons!
Julie Wood says
My Christmas traditions are getting the kids and husband and the family together and going out and picking out our tree and coming home and decorating it together and listening to Christmas music!
Theresa Wallace says
Love this that is kinda what I always wanted to do true family memories.
Melissa Storms says
My favorite Christmas tradition is stringing popcorn and cranberries with my family.
Thomas Murphy says
I like decorating the tree
Elena says
My favorite tradition is to bake Christmas cookies with my family
Julie Lundstrom says
I love Christmas!! I like the music, lights, decorating the tree, Christmas shopping, and Holiday baking.
Mary W says
Our tradition is to have family together for a good long visit and plenty of tasty food.
Nancy says
I enjoy planning, cooking, and enjoying our holiday meals together.
Stefanie G says
I love watching Christmas movies and making cookies with my family!
Nannypanpan says
Driving around to see Christmas lights and doing gingerbread house
Susan P. says
My favorite Christmas tradition is to put up the Christmas tree.
Cheryl B says
We open one gift on Christmas Eve.
Kim Henrichs says
Opening up one gift on Christmas eve and getting new pajamas!
Theresa Wallace says
Sadly our lives are in a kinda Limbo and most traditions we had are kinda gone My husband is dying and is no longer in our home so with 2 special needs boy’s 9 and 6 it is hard for them to understand this. I’m determined to keep some older ones like PJ’s opened Christmas eve and Hot Coco after playing in the snow with my sons little tea set.
latanya says
getting matching pj’s
Evans B says
Nights before Christmas eve, we would visit this house with Christmas display and park at the sidewalk and be amazed! We bake cookies for Santa the night before too.
Katie Bellamy says
Celebrating with my family on Christmas Eve.
Karrie says
Toasting all our loved ones and say8ihng a prayer before dinner
Audra OHara says
We have a tradition of decorating the house the day after Thanksgiving. We spend all day working on everything. I’ve also started a new tradition of giving my daughter a snow globe in her stocking each Christmas.
Jennifer Marie says
We get together and have a big meal.
Nicole Sender says
I like to spend Christmas morning with my grandsons opening presents and then having Christmas Brunch!
Allison Swain says
I love going to our yearly family dinners. Thanks for the chance to win this
Joan Kubes says
We like to all pile in the car and drive around town and look at all the houses all decked out in lights.
Barbara Montag says
My favorite tradition is my sis and I seeing a Christmas play or concert each holiday season.
thank you
Cindy Merrill says
My Dad was a trucker, so on Christmas eve, I often try to make a visit to a truck stop diner. It’s a nice way to remember my Dad.
Shayna Brookman says
WE ALWAYS PUT THE TREE UP AND DECORATE THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING 🙂
Maralea says
We have a cookie baking day and decorate the Christmas tree together.
Glen Hough says
I love spending time with my family
Lauren says
We have an advent calendar with fun activities.
Sindy Murray says
weekly movie night, popcorn, hot chocolate and elf in the shelf
Erika W. says
My favorite traditions are decorating the tree with my family and baking/decorating cookies.
Kim W says
My favorite tradition is my cookie exchange. We all wear our ugly sweaters and taste cookies while we talk. Then everyone leaves with a nice assortment of cookies!
Barbara Riffe says
Christmas EVE, we always have movie night and watch the Its a wonderful life and Miracle on 34th st,
Dawn Monroe says
I have several favorites but now that my kids have their own families one newer tradition is going Black Friday shopping with them. We have a great time. I wish they didn’t start on Thanksgiving but it’s still fun.
Rachel says
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is getting together on a Saturday with my mom, sister and sister in law and making tons of cookies for our families.
Melissa T says
Singing (badly) to the Christmas songs on the radio as we decorate the tree
Keri justice says
My favorite Christmas traditions are baking cookies for the holiday. My kids also bake cookies Christmas Eve for santa!
Jean Segina says
It seems like each of our kids has their own idea of what our family traditions should be. We try to accomodate them all. We do lunch with Santa (and photos), shopping and a movie, candle light service at church…but the best tradition has turned out to be the opening of an ornament by each child each year. It pertains to whatever special thing they might have achieved that year- first little league practice, winning a track relay, hunting their first deer, getting a first pet…you get the idea. Now that they are growing up they love to go back and reminisce about the hows and whys of each ornament.
Fiona N says
I take my nieces and son to see the Christmas trees at my local City Hall. When we get home, I ask them to help me put our Christmas tree and all ornaments up
Thank You
courtney b says
I like opening gifts on xmas morning with all the kids and looking to see if santa came and ate his cookies 🙂
Nicole Martin says
We watch Rudolph!
Annette says
My favorite Christmas tradition is when my dad distributes the gifts from under the tree.
patricia caradonna says
Our family traditions include going to Mass on Christmas Eve. and then enjoying Pizza bread, quiche and desserts.
Our family wakes up early and we open up presents. Grandparents, cousins and siblings arrive for more food, fun and laughter. Its an entire weekend of fun!
Ellie Wright says
My favorite tradition is the treasure hunt we set up for the kids on Christmas morning. We leave clues all around the house that eventually lead to the first gift they get to open.
Dana Rodriguez says
We love driving around at night and checking out everyone’s decor and lights!
Desiree Glaze says
We like to visit Callaway Gardens and ride the Jolly Trolley to see the lights.
Wendy R. says
Every year we bake and decorate sugar cookie together on Christmas eve, while in our pajamas.
Jamie Williams says
I look forward to my daughters putting out cookies for Santa and veggies for his reigndeer.
Terry Stevens says
We do a gift exchange among all of the adults for Christmas as well as have game night over the holidays.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I love getting all the kids in the family together to bake and decorate sugar cookies!
Jennifer Rote says
I like taking the family to our local festival of lights. We all love going for the drive.
Elle says
I like decorating the house together.
Edye says
My family and I go out for pizza every Christmas Eve.
Betsy Barnes says
One of my favorite Christmas tradition is decorating our tree. We turn music on, have snacks and just have fun being creative! 🙂
HS says
My favorite Christmas traditions are picking and decorating Christmas tree with my family.
Holly Thomas says
Our tradition is to open one gift on Christmas Eve.
Cynthia R says
My favorite christmas tradition is the adults do a secret santa exchange. We pick out the names on Thanksgiving after dinner.
Sarah Hayes says
I love baking and decorating with the family
bernie wallace says
My favorite Christmas tradition is putting up the Christmas Tree with my wife. Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win.
Starla says
This is so awesome. My family loves to meet on Christmas Eve together and we bake sweets. We let the kids have a cookie decorating station and it’s always so fun!
Amy Orvin says
Every Christmas Eve, my brother, mom and I get together and watch movies and exchange presents. Than on Christmas, we spend the whole day together eating and talking and spending time together.
Leigh Anne Borders says
One of my favorite tradition is the one where my family takes baked goods to others. We surprise them with a basket full.
Dan Dykstra says
Around the Christmas season we really enjoy sitting down as a family and watching our favorite videos.
Dawn says
Christmas Eve (once I’m home from work) we watch Christmas movies and sing songs while trying to bake cookies. Christmas day is spent at home so the kids can enjoy their gifts, all while “A Christmas Story” is on (husbands family tradition). Then we celebrate the 26th with bday, usually shopping for the next round of holiday get-togethers.
molli taylor says
we are a newly blended family so i imagine we will form new traditions, though i hope christmas cookie are always a thing
amanda whitley says
every year we take the kids to look at Christmas lights and sip on hot cocoa
Bridgett Wilbur says
We love to make home made Christmas cookies with the kids every year.
aaron reck says
Family gathering and eating and exchanging gifts. I think it’s great when our family comes together and gives back as well in whatever way we can that year. Sometimes we’ve volunteered and sometimes we’ve only been able to donate because of time limits. These are my favorite Holiday traditions.
Susan Christy says
Opening stockings in front of the fireplace, Christmas eve service and more – I love all of the holiday traditions.
Austin H. says
The family decorating the tree and watching Christmas movies together. It’s coming up so fast.
Linda says
I love baking Christmas inspired cookies and cupcakes with my granddaughters.
Tabathia B says
We watch christmas movies and visit family members
Sarah Mayer says
My favorite is on Christmas Eve – we eat, drink and open up all the presents.
Breanna Pollard says
WATCHING MOVIES AND SEEING ALL OF THE LIGHTS.
STEPHANIE MACDONALD says
making and decorating cookies
brittany says
my fav tradition is going to see the christmas lights.
Rosalee Jacklin says
My favorite tradition would be all the family getting together on Christmas Eve! The sound of the laughter & kids screaming & having fun. While eating a ton of home made foods/desserts is the absolute best!!!
LYN WILLIAMS says
We have a family tradition of opening two gifts Christmas Eve, one is always a pair of PJs and the other is an actual small gift. After opening the gifts we watch a couple movies then off to bed.
Courtnie Miller says
I like decorating the tree and going to church on Christmas Eve.
Tiffany Greene Elliott says
Letting my kids help decorate the Christmas tree and bake cookies are our tradition right now!