As Christmas rolls around every year, what’s better to do than watch your favorite Christmas classics? From The Polar Express to Home Alone, there is no better way to connect with the Christmas spirit than by enjoying holiday films. That is, as long as you don’t look too closely at the technicalities of such movies. After Santa drops off his gifts, it could be assumed that the parents would have some questions. After all, they didn’t buy these presents. They didn’t put them under the tree or receive them from extended family. So where did these gifts come from? This is a question that never seems to appear in the minds of these parents. In fact, the adults in these movies don’t seem to care at all about the foreign objects under their tree.
These movies generally follow a pretty standard formula. A plucky little kid is on the verge of losing all faith in Christmas magic. The parents and other adults halfheartedly keep up the Santa façade. It is up to the child to discover for themself whether or not Santa really exists. After a prolonged and enlightening journey filled with joy, reindeer, and the occasional encounter with Saint Nick himself, our main character’s belief in Santa is officially reinstated. It’s safe to assume that Santa will leave a present, tying the story up with a beautiful bow.
Except, there’s always one aspect left unaddressed. When this tear-inducing gift is ripped open and shown proudly to the family, where do our protagonist’s parents think this gift came from? It’s safe to assume that their disbelief in Santa Claus is still firmly in place. Yet, they never question the item that lands beneath their tree.
Not only is this plot hole painfully obvious, it’s shockingly common. The Polar Express, one of the most beloved Christmas movies to date, features this discrepancy. Christopher, better known as “Hero-Boy,” is coming up on his teenage years and, you guessed it, losing his faith in Santa Claus. When a passenger train known as the Polar Express stops in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Christopher is in for a real adventure. By the end of the movie, Christopher is renewed in his faith and delighted to receive a special bell from Santa. This bell could only be heard by “true believers,” meaning his parents could not hear anything.
Many parents may feel confusion, or even concern, over such an odd gift. How does one’s son miraculously receive a broken bell, and why did it bring him such immediate joy? Where on Earth did it come from? You would hope all parents would ask these questions on such an occasion. Instead, the movie rolled to the credits. It is almost concerning how little the parents in these films look into the random presents they had no part in obtaining.
It’s unfortunately not just The Polar Express that features this plot hole. Many Christmas movies do, including The Santa Clause, Elf, and even newer films like The Christmas Chronicles. One could argue that the parents just assume the other bought the gift. However, the present is almost always signed by Santa, while the rest are clearly from Mom or Dad. On top of this, the adults often share quizzical looks with each other when the gift is opened. Should this not be cause for a discussion at the very least? It may also be that the parents just assume this gift is from a distant relative. But would they not have to receive it in the mail? Put it under the tree? Perhaps with the many presents coming in during the holidays, a few get lost in the shuffle. It just seems as though these parents should be a little bit more careful with what they stick under the tree, especially if a broken bell is of no concern to them.
As we reach the end of our favorite Christmas tales, one lesson sticks out above all else. We could all benefit from tighter chimney security. It’s as if anyone can just walk right in and stick a gift under the tree these days, no questions asked.
