Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? There are the classics people watch every year, then the Hallmark movies, and the new ones released each year on various platforms. Some are wholesome and others are not. The Christmas Chronicles 2, the sequel to the 2018 original film, recently released on Netflix, offers a wholesome message containing many Christian themes. It’s a must see film for 2020 for people of all ages. As you watch it, look for these themes:
Spoiler alert: some elements of the plot are mentioned here.
Being a true believer
In the first The Christmas Chronicles, Kate was a true believer in Christmas while her brother was a skeptic turned believer. In the sequel, Kate’s faith in Santa Claus is on display in the very beginning of the film, when she wants to escape her family Christmas vacation. She goes outside and talks to Santa, whom she cannot see — much like the Christian’s attitude and disposition of prayer. When Santa comes to the rescue of Kate and Jack after they enter the Christmas world, her belief is renewed and Jack sees these mysteries unveiled before his eyes. When Jack meets Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves, he sees the realization of his belief in Christmas — seeing is believing and his eyes were opened.
Reading the Christmas Chronicles
Kate and Jack arrive at the North Pole and spend time at the home of Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus reads the children a bedtime story, the film’s namesake, The Christmas Chronicles. The story begins with the familiar Father Christmas of Smyrna, St. Nicholas, and progresses through fictitious myth and legend, which includes Belsnickle, a wayward elf, who becomes the antagonist of the film. Mrs. Claus reading a bedtime story can be seen as reading Bible stories to children or even akin to Mary’s telling the story of Jesus’ life through the Rosary.
Good versus evil
St. Nicholas, Kate, and Jack all represent the forces of good. But Kate and Jack’s entry into the Christmas world came about by the deceptive nature of Belsnickle, the fallen elf. As Mrs. Claus told the story of Belsnickle, she mentioned his fall from elf life, which included many different vices characteristic of the deadly sins. Belsnickle, the cursed elf who became a human as punishment, is reminiscent of the fallen Satan, and Belsnickle wages a war against Santa in order to destroy Christmas. The motif of good versus evil is on abundant display in The Christmas Chronicles 2, and Jack, who is sent by Mrs. Claus “to be a hero,” could be seen as St. Michael’s waging a battle against evil. And by the film’s end, Mrs. Claus arguably takes on a type of Mary. Watch the movie to the end, and you will definitely make the connection.
The Christmas star
At the center of the North Pole or Santa’s Village is a bright star that, according to Santa, participates in the light of the star of Bethlehem and because it shines, allows Santa to go between both worlds. The film incorporates elements of the Christian story in the context of a secular story. In the battle between good and evil, Belsnickle extinguishes the light, and darkness enters into the village; a symbol of what sin does to our soul — extinguishing the light of Christ in our soul. And when the light goes back on in Santa’s Village, it’s the restoration of the soul through the sacrament of Penance.
A few more themes
Santa’s village is outside of time, which is why Santa doesn’t age. Sound familiar? There is no time in Heaven. And a moving moment in the film was Kate reconnecting with her deceased family. These are just a few of the Christian themes in this Christmas film. When you watch The Christmas Chronicles 2, do so with the eyes of faith and you will discover even more of the hidden lessons of Christmas and Christianity. The Christmas Chronicles 2 is a beautiful Christmas story that will hopefully make you a true believer in the miracle of Christmas.
And today we celebrate...