Holiday Romance & The Meg Ryan Trilogy

Everyone has their special holiday films. They're the ones you take pleasure in watching annually, ones that capture the spirit of the season for you in a particular way. When I think of a favorite holiday film –– or films that make me feel warm and fuzzy –– my mind often rests on what I think of as 'The Meg Ryan Trilogy': 'When Harry Met Sally', 'Sleepless In Seattle', 'You've Got Mail'. Incidentally, all three films were written by Nora Ephron who truly knows how to write a romantic comedy.

When I thought about The Trilogy this holiday season, and once again craved a viewing, I wondered why this season is such a romantic time for me. I think of the holidays as a time to be close to someone you love. Going for walks, seeing the beautiful Christmas lights in the streets, shopping together, staying home and being cozy together. It can also be about the melancholic feeling of being alone for the holidays and thinking about being in love. This could all be due to the years I spent in New York, where this feeling is prevalent. And the Meg Ryan Trilogy certainly picks up on those feelings.

But then I realized something about this preference. One holiday season in New York, I was single for the first time in my adult life. I reluctantly went to a small Christmas Eve party and that's where I met my now husband. It was genuinely love-at-first-sight. We were drawn to each other like magnets and we've been together ever since. December 24th is the anniversary of the day we met and it will always be a romantic day for us.

What is your favorite holiday movie? And why do you think it holds a special significance for you? Wishing the happiest and most romantic holiday to you all from Retro Active Critiques!