Hallmark continues Christmas movies into January 2021

Radio stations have begun playing their regular music tracks and many homes have tossed out their Christmas trees with the trash. Stores are taking down holiday decorations and the majority of the world is leaving December 25 behind and looking forward to the New Year. If you are still in the mood and continue to need a little Christmas right this very moment, there is great news. The Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark Movie and Mysteries Channel will both continue airing Christmas-themed movies until Saturday, January 2. HMM will end with A Nashville Christmas Carol at 5:00 AM on Saturday and Hallmark will complete the season with If I Only Had Christmas at 7:00 PM that night.

Hallmark Channel is well known for scheduling themed programming around major holidays such as Mothers Day, Valentine's Day. Hallmark features new original movies relevant to each holiday. In 2009, Countdown to Christmas was introduced, and the channel gradually expanded the number of seasonal programs it produces. In 2016 the network revealed that it had, in addition to its holiday events, begun dividing its schedule into seasonal themes throughout the entire year. Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott explained this strategy as allowing the network to be positioned as "a year-round destination for celebrations".

This way there is no need to depend on "a single series or franchise to bolster its viewership". This strategy has a bonus as it also creates synergies with Hallmark Cards. Most of the filming for the most popular Hallmark programs is done in Canada with Canadian actors. The network is popular in rural areas where people tend to have more traditional values and enjoy religious values on television. In recent years increasing numbers of people have been saying they are keeping their trees up longer, or even all year. I have seen houses where Christmas lights burn all year long.

This year especially, many Americans say they need something to take their mind off of COVID-19. What better way than to keep the joy of this season of giving a little while longer. There are now a number of Facebook groups where you can celebrate the December 25 observance every day of the year. This is an indication that people are craving that which makes them feel good and lifts their spirits. If you do not like feel good movies with happy endings or Christmas after December 25, then this network will not be your cup of tea. You might be saying "Humbug" at this point and that's OK.

If, however, you enjoy love Christmas, romance, and traditional holiday television programming, then the two Hallmark Channels are the ones for you. A lot of holiday programming this year was not what would hold the interest of those who enjoy old fashioned Christmas values. There has been a tendancy by some to take the holiday to the dark side but these movies can be enjoyed by the entire family. Children, parents, and grandparents can watch together without the fear of embarrassment because of inappropriate subjects, or profanity.

Some say the Hallmark movies are predictable as they always have a happy ending. Others point out that with the way 2020 has been, we all need something positive to look forward to and to see something happy on the television screen. Be sure to check your local listings to find the holiday movies that you believe you will enjoy and spread the word that Christmas will last just a little longer in 2020 and a few days in 2021.