Hallmark Christmas Movie Stars Reveal Their Favorite Holiday Traditions

Watching Hallmark Christmas movies is a big part of so many families’ holiday traditions, but how do the actors of these films, themselves, celebrate the yearly occasion?

International Business Times asked four stars of 2018 Hallmark Christmas movies to share how they spend their Christmases — from movies they watch to traditions they do each year to new ones they want to start.

Keep reading to find out the different (and sometimes mysterious) ways your favorite Hallmark stars celebrate the Dec. 25 holiday.

Ryan Paevey (“Hope at Christmas”)

“My mom and I kind of have an atypical Christmas. We end up on the beach sometimes. We have a little bonfire, I cook lobster, and we have champagne.

“That was by her design. That’s what she wanted one year, and I was like, ‘If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.’ And so we did, and she loved it, and it was a blast, and we’ve done it every year since.”

Jen Lilley (“Mingle All the Way”)

“I definitely watch Hallmark Christmas movies, they’re very much part of my life, as well. And I’m also a huge sucker for ‘Home Alone.’ Like, huge. I think I know every word. It’s really embarrassing.

“We do everything. We put the Christmas music on in the car and go look at all the Christmas lights in the neighborhood. We love doing everything. We love cookie decorating.

“I’m hoping that I can convince my husband, but good luck to me, I really wanna do matching pajamas. I think that’s so cheesy and funny.”

Kristoffer Polaha (“Small Town Christmas”)

“We watch — and my wife [Julianne Morris Polaha], her family did it forever, and so now our family does it forever — the ‘Christmas Vacation’ Chevy Chase movie. Every year we sit down and watch it.

“And we have another tradition. It’s a long one… Santa actually shows up...and he gives kids gift.

“My wife’s grandfather was a little boy, and his name was Tricky...and one night, Christmastime, Tricky woke up, heard some bumbling, some rustling, and he goes out, and there’s Santa Claus…If you see Santa Claus deliver presents, he will make a deal with you, which is he will hand-deliver presents for the rest of your life because now you know he’s real. There’s no hiding it, so he doesn’t have to hide from you. But not only will Santa Claus deliver presents to you, he’ll do it for your kids, for their kids and on and on, forever.

“So, Julianne had Santa Claus deliver presents to her, and now our kids have presents delivered to them. And Santa, unlike the guy at the mall, who’s really jolly…he's super shy. He’s like a giant elf, basically. And he’ll bring a present to the front door, and he’ll hand it to you, and he’ll disappear. And all of a sudden, he’ll be behind us, and he’ll hand us presents. And then he disappears. And this is a thing that’s happened now, every year, my [oldest] kid’s 14, so for 14 Christmases we’ve had Santa Claus…It’s very mysterious. It’s pretty unusual, and, of course, we feel really honored.

Andrea Brooks (“Jingle Around the Clock,” “When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing”)

“One of my favorite Christmas traditions is — because I don’t bake or cook — my mom is an amazing baker and chef, and every Christmas morning, she’ll make this fantastic feast and this Christmas spread. And we come down and the baking smells amazing, and we come down, and we have an amazing breakfast, and then we do stockings as a family. My favorite Christmas tradition is my mom’s cooking, and, unfortunately, I’m no help in that department. I just get to enjoy it.”