The Hallmark Christmas Movie Drinking Game – Marie’s Version

Greetings! I hope all my dear readers made it through Thanksgiving in a healthy and happy way. But if you are getting COVID-isolation crazy and want to let off some steam, I humbly suggest you try the Hallmark Christmas Movie Drinking Game. I heard about this from a coworker and it sounded too fun to pass up.

I got together with two people from my COVID bubble and we watched “Christmas at Grand Valley,” available for streaming from Amazon Prime. In this scintillating saga, which is cast in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series, Kelly returns to her Wyoming hometown (from Chicago) and becomes involved in an effort to save the town’s beloved lodge. In the process, she falls for a handsome widower sent to decide the fate of the lodge.

I’m not sure why this movie is considered a mystery. The only inkling of mystery comes in the form of, “WHEN ARE KELLY AND WIDOWER MAN EVER GOING TO KISS?”

Whenever certain things happen on screen, viewers must take a sip of their drink, or two sips, down the whole thing, or take a shot. I *think* (memory is fuzzy) I ended up drinking a whole bottle of wine between supper and the movie. It was great fun, plus I thought up some new rules, which are the ones posted in red.

Happy Holidays everyone!

RULES

Take one drink whenever:

• A reference is made to a dead relative
• The “Mayor” appears on screen
• The main character’s name is related to Christmas (Holly, Nick, etc.)
• Anytime someone disses fake Christmas trees
• A newcomer partakes in an old family or town tradition
• Hot chocolate, apple cider, or eggnog is on screen
• A big city person is transplanted to a small town
• Christmas caroling, a tree farm, or baking cookies appears
• Mistletoe is on screen
• A character makes a magic deal with Santa or an angel
• Any time you hear “Jingle Bells”
• The town is named something Christmas-y
• A cisgendered character appears

Take two drinks whenever:

• Characters experience a ‘near-miss’ kiss
• An obvious product advertisement appears
• A snowball fight or ice skating happens
• An ugly sweater or tie appears
• The characters are snowed in
• A “Pride and Prejudice” reference is introduced (a character is named Darcy, a place named Pemberly)
• Someone with slicked-back hair expresses their hate for Christmas

Finish your drink whenever:

• The cynic is filled with the Christmas spirit
• It snows on Christmas
• Someone selects a Christmas tree
• The main characters bake/cook something together, or Christmas-themed food is mentioned
• Bad art appears or a literary reference is made
• Dissonant architecture appears (for instance, a lighthouse in Wyoming)
• Accordion music happens, especially if it’s playing Jingle Bells

Take a shot whenever:

• The movie stars Candace Cameron-Bure, Lacey Chabert, or Andrew Walker appear
• The main characters fall in love
• The main characters kiss