Title image: @frau_angelique91
In short: The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect film for the time between Halloween and Christmas, because it connects both holidays. For your home that means: pumpkin light and fairy lights simply stay up until December, and Jack and Sally move onto your feet and into your mug. The film is only around 76 minutes long, so it fits any evening from 31 October to Christmas Eve.
Same question every year: is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween film or a Christmas film? Jack Skellington would have a clear answer. He is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, tired of endless scaring, stumbles through a door in a tree into Christmas Town and decides on the spot to take over Christmas himself this year. What could possibly go wrong?
For you that means: you do not have to choose at all. With a bit of Nightmare Before Christmas merch, your home becomes Halloween Town with Christmas lights for two whole months. The pumpkins can stay, the fairy lights join them and at the end there is a Christmas tree Jack would be thrilled about.
Nightmare Before Christmas decor: light for Halloween Town
In Halloween Town it is always a little dark, but never completely. That is exactly how your place should look. Instead of the ceiling light, small light sources take over that look like a bit of spooky and a bit of candlelight at the same time.
First up is the Characters Fairy Lights with Jack, Sally and friends. They hang in the window in October and on the Christmas tree in December without you having to take them down even once. On the bedside table goes the Jack Skellington Night Light. A grinning skull may not be everyone's idea of a goodnight light. I find it very soothing.
For the desk or the bookshelf there is the Sally Icons 3D Table Lamp. In the film Sally has a pretty good sense of when something is about to go wrong. Next to you, she makes sure the evening stays cosy.
Cosy like Jack and Sally: slippers, socks and jumpers
Sally is a rag doll who keeps sewing herself back together whenever a seam comes loose. It does not get cosier than that. Luckily, a few warm things off the rack are enough for you.
On your feet go the Jack and Sally Slippers, one foot Jack, one foot Sally, as befits the couple. If you prefer socks, take the Jack Logo Socks. For a walk through the first frost there is the Fear, Dread and Terror Bobble Hat.
And since Jack clearly caught fire after his trip to Christmas Town, a knitted jumper is more than allowed. The Jack Skellington Knitted Jumper works as a spooky jumper in October and as a Christmas jumper in December. Two holidays, one jumper.
Pumpkin soup for the Pumpkin King: recipe and mugs
A Pumpkin King without pumpkin soup? Unthinkable. My recipe is not canon, but Jack would definitely have waved it through. For four servings, sweat a diced onion in a little butter, add a Hokkaido pumpkin (about 1 kilogram, seeds removed, diced with the skin on) and a potato, and pour in 750 millilitres of vegetable stock. After 20 minutes, blend everything with 200 millilitres of coconut milk, season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg, and sprinkle roasted pumpkin seeds on top.
Very important: unlike Sally, who stirs a sleeping potion into Dr Finkelstein's soup so she can sneak away, please serve yours without additives.
For hot chocolate and tea afterwards, you will find everything in our Nightmare Before Christmas mugs. The Jack Face 3D Mug looks at you while you drink, the classic Jack Skellington Mug is a bit more reserved. If you are watching as a pair, take the Sally and Jack Gift Set. And on the table go the Jack and Sally Salt and Pepper Shakers, so the two are not separated at dinner either.
Movie night: watching The Nightmare Before Christmas
The film is from 1993, directed by Henry Selick, with the idea and characters coming from Tim Burton. Everything is shot in stop motion, frame by frame with real puppets. The music was written by Danny Elfman, who also gives Jack his singing voice. At around 76 minutes the film is short enough to leave time for a second round of hot chocolate.
If you want to make the evening last, build Halloween Town right onto your shelf. With the Funko Bitty Pop Starter Figure Set, half the town arrives at once. And the Jack and Zero Funko Pop Figure Set brings along the best ghost dog in film history.
Christmas like in Christmas Town: snow globe, tree and gifts
When Jack sees Christmas Town for the first time, he sings his way through snow, lights and presents and does not understand a thing he is looking at. He spends the rest of the film trying to recreate it. You can do better.
On the shelf goes the Jack Skellington Snow Globe. Back home Jack tries to understand Christmas through experiments. You just shake and watch.
And once the tree is up, think of Zero. On the foggy Christmas night his glowing pumpkin nose lights the way for Jack's sleigh, just like a certain reindeer. So orange fairy lights between the branches are not a style slip, they are canon. More ideas for the festive season are in my Twelve Nights for Nerds, and how to get cosy on Hoth is in my Star Wars winter.
Frequently asked questions about The Nightmare Before Christmas
Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or a Christmas film?
Both. The film is set in Halloween Town and is all about Jack's attempt to take over Christmas. That is why many fans watch it every year somewhere between 31 October and Christmas Eve.
How long is The Nightmare Before Christmas?
The film runs for around 76 minutes. That makes it much shorter than most Christmas films and a good fit for a weeknight.
Who made The Nightmare Before Christmas?
It was directed by Henry Selick, the idea and characters come from Tim Burton, who also produced the film. The music is by Danny Elfman. The film came out in 1993 and is shot entirely in stop motion.
Who is Zero?
Zero is Jack's ghost dog. He has a small glowing pumpkin nose and guides Jack's sleigh through the fog on Christmas night.
What does Sandy Claws mean?
That is what the residents of Halloween Town call Santa Claus, because they mishear his name. It sounds like claws, which is why it fits so perfectly into their world.
And now: lights on, the pumpkin stays
Pumpkin on the windowsill, fairy lights next to it, Jack on the screen. Christmas can come. Halloween is welcome to stay.
Everything for your own Halloween Town is in our Nightmare Before Christmas world.
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