TL;DR: Our Top Non-Christmas Holiday Picks
If you're hitting "peak Santa" and need a break from the tinsel, here are the heavy hitters for a more inclusive winter watch-list:
- Best for Hanukkah: Full-Court Miracle (Ages 7+) and the classic Rugrats Hanukkah special (Ages 4+).
- Best for Lunar New Year: Over the Moon (Ages 6+) and Turning Red (Ages 10+).
- Best for Kwanzaa: The Black Candle (Ages 9+) and the Rugrats Kwanzaa special (Ages 4+).
- Best for Winter Magic: Smallfoot (Ages 6+) and Molly of Denali "Winter Solstice" (Ages 4+).
Ask our chatbot for a personalized holiday watchlist based on your kids' ages
By the time December 10th rolls around, most of us are drowning in a sea of red and green. Don't get me wrong—I love a good "save the North Pole" plot as much as the next person—but the "Christmas-only" lens of holiday media can feel a little... narrow.
Whether your family celebrates Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the Lunar New Year, or you just want your kids to understand that the world is bigger than a Hallmark movie set in Vermont, inclusive media is a huge win. It’s what researchers call "mirrors and windows"—media that acts as a mirror for your own experience and a window into someone else's.
Plus, let’s be real: after the 400th viewing of The Grinch, you need something else to put on while you're folding laundry or hiding from the cold.
If we only show kids one version of "the holidays," they start to associate "magic" and "family time" exclusively with one tradition. In 2026, our kids are growing up in a globalized world. They’ve got friends in Roblox from every continent and classmates with a dozen different traditions.
Showing movies that highlight different cultures isn't just about "being nice"—it's about cultural literacy. It helps kids realize that while the rituals change (lighting candles, eating specific foods, telling ancient stories), the core human stuff (gratitude, family, resilience) is the same.
Hanukkah movies are notoriously hard to find in the mainstream, but there are a few gems that actually get the spirit right without being cheesy.
This is arguably the best Hanukkah movie ever made. It’s a 2003 Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) based on a true story about a Jewish basketball team that recruits a former college star to coach them. It weaves the story of the Maccabees into a sports underdog narrative. It’s relatable, it’s not preachy, and it actually explains the holiday in a way that feels organic to the plot. Ages: 7+
I know, it’s a 90s cartoon, but the Rugrats Hanukkah special is legendary for a reason. It manages to explain the history of the holiday through the eyes of toddlers while being genuinely funny for adults. Watching Tommy Pickles as "The Maccababy" is a core memory for a whole generation of parents, and it still holds up. Ages: 4+
While it's mostly a story about immigration, the movie begins during Hanukkah in Russia. It’s a great way to talk about history, heritage, and the meaning of the holiday beyond just the lights. Fair warning: "Somewhere Out There" will still make you cry. Ages: 5+
While Lunar New Year often falls in late January or February, it fits perfectly into that "winter holiday" vibe of reflection and family.
This Netflix original is visually stunning. It follows a young girl named Fei Fei who builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. It deals with grief and moving forward, but it’s steeped in Chinese culture and tradition. The music is great, and the animation is top-tier. Ages: 6+
While this movie is famous for its "period metaphor" (which, honestly, was handled brilliantly), it’s also a deep dive into Chinese-Canadian family dynamics, ancestral honoring, and the pressure of tradition. It’s set in the early 2000s, so prepare for some boy-band nostalgia. Ages: 10+ (some "tween" themes that might require a follow-up chat).
Kwanzaa is often overlooked in mainstream streaming, which is a shame because the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) are basically a masterclass in character building for kids.
This is a documentary narrated by Maya Angelou. It might be a bit "slow" for younger kids used to MrBeast pacing, but for older kids and teens, it’s a beautiful look at the history and celebration of Kwanzaa. It’s more of a "watch together and discuss" film than a "popcorn and zone out" movie. Ages: 9+
Once again, Rugrats comes through. This special introduces Susie Carmichael’s family and explains the holiday through the lens of family history and honoring ancestors. It’s sweet, educational, and accessible for the preschool set. Ages: 4+
Sometimes you just want a movie that captures the vibe of winter—the darkness, the cold, and the way humans (and creatures) find warmth together—without any religious ties.
This movie is criminally underrated. It flips the Bigfoot legend on its head: a Yeti finds a "Smallfoot" (a human) and has to convince his community that they exist. It’s actually a pretty sophisticated look at questioning the status quo and overcoming fear of the "other." Plus, the songs are surprisingly catchy. Ages: 6+
Molly of Denali on PBS is fantastic for so many reasons (it’s the first nationally distributed kids' show to feature an Alaska Native lead). The Winter Solstice episode is a beautiful look at how the Gwich'in people celebrate the shortest day of the year. It’s a great way to talk about the science of winter alongside the culture. Ages: 4+
A beautiful journey across China to return a Yeti to his home on Mount Everest. It’s about friendship and family, and the snowy landscapes are perfect for a cozy winter afternoon. Ages: 6+
When you're branching out into inclusive holiday media, here’s how to handle it by age group:
- Preschool (Ages 3-5): Stick to familiar characters. If they already love Sesame Street or Bluey, look for their specific holiday episodes. At this age, they just want to see people being kind to each other and eating snacks.
- Elementary (Ages 6-10): This is the sweet spot for "culture-clash" stories or movies like Full-Court Miracle. They can handle a bit of history and can understand why someone might feel left out when everyone else is celebrating something different.
- Tweens & Teens (Ages 11+): They’re going to be more interested in the "why." They might enjoy documentaries or movies with more complex themes like Turning Red. This is also a great age to talk about how media represents (or misrepresents) different cultures.
A quick "no-BS" heads-up: when you're looking for older "inclusive" content, you’re going to run into some tropes. Some older movies can be a bit tokenistic—you know, the "one Jewish friend who only talks about Hanukkah for five minutes" vibe.
It’s okay to acknowledge that with your kids. You can say, "Hey, this movie was made a long time ago, and it doesn't do a great job of showing how diverse this holiday really is. What do you think is missing?"
Also, keep an eye on the "Educational Fatigue" factor. If every movie you pick feels like a school assignment, your kids are going to revolt and demand The Grinch again. Mix the "educational" stuff with movies that are just plain fun, like Smallfoot or Frozen.
You don't need a PhD in cultural studies to have these conversations. Just ask simple questions:
- "What’s one thing they did in that movie that’s the same as what we do?"
- "What’s something they did that looked really cool or different?"
- "Why do you think it’s important to celebrate things in different ways?"
If they ask a question you can't answer (like "Wait, why do they light the candles in that order?"), don't fake it. Say, "I'm not sure, let's look it up together." It shows them that learning about other people is a lifelong process.
The goal isn't to replace your family traditions, but to expand them. By adding a few inclusive titles to your winter rotation, you're giving your kids a more accurate map of the world they actually live in.
Plus, it’s just good parenting to ensure the only thing they know about December isn't just that a guy in a red suit is judging their behavior.
- Pick one holiday your family doesn't celebrate and find a movie or show about it to watch this week.
- Check your streaming apps. Most platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have "Inclusive Holiday" or "Lunar New Year" collections if you search for them.
- Ask your kids. They might have heard about a holiday from a friend at school and be curious about it.
Check out our guide on how to manage screen time during the holiday break