We all know the Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph and even Saint Nick too, but can you recall some of the less-famous Christmas characters who deserve their time in the red and green spotlight…
The Cinnamon Bear
The star of a serialized radio program of 26 15 minute episodes that first aired in 1937 Paddy O-Cinnamon aka the Cinnamon Bear is a ursine resident of Maybeland who journeys with twins Jimmy and Judy Barton and their friend the Crazy Quilt Dragon to track down a silver star that goes on Judy and Jimmy’s Christmas tree.
While the radio show still endures to this day and even got an Audible remake in 2021 starring Alan Cummings as Cinnamon Bear and an all-star cast including Ryan Reynolds, it has not yet received a screen adaption(unless you count the low-budget tv version which used puppets )
and now would be a good as time as any to adapt it either as a full length movie or maybe an animated miniseries on Netflix? Maybe a new adaption could lead to a sequel story continuing the adventures of Cinnamon Bear, Crazy Quilt, and Judy and Jimmy
Befana
A variation on the Christmas witch, this one is from Italy and is a good witch who gives presents on Epiphany Eve. She has since become more wrapped up in the modern christmas tradition and even appeared in the recent Santa Clauses Disney Plus serie(played by Laura San Giacomo)and other christmas media from Italy, but perhaps she needs her own tale. Maybe a team-up movie that brings all the versions of the Christmas Witch together to save christmas?
Ak, The Master Woodsman
Aside from writing the classic Wizard of Oz(which is having a new hey-day with the release of the Wicked prequel film) L. Frank Baum also wrote a Christmas novella entitled The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus which gave the Santa Claus Tale a fantasy twist. It was later adapted into a Rankin and Bass Christmas special in 1985 and an animated film in 2000, but has yet to get a live-action adaption. With fairies, demons, and even dragons a live action adaption could be a christmas version of Lord of the Rings. One of the characters that stands out beside Santa himself is his mentor Ak, the Master Woodsman who I could see getting his own Wicked-style prequel
The Abominable Snowman aka Bumble
Yes, you could argue that The Abominable Snowman isn’t really a christmas character, but he did appear as the main antagonist in the classic Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer Christmas special and appeared in a few of the various attempts at a sequel, but why not give him his own spin-off, maybe featuring him teaming up with fellow overlook Christmas character Yukon Cornelius
The Original Reindeer
Yes, the reindeer are featured in a lot of Christmas media and we all know the names Donner, Prancer, Vixen and the like(most thanks to the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore ), but they all seem to be secondary characters(aside for the show-off Rudolph) why not a movie, special, or series that retells the origins of Santa’s original reindeer and how they came to be a team.
The 3 Wisemen
Much like the reindeer The 3 wisemen who visit baby Jesus are featured in a lot of Christmas media, mostly the more Christian-centric stories, but it’s always in the background and most of the time we barely even learn their names. Perhaps it’s time the story of the nativity was told from their point of view of the 3 Magi. A more comedic take starring a trio of 3 big name comedians with great chemistry, may be just what is needed.
Jingle Belle Kringle
Not to be confused with the film, Jingle Belle Kringle is a comic character, created by Batman the animated series writer Paul Dini, who is the spoiled daughter of Santa Claus. Yes, the idea of the offspring of Santa Claus isn’t exactly a new idea, but Jingle Belle could offer a new take on the concept and she almost got a movie in 1999, so why not give the character another chance either with a live-action movie or maybe a Netflix mini-series. Sydney Sweeney might be good casting for the daughter of Santa Claus
Those are just a few lesser-known christmas characters I feel could use more of a spotlight. Who is your favorite Christmas character?
