Take Home Lessons from Holiday Movies

“Fra-gee-lay … it must be Italian!” Many of us may recognize this famous line from the 1983 holiday movie, “A Christmas Story.” The hugely popular holiday movie even has an entire musical, and the cable network TBS has a long-standing holiday tradition of playing the movie 24-hours straight on Christmas day. Fans can expect to see the film play for 24-hours again this season, as it has for the last 19 years, beginning at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

The scene when the character Flick is “triple-dog dared” to stick his tongue to a flagpole on a frigid winter day is a memorable one for most fans. The triple-dog dare is the highest of all schoolyard dares, and Flick accepts the challenge only to promptly get his tongue stuck to the cold metal surface of the pole. His classmates immediately abandon him on the playground when the bell rings, retreating to the classroom to watch from the window as the fire department finally comes to his rescue.

An important lesson to learn from Flick’s experience is not to give into peer pressure (and, obviously, don’t stick your tongue to a frozen metal pole!).

To honor the holiday season, I’d like to offer some other lessons holiday movies can teach us.

Don’t overload power outlets “Griswold” style. Clark Griswold has long been an example of what not to do in many situations, but in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” his faux pas reaches new heights (like the roof) in terms of what not to do with Holiday lights. Clark strings enough of them on his house to blind his neighbors and overload a garage wall socket dripping with power strips and extension cords. Luckily, his light show doesn’t cause a house fire, which is an all-too-common occurrence during the holiday season.

According to Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), 150 home fires per year begin with Holiday lights and other decorative lighting, causing $8.9 million in property damage each year. The ESFI also reports that roughly 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords. Companies like Mercury Insurance offer homeowners insurance that will protect your belongings in the event of a fire, but you can also protect yourself by examining cords for damage before use and making sure to match the amperage of the electrical devices with the amperage rating of the cords.

Unlike Buddy from “Elf,” use ladders when necessary. Who could forget the scene in the movie “Elf” where Buddy catapults off the couch onto the Christmas tree in an attempt to place a star on top? Things don’t quite work as planned as he lands mid-tree, sending everything toppling to the floor. While it’s a hilarious scene, Buddy’s stunt could’ve ended in an injury. Using a stepladder is a better way to reach the treetop. If you need to use a ladder to hang outdoor decorations, use a wooden or fiberglass ladder – metal ladders conduct electricity – and make sure it extends at least three feet past the edge of the roof.

Protect yourself from “Wet Bandits.” The Wet Bandits in “Home Alone” targeted homes they planned to burglarize by dressing up like trusted police officers and going door to door, operating under the guise that they wanted to help protect unsuspecting families from … burglaries. Today, updating your Facebook status or sharing vacation photos on Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat is a key way burglars identify when you’re away, and Google Street View shows them exactly where you live. Don’t tell strangers, friends of friends or followers when you’re going out of town. If you are going away, Mercury Insurance suggests tips like stopping mail and newspaper delivery, using light timers to make your house appear occupied and posting comments on social media that give the impression you are home. You should wait until you get home to post those amazing vacation photos. Don’t let the Grinch sneak in and steal your valuables!

Prepare for the unexpected (even rogue squirrels!) Occasionally, accidents happen. Perhaps your dog has inadvertently trashed your house while chasing a rogue squirrel like in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Regardless of your exact situation, it’s good practice to review your homeowners insurance policy annually to make sure you know what’s covered ahead of time.

The most important lesson I can impart for the holidays is to cherish your time with family and friends, reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to what’s to come. Happy holidays!

Stephanie Behnke

Mercury Insurance