There are so many messages within the spirit of popular Christmas stories: the generosity of Santa Claus, the tenacity of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the hopefulness of Frosty the Snowman. Each of these characters presents many attributes worth carrying throughout the year, but they are also characters most typically reserved for holiday specials.
Many of the more modern-day Christmas characters are best known from the big screen, rather than in folklore, books, or music. And while these characters are all certainly disparate and different, they each share a love of the holidays within them. Depending on one's zodiac sign, it's easy to discover which cinematic Christmas character best aligns with one's own personality.
Aries: Clark Griswold
Clark Griswold etched out a place for himself in the annals of Christmas movie history when he did whatever he could to make a perfect holiday for his family in Christmas Vacation.
He is vastly and overly eager to do whatever it takes to make his family happy. He also feels the need to compete with the Christmases of the past. This makes him strongly aligned with the sign of Aries, which is known for its eagerness and competitiveness.
Taurus: Scott Calvin
When one thinks of Tauruses, they tend to think of bulls and stubbornness. No Christmas character matches up with the idea of "stubborn" better than Scott Calvin of The Santa Clause.
Despite all evidence that he is Santa (from elves to a holiday workshop to mystical weight gain and remarkable beard growth), Scott insists that he's dreaming. It's almost easier to convince Neil that Santa exists.
Gemini: Buddy The Elf
Two of the most widely-associated characteristics with the sign of Gemini are curiosity and kindness. Upon hearing those two terms, the only name that can come to mind is Buddy the Elf.
As the lead of Elf, Buddy views New York City with all the wide-eyed awe of a toddler dropped into a McDonald's PlayPlace. He is curious about every street corner and flashing sign, but he always makes sure that people feel loved and cared for before anything else. Any Gemini should consider themselves lucky to be just like Buddy.
Cancer: George Bailey
George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life may seem like a tortured character, at first. He's never allowed to leave Bedford Falls and he feels as if he never receives the recognition he deserves for holding an entire community together.
However, it's this level of protectiveness that makes George Bailey a clear Cancer and Cancers, clear George Bailey types, as Cancers are known for being protective of their family and friends, keeping them close at all times. Beyond this protection, though, George is able to easily intuit what others need from him and he leads with compassion always, even when his head tells him otherwise. George Bailey and Cancers are inextricable from one another.
Leo: Ralphie Parker
Ralphie Parker, despite just being a child, is one of the most clearly defined characters in the Christmas movie pantheon. The entire Parker family is, but it's Ralphie's self-assured journey that crystallizes A Christmas Story the most.
In addition to his confidence, Ralphie is also known to dabble in dramatics when he feels unfairly wronged. There has arguably never been a clearer Leo depicted in the holidays on screen.
Virgo: Katarina Andrich
Last Christmas may have only just come out last year, but it has already become a holiday classic for those who love romantic Christmas movies. It's an underrated film that will grow in estimation over time.
This is due largely to Emilia Clarke's winning performance as Katarina, the lead of Last Christmas. She is a "Grinch" type figure who prioritizes pragmatism over all else, but she also learns to love more gently. This could apply to any Virgo, as Virgos are well-known for their practicality and kindness.
Libra: Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was brought to life in the movie medium by everyone's favorite Muppet thespian, Gonzo the Great. As the narrator of The Muppet Christmas Carol, Gonzo is a classic Christmas movie character in what is one of the most classic of Christmas tales.
Because he wrote A Christmas Carol, Dickens is undeniably socially-minded and intrigued by concepts of fairness and justice in the world. Justice is practically synonymous with Libras, too.
Scorpio: Kevin McCallister
This one is a no-brainer. Scorpios are typically associated with the qualities of courage and resourcefulness. Throughout Home Alone, Kevin McCallister proves his mettle in these arenas time and again.
He is able to devise a series of booby traps for the Wet Bandits that would rival even the most creative Rube Goldberg machines. What's more, he never even thinks to cower from their attempted burglary either. That's big Scorpio energy.
Sagittarius: Ebenezer Scrooge
Too often, the character of Ebenezer Scrooge is associated with qualities of stinginess, selfishness, and sycophancy. Yes, that is how Scrooge acts at the beginning of the story, but everyone forgets how Scrooge's arc ends.
By the denouement, Scrooge essentially becomes a Sagittarius. He starts to crack jokes, he greets everyone he meets with wild smiles, and he begins to give away his fortune. Generosity of both material possessions and of spirit are both tied to the Sagittarius sign, of course.
Capricorn: Natalie
There are many characters in Love Actually, but the one who best aligns with the holiday spirit is Martine McCutcheon's Natalie. She always does her job to the best of her ability and proves that independence is possible in a massive ensemble rom-com.
These are qualities obviously connected to the Capricorns of the world. They should be delighted to be linked with Natalie, one of the few flawless (and unabashedly herself, still) characters in the entire film.
Aquarius: Mr. Green
In the final act of The Night Before, Michael Shannon's Mr. Green reflects on The Great Gatsby by saying, "Movie's alright. 3-D gives me a headache, but I'm a sucker for Leo." This is a deep thought for a character everyone chalked up to just being a local drug dealer.
Instead, he throws massive, imaginative parties and helps the film's leads find the true spirit of Christmas, en route to earning his wings as one of Santa's children. It's wild stuff, but this kind of originality is embodied by Aquarian figures, too.
Pisces: Susan Walker
Lastly, the Pisces sign is best represented by another child in the Christmas canon, Miracle on 34th Street's Susan Walker. Portrayed by Natalie Wood, Susan is initially cynical and skeptical.
However, by the end, youthful exuberance and optimism shine through in her character, in tandem with the arc of Kris Kringle. She shows she is wise beyond her years and more inclined to be empathetic than dismissive. These are traits that Pisces members possess, as well. Happy holidays, indeed.