“Tis the season to be jolly and joyous!” Have a “The Muppet Christmas Carol” movie night with your whole family! Cozy treats, laughter, and holiday magic make it a night to remember and get you into the Christmas spirit.
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Who doesn’t love a little chaos and Christmas cheer? The Muppet Christmas Carol has it all: talking vegetables, singing rats, and Michael Caine acting the heck out of this role next to some very iconic muppets.
It’s the kind of movie that makes kids giggle, parents nostalgic, and everyone in the room feel a bit more cheerful. Add in some themed treats, and suddenly your family movie night feels like a holiday event straight out of the Muppet theater.
Short Summary of The Muppet Christmas Carol
On a fateful Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts of Christmas past who teach him valuable lessons about kindness, generosity, and the true meaning of Christmas.
In this jolly retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, join Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and the whole Muppet gang as they bring humor, heart, and plenty of festive spirit to a story the entire family can enjoy.
The Muppet Christmas Carol Movie Night
My family loves a good themed movie night. We’ve done several non-Christmas movie nights including Oliver and Company and A Goofy Movie. But I’ve got to say, I LIVE for Christmas-themed movie nights because they’re something we can do every holiday season.
We know that we’ll be having pizza and macaroni and cheese when we watch Home Alone, and a taco bar for Jingle All the Way! There’s something so special about family movie night traditions to me, and it definitely stems from when I was a child, watching these treasured movies with my dad, mom, and brother. Now, to be able to share these movies with my own children is so momentous.
The Muppet Christmas Carol Dinner
It was fun brainstorming ideas for The Muppet Christmas Carol movie night! While some would say you need a roast goose or a Christmas turkey to pair with this movie, I think we can look deeper into this film and come up with more original ideas. Here’s what I came up with:
Kermit’s Christmas Punch
While you could make many holiday-themed drinks, I thought something bright green and sweet (just like the humble Bob Cratchit) would go over well for my three kids…and myself haha! And it was very delicious! This recipe is adapted from a Green Punch from Allrecipes.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces Lime Jello
- 2 cups Boiling Water
- 1 can Frozen Lemonade (or Limeade), slightly thawed
- 2-3 cups of Pineapple Juice, chilled (I used half of the pineapple juice from a 46-ounce can)
- 1/2 liter of Ginger Ale, chilled
Directions:
Dissolve the lime jello in the boiling water and mix well. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes to cool down. Add in the lemonade (or limeade) along with the chilled pineapple juice. Allow the mixture to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes (or longer). When you’re ready to serve, pour in the ginger ale and serve. Enjoy!
The Ghost of Christmas Present Veggie Platter
In the movie, the “large absent-minded spirit”, is seen wearing a wreath on his head and thought we could make a veggie platter! You can use this as an appetizer before dinner, or serve it with dinner! Either way, you can make it ahead so there’s less to do on the day of your Christmas movie night.
Ingredients:
- Broccoli
- Sliced Cucumbers
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
- Red Bell Pepper
- Baby Carrots
- Ranch or Hummus, optional
Directions:
On a large platter, place a small bowl in the middle for the dipping sauce. Surround the bowl with the different green vegetables, creating a circular wreath around the bowl. Dot the ‘wreath’ with tomatoes and baby carrots to bring color, like ornaments and flowers.
For the bow, cut the bell pepper into 4 sections. Use two large sections for the “loops” of the bow. Cut one of the other sections of the bell pepper to create the ribbon that hangs down from the bow. You’ll have one section left that you can use for “decor” to eat or save for another use.
Rizzo’s Cheesy Christmas Sticks
These cheesy Mozzarella sticks are inspired by none other than our wisecracking rat, Rizzo! Served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping, they’re easy to make and guaranteed to please both kids and adults! Make these ahead of time and freeze them to make the night run smoother.
Miss Piggy’s Pork-Free Christmas Sliders
These mini sandwiches are bite-sized, flavorful, and perfect for little hands or as a quick dinner during your festive family night. Whether you fill them with roasted chicken, turkey, or a veggie option, they’re a crowd-pleasing way to keep everyone happy, including Miss Piggy, who would seriously be offended by the addition of ham.
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 butter
- 2 tbsp mustard
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Melt all of the sauce ingredients together in a small saucepan.
Slider Ingredients:
- Deli or Rotisserie Turkey (or sliced chicken or roast beef)
- Sliced Cheese
- Cranberry sauce
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half lengthwise and place the bottom of the rolls on the bottom of a 13″x9″ dish (Be sure to spray your dish with nonstick cooking spray!).
Add some sliced turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce to the rolls. Place the top half of the rolls back on top. Pour the butter mixture over the rolls and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
The Muppet Christmas Carol Dessert
For dessert on our Muppet Christmas Carol-themed night, we served up Cratchit’s Cast Iron Skillet Apple Cobbler. Apples pop up several times throughout the movie, so this cozy, classic dessert felt like the perfect sweet ending to our family movie night.
Warm, bubbly, and best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or in my case, a dollop of whipped cream). It was a hit with everyone at the table!
The Muppet Christmas Carol Themed Gift Ideas
- The Muppet Christmas Carol DVD – I know that Disney Plus streams this movie, but I highly recommend having a physical copy to watch the bonus features, bloopers, and of course the extended version of the movie.
- A Muppet Christmas Carol Book – My kids have this book, and the illustrations are perfection!
- “I’m Here for the Food” Shirt – This is totally something my husband would wear.
- Ebenezer Scrooge Bunting – If you’re looking to decorate for your movie night, this fun banner is where it’s at!
- Statler & Waldorf Door Knockers – I don’t know what I would do with these, but these magnet knockers are absolutely incredible!
- Muppet Christmas Carol Cookie Cutters – Oh my goodness, I need these, especially the “Bear in a Wig” cutter!
- Light the Lamp Christmas Mug – This iconic line deserves its own coffee mug.
- Retro Film Cover Sweater – Going on my Christmas list this year!
The Muppet Christmas Carol Memorable Quotes
These hilarious Muppets sure can deliver some great lines! Here are some of our favorites:
- “That was the speech? It was dumb! It was obvious! It was pointless! It was … short. I LOVED IT!” – Statler and Waldorf
- “Thank you for makin’ me a parta dis” – Rizzo the Rat, while being used as a towel on the window
- “Our assets are frozen. Our pens have turned into ink-cicles!” – The bookkeepers who work for Ebenezer Scrooge
- “Well, I suppose that on the blessed day of Christmas, one must drink to the health of Mr. Scrooge, even though he is odious (mhmm), stingy (mhmm), wicked (mhmm), and unfeeling (mhmm), and badly dressed *GASPS” – Mrs. Cratchit, Betina, and Belinda
- “And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die…” – Gonzo as Charles Dickens
- “Ah that was a fine meal.” “Yes it was, wasn’t it?” “What should we do now?” “Let’s have, uh, lunch.” “Good idea!” – Pig bankers
- “No cheeses for us meeces.” – Mice in the wagon
- “HEAT WAVE! Arriba! This is my island in the sun!” – The Book-keepers
- “And therefore, I’m about to raise your salary! Ooooh, and I am about to raise you right off the pavement – pardon, pardon? – Mrs. Cratchit to Ebenezer
- “Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp, not the rat!” – Rizzo the Rat
- “You will love business. It is the American way!” “Sam?”…whispers..”Oh, it is the British way!” – Sam the Eagle as the School Headmaster
- “It’s all right, children. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I am sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us.” – Bob Cratchit
Hidden Easter Eggs in The Muppet Christmas Carol
Part of the fun of rewatching The Muppets Christmas Carol is spotting the small details tucked into the story. Here are a few hidden gems from the film:
Micklewhite’s Shop
here is a shot of penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge singing in front of a shop named “Micklewhite’s”. That is a nod to Michael Caine, whose real name is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.
Bean Bunny & Real Time
Near the end of the movie, when Bean Bunny is talking up to Ebenezer in the second-story window, he notices Gonzo and Rizzo scurry by in front of him.
This shows that Gonzo and Rizzo are no longer “invisible” and the movie has caught up to real time. If you look closely, you’ll also see their fresh footprints in the snow. So cool!
Kermit & Tiny Tim’s Walk
When Kermit and Tiny Tim stroll through the snow, they’re actually walking on a barrel, not a snowy street.
Marley & Marley
In Dickens’ original story, Jacob Marley did not have a brother. But since the filmmakers wanted to use both Statler and Waldorf, Brian Henson created “Robert Marley” (aka “Bob Marley”)—a cheeky nod to Bob Marley and the Wailers. That’s how we got the unforgettable “We’re Marley and Marley… Oooooohhhhhh!” moment.
The Lost Song: The Love Is Gone
If you’ve ever thought, “Wait, isn’t there supposed to be a sad love song here?”, you’re correct! “The Love Is Gone” was originally part of the movie but was cut when Disney lost the negative of the scene.
For years, it only appeared on certain VHS and DVD editions. Thankfully, it’s been restored in newer versions, so families can finally watch the film as it was intended.
Statler & Waldorf’s Haberdashery
There are several shop signs sprinkled throughout the film. One fun detail is the “Statler and Waldorf Haberdashery.” A haberdashery is a men’s clothing and accessories shop selling things like buttons, ties, and fabrics.
The Pig & Grapes Tavern
When Scrooge brushes off Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker’s request for a donation, you can spot a sign in the background for the “Pig and Grapes Tavern.” The wreath covering part of the sign makes it tricky to read, but the full name can be seen at the very beginning of the film.
This is actually a tribute to a real-life pub in Limehouse, London called The Grapes. Charles Dickens himself visited the pub in the 1820s, and even included it (vaguely disguised) in the opening chapter of his novel, “Our Mutual Friend.” It’s a cool connection between Dickens’ world and the Muppets!
Duncan & Kenworthy Booksellers
At the start of the film, during the credits, the camera rolls over a shop named “Duncan & Kenworthy Booksellers”. Duncan Kenworthy was a co-creator and producer of “Fraggle Rock”, a children’s television series created by Jim Henson, originally airing in the 1980s.
He was also Vice President of Jim Henson’s company from 1988 to 1995 and then went on to produce big films like “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill”.
The Muppet Christmas Carol Movie Night Conclusion
A Muppet Christmas Carol movie night is such a fun way to share laughs, good food, and get into the Christmas spirit with the whole family. If you enjoyed this themed movie night, be sure to check out our other family movie nights for even more cozy ideas and traditions to try together!
Check out this Family Themed Movie Nights next!
- Home Alone Family Movie Night
- Jingle All the Way Movie Night
- Oliver and Company Inspired Movie Night
- A Goofy Movie Family Movie Night
Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
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