8 Interesting Facts About ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’

It’s time to curl up on the couch and get comfy, your favorite Christmas movie is here!

But before you make a bowl of popcorn, take a look at these little-known facts about a classic Christmas comedy, National Lampoon‘s Christmas Vacation.

Do you know which other characters lived in the Griswold Neighborhood? Did you notice someone steal a Chevy Chase signature gag? Can you find the scene where Chase seriously injured himself?

Here are eight interesting facts about National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation…

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Stolen Gags

When Clark Griswold is having a hard time getting the Christmas lights working on the house, he turns to his son, Rusty. But Rusty answers his father with a classic Chevy Chase gag – looking at an imaginary watch and excusing himself. 

Johnny Galecki looks down at his bare wrist in the scene, pretending he had a watch. 

 

National Lampoon Magazine

The very first “Vacation” movie was based off a short story written by John Hughes for National Lampoon’s Magazine. The original story was called “Vacation ’58.”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was based off Hughes second short story in the magazine called “Christmas ’59.” The Christmas story was printed in the magazine in 1980. To allude to the original story, Clark finds an old home movie with “Xmas ’58” written on the label.

Home Sweet Home At Warner Brothers

Like many films and shows that happen to take place in a neighborhood, the actual “neighborhood” exists on a studio lot. In the case of the Griswold family neighborhood, they happen to be located on the Warner Brothers Studios back lot. At some point, characters from films such as Lethal Weapon and shows like The Middle would eventually call the same neighborhood home. 

Actually, the Griswold family neighbors Todd and Margo live in the same home that would be Murtagh family home in the Lethal Weapon films. 

 

It’s a Johnny Galecki Christmas

In 1989 there were only two Christmas films released. One was National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation the other was Prancer. What do the two films have in common? Johnny Galecki starred in both. Early fans of the Big Bang Theory star had a Galecki Christmas that year. 

 

National Lampoon’s Vacation References

Naturally, the sequel of a movie will reference the original. Christmas Vacation is no exception to that rule. 

On particularly memorable moment is when Cousin Eddie explains why his older kids aren’t able to make it that year. Eddie says that it’s because his daughter was being “cured for Wild Turkey” and his son was working at a carnival. Of course, Eddie is referring to Vicky and Dale from the first film. Though Vicky comes back in Vegas Vacation – played by a different actress – Dale is never seen again. 

 

Broken Finger

No matter how hard Clark tries to get the Christmas lights to work, he can’t seem to get it right. The final time he tries to get them to work and fails, Clark starts taking out his frustration on the rest of the Christmas decorations. He starts off punching a Santa Claus, and that was when Chevy Chase broke his finger. You’ll notice that after he punches that Santa, Clark resorts to kicking the rest of the decorations.

Though Chase broke his finger during the scene, he continued on and they used that take during the final film.

 

New Vocabulary

Thanks to the classic – and frustrating – amount of holiday lights and decorations that adorn the Griswold home in the film, the term “Griswold House” started to refer to homes in real life.

Do you know a house in your neighborhood that maybe put up a few too many lights? Do they have one or two too many of those inflatable animals in their yard? Can you potentially see their house from space – not in a good way? Then they are officially the “Griswold House” of your neighborhood. 

 

Not Technically Christmas

Is a movie a Christmas movie if it doesn’t actually take place on Christmas? Well, if taking place on Christmas is an essential part of a Christmas movie, then National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation doesn’t qualify. Technically none of the movies actually takes place on Christmas day – the very last scene takes place late on Christmas Eve.

Now, if the chaos, family, tradition, and spirit of Christmas are all a film needs to be a Christmas movie, then this classic comedy is more than qualified. It also has Christmas in the name, so that has to count for something.