Megyn Kelly shares her favorite Christmas things with DailyMailTV

Megyn Kelly has given DailyMailTV a peek into her holiday season, admitting she cries every time she hears Silent Night and revealing her family treats It’s A Wonderful Life like the Rocky Horror Picture Show with full audience participation.

The journalist showed her softer side when she reminisced about Christmases growing up, including the year she was ecstatic upon receiving toys Stretch Armstrong and the Incredible Hulk, saying not even a pony could have made her happier.

The 48-year-old, who lives in New York City with her novelist husband Doug Brunt and their children Yates, nine, Yardley, seven, and Thatcher, five, said she would love to start caroling with her family, but can’t seem to get anyone on board with the idea.

But Megyn said the joyous season is somewhat bittersweet after losing her father when she was a teenager just a few days before Christmas in 1985.

Listed below are Megyn’s 10 favorite holiday traditions, memories and decorations that she shared with DailyMailTV. 

Megyn Kelly has given DailyMailTV a peek into her holiday season, admitting she cries every time she hears Silent Night. Pictured: Megyn with her novelist husband Doug Brunt at the White House Christmas party in 2014

Favorite holiday tradition: ‘We play It’s a Wonderful Life and treat it like the Rocky Horror Picture Show with full audience participation – we hiss when Mr. Potter comes on, ring bells when Clarence is on screen, and ”hee haw” with Sam Wainwright.’

Favorite holiday song: ‘Silent Night has sentimental meaning to my husband Doug and me — I will never, ever forget holding my oldest child Yates on my lap at Christmas Eve mass when he was four. 

‘He had learned the song in school, and in a candlelit church with decorations all around and the choir singing, Yates, in that sweet, innocent voice only a child has, softly sang every word. I can’t hear it to this day without crying.’

Favorite Christmas morning tradition: ‘Doug and I are always up before the kids, counting down the moments until they wake up. 

‘We have finally realized we need to pre-make the coffee the night before so it’s just a button press the next morning (critical!). 

‘When they go out to the living room one of us runs ahead to videotape their reaction – it’s always poorly lit and too long for video but the moment is too precious to let it pass without trying to stop time for a minute.’

Megyn said her favorite Christmas morning tradition is watching her children rush to open their presents, adding: 'The moment is too precious to let it pass without trying to stop time for a minute'. Pictured: Two of Megyn's children in their Christmas pajamas 

Megyn said her favorite Christmas morning tradition is watching her children rush to open their presents, adding: ‘The moment is too precious to let it pass without trying to stop time for a minute’. Pictured: Two of Megyn’s children in their Christmas pajamas 

Megyn admitted the joyous season is bittersweet for her after losing her father when she was 15 years old just a few days before Christmas in 1985. Pictured: Megyn as a child with her father Edward Kelly in Selkirk, New York in 1976

Megyn admitted the joyous season is bittersweet for her after losing her father when she was 15 years old just a few days before Christmas in 1985. Pictured: Megyn as a child with her father Edward Kelly in Selkirk, New York in 1976

Most important Christmas lesson: ‘Nothing matters except the people around the tree. My dad died ten days before Christmas 1985. He was 45 and I was 15. 

‘It was a sudden heart attack, and it changed my family forever. My last sight of him was of him sitting on the couch, looking at the Christmas tree. 

‘What I wouldn’t give now to have that moment back. To have just one more chance to tell him how much I love him.’ 

Favorite tradition I’d like to start: ‘Caroling. I have tried for years to get everyone to go but let’s just say not every family member is as enthusiastic as I am. 

‘The first Christmas I ever spent at Doug’s home with his family I suggested we do it and everyone was all for it so we did and it was amazing. 

‘Doug’s mom looked over at me about halfway through, freezing cold and said, ‘so you do this with your family every year?’ ‘Oh no! Never!’ I told her, ‘you’re the first ones to ever take me up on it!’ She was stunned. But maybe a little bit more merry?’

The mother-of-three said Silent Night has sentimental meaning because of her oldest child Yates and that she can't hear the song 'to this day without crying'

The mother-of-three said Silent Night has sentimental meaning because of her oldest child Yates and that she can’t hear the song ‘to this day without crying’

Favorite movie: ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – who doesn’t love this sweet misfit who just wants to belong and winds up a hero thanks to the nose he’s so self-conscious about? Plus I love the sound of Burl Ives’ voice as the snowman.’

Favorite Christmas gift: ‘It’s a tie between Stretch Armstrong and the Incredible Hulk. I got both one year when I was a kid and not even a pony could have made me happier. 

‘This was 35 years ago and both toys are still available. The classics never go out of style.’

Favorite thing to eat: ‘Peppermint bark. Pretty much from anywhere, but Williams Sonoma makes a delicious one — the problem is I can’t eat just one piece so someone else needs to be in charge of it!’

Favorite decoration: ‘We bought an old-fashioned TV a few years ago that has inside of it a magical motorized skating rink and Christmas scene. 

‘We got it not at some Vermont Christmas store but at a casino in Vegas! When our then three-year-old first saw it, he pulled up a chair and, watching the skaters inside, said ‘I want to be in there.’ Same!’ 

Megyn said her favorite holiday tradition is watching It's a Wonderful Life and treating it like the Rocky Horror Picture Show with full audience participation, saying: 'We hiss when Mr. Potter comes on, ring bells when Clarence is on screen, and ''hee haw'' with Sam Wainwright'

Megyn said her favorite holiday tradition is watching It’s a Wonderful Life and treating it like the Rocky Horror Picture Show with full audience participation, saying: ‘We hiss when Mr. Potter comes on, ring bells when Clarence is on screen, and ”hee haw” with Sam Wainwright’

When asked what her favorite Christmas gift was, Megyn said: 'It's a tie between Stretch Armstrong (pictured) and the Incredible Hulk. I got both one year when I was a kid and not even a pony could have made me happier'

When asked what her favorite Christmas gift was, Megyn said: 'It's a tie between Stretch Armstrong and the Incredible Hulk. I got both one year when I was a kid and not even a pony could have made me happier'

When asked what her favorite Christmas gift was, Megyn said: ‘It’s a tie between Stretch Armstrong (left) and the Incredible Hulk. I got both one year when I was a kid and not even a pony could have made me happier’

Charity traditions: ‘We collect toys, old and new and donate them to the toy drive in our neighborhood. 

‘We also pack care packages for our troops serving overseas – my kids love writing notes for the soldiers and it’s a good way to talk to them about what our troops sacrifice for us. 

‘We are big lovers of the Salvation Army too – we donate every year and love listening to the carols of the Salvation Army band at one of our favorite restaurants each December.’ 

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