Top 18 Christmas Vacation Movie Details

While searching the internet for Christmas Vacation movie facts, I found some interesting little known details. Obscure enough that most people could miss it, I want to make you a favor by creating ordered lists with the most intriguing hidden details.

Most of them are not blatantly obvious to be observed at first sight, so take your time and read carefully. We have extensive definitions that accurately explain any behind the scene meaning or famous dialogues.

You can see that Eddie is wearing a mock turtleneck that shows through his sweater.
You can see that Eddie is wearing a mock turtleneck that shows through his sweater.
In the house light up scene, cousin Eddie's camper can be seen in the driveway when the city power surges. This is a few minutes before the reveal that Eddie and the family are there for Christmas.
In the house light up scene, cousin Eddie's camper can be seen in the driveway when the city power surges. This is a few minutes before the reveal that Eddie and the family are there for Christmas.

Easter Eggs

Finding Easter Eggs in movies is one of my favorite hobbies. Hidden objects, characters, and their meanings are wonderful ways to discover the filmmaker's perspectives of any given movie.

  • 1 - Clark and Cousin Eddie drink from Walley World brand mugs. Walley World is the fictional amusement park from the original NL's Vacation (1983).
    Clark and Cousin Eddie drink from Walley World brand mugs. Walley World is the fictional amusement park from the original NL's Vacation (1983).
  • 1 - 1989, uncle Eddy's RV is already in the yard when Clark's lights initially turn on. Merry Christmas everyone!!
    1989, uncle Eddy's RV is already in the yard when Clark's lights initially turn on. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Hidden Details

1 - After Clark cuts down his replacement tree, he is seen washing his hands to rid them of sap. He failed to do so after putting up his first tree and he has learned from that mistake.
After Clark cuts down his replacement tree, he is seen washing his hands to rid them of sap. He failed to do so after putting up his first tree and he has learned from that mistake.
1 - You can clearly see the detonation cord before Clark "sleds" down the hill.
You can clearly see the detonation cord before Clark "sleds" down the hill.

Snot is shown drinking water from the Christmas Tree and Clark remarks how if the dog keeps drinking from the tree it will "dry up". Later on Lewis throws a match and the tree burns up instantly, presumably because the tree is a fire hazard from lack of water.

The senile 80-year-old Aunt Bethany says the Pledge of Allegiance instead of grace before Christmas dinner. She forgets the line "under God," which was only added to the Pledge in 1954.

1 - Clark and Eddie are drinking eggnog out of moose mugs, a reference to Wally World from the original Vacation movie.
Clark and Eddie are drinking eggnog out of moose mugs, a reference to Wally World from the original Vacation movie.

Laying in bed the grandpa is on the top bunk smiling up to a poster on the ceiling of a woman. While the camera is panning up, there is a poster of two turtles having sex in the background.

1 - The cup Clark and Cousin Eddie drink out of is a Walley World glass, which appeared in the original National Lampoon's Vacation.
The cup Clark and Cousin Eddie drink out of is a Walley World glass, which appeared in the original National Lampoon's Vacation.
1 - Clark and Eddie drink egg nog from Wally World Marty Moose glasses.
Clark and Eddie drink egg nog from Wally World Marty Moose glasses.

" after Clark offers to buy gifts for Cousin Eddie's kids ("A real nice surprise"), Eddie takes a wish list out of his jacket. Eddie says the list is "Alphabetized, starting with Catherine." Catherine is Eddie's wife.

/u/ sandscript pointed out In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation(1989) Aunt Bethany recites the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance ,without God, when asked to "Say Grace". Uncle Lewis audibly adds in God when he joins in saying the Pledge.

Clark gifts his boss a similarly wrapped gift as presumably his coworkers.

1 - Clark 'fixes the newel post' by chainsawing it off. A recurring gag involving a broken newel post also appears in "It's a Wonderful Life". The assistant director of Christmas Vacation, Frank Kapra 3, is the grandson of Frank Kapra, who created "It's a Wonderful Life"
Clark 'fixes the newel post' by chainsawing it off. A recurring gag involving a broken newel post also appears in "It's a Wonderful Life". The assistant director of Christmas Vacation, Frank Kapra 3, is the grandson of Frank Kapra, who created "It's a Wonderful Life"
1 - Ellen grabs Clark's genitals in the ending scene.
Ellen grabs Clark's genitals in the ending scene.
Christmas Vacation poster
Christmas Vacation poster

Christmas Vacation Plot: The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

I am pretty sure that you've watched Christmas Vacation, maybe in a theater near you or on the small screen, but probably not many of the small details have taken your attention. Most of the previous facts are hidden for some reason, but still, there is plenty of randomly forgetten stuff that makes the movie unique and interesting. The more you know, the more fascinated you'll be about Christmas Vacation and will watch it online, download or stream it again and again.

Genre Comedy
Director Jeremiah S. Chechik
Main Actors Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki
IMDB score 7.6

Check out more hidden details