The Happy Holiday Hearth

A few years ago (actually, it could be a decade or more), I read about a VHS tape that could turn your television set into a simulated fireplace. What a neat idea! I tried to find the tape. Nobody had heard of it. Some looked at me as if I was somewhat loony when I asked. Well, I finally forgot all about it until this Christmas Season. We had an office party and our tech played it on the room's slide screen. I asked about the tape and he explained that there were now plenty of new DVD versions. He said to go to Amazon and type "fireplace" into the DVD search. Sure enough, about a dozen versions graced the page. I looked them over and selected "The Happy Holiday Hearth." I'm not sure why I chose this particular one. Perhaps, because it was inexpensive. Perhaps, because it was put out by Rhino, a name I could trust. In any case, I'm very happy with it.We have a 42-inch plasma TV. When the DVD is playing the entire screen is filled with a nice comfortable fire accompanied by snapping and popping sounds and the inflow of air. Our first reaction was to laugh at it in amusement. Of course, it's only psychological but it seemed to make the room warmer and more cheerful. We even seemed to feel a glow on our faces after viewing the flames for a while. It's mesmerizing, just like a real fireplace and provided an interesting and enjoyable experience. Finally we got used to it, but the fire still seemed so realistic that we jokingly expressed some worry now and then that the sparks might ignite the nearby Christmas tree or that the fire might somehow overheat the TV set. Now we greatly enjoy playing it with people over. It gets a lot of reaction and sets a good tone for the gathering.The instructions are simple and clear. You have three choices: 1. The fire and accompanying sounds; 2. The fire with Christmas music; 3. The fire with fire sounds and Christmas music. Personally, I'm really burned out by Christmas music so I'd opt to use only the first choice. I suppose with guests on Christmas I'll use the music, but 99% of the use this DVD will get will be fire only. Plus, the DVD is in no way restricted to the Christmas Season. We'll probably use it throughout the winter season, and for many seasons thereafter. I like to use it for a visual backdrop while listening to music on the CD player.It's an interesting, useful and enjoyable DVD. It'll probably get more playing time than any DVD we own. I have only a few minor criticisms. First, I don't particularly care for the patterned brick background. Second, the fire seems overly robust relative to the logs that are burning and I suspect it is being "aided" by a little gas from below. Third, The fire view on the DVD cover is a little bigger than the view in our TV screen. For example, a grate clearly shows beneath the fire on the photo but not in our screen. Fourth, The fire plays continuously but there's an awkward gap when one showing ends and it's necessary to start over. Alas, nothing is perfect.Gary Peterson

Pros: looks real, choice of music and/or crackling, actual fire video nothing more, classic homey songs,Cons: Only one view of fireplace/fire (could be con to some)I purchased this for my family's first Christmas in our new home. We were without a working fireplace and I wanted to make sure the classic Christmas feeling stayed with us, even if we were someplace new. During my childhood, and my son's, Christmas morning had a roaring fire and holiday music playing while we opened presents and ate breakfast. The thought of that ending saddened me, so I went looking for a replacement.I saw a lot of DVD's that had different fireplace styles, different views, moved around the fireplace, featured small fires, or had weird "additions" to the fireplace scene. I even saw a few that had campfires instead of a fireplace. I just wanted a roaring fire with crackling sound, and this was it.It absolutely feels like you are sitting in front of a fireplace (minus the welcoming heat). The crackling sound is comforting and very realistic, and the music option is without a doubt the perfect background selection for Christmas morning (a wonderful option for hot cocoa on Christmas-Eve night, too!).Overall, if you are looking for a realistic, roaring fire to use on Christmas (or anytime actually) this is the DVD you are looking for. With or without the music you will find it a welcome replacement when you don't (or can't) have the real thing.

I bought this DVD for my daughter, who has a TV in her room (I don't!). I'd gone to 7 different stores during the holiday madness, and finally threw in the towel, and went online. Did a general search on "virtual fireplace" and found the Happy Holiday Hearth on Amazon. I read the reviews, not just for this DVD, but for others. I decided this one had what I was looking for. I ordered it, and got it even sooner than Amazon had estimated I would.I'm now addicted to this DVD. Every night, I put my daughter to bed (she's 11), turn on the "fire" and she drifts off to sleep, while I sit in a chair, staring at it. You can choose 3 options: crackling fire, which is what we choose, holiday music, and crackling fire with holiday music. The holiday music is a bit old school, bombastic, earnest choir singing. Not relaxing. But the fire all by itself is so relaxing. The crackles are not incessant, but sprinkled throughout, adding a nice touch. The fire itself is amazing...I wonder what kind of firewood was used, because the logs take forever to burn. You never see the fire start to peter out. It's just a lovely blaze. No background sounds, like people talking as I've found in a previous hearth video (bought years ago.) I swear, I feel warm when I watch it. It's on a continuous play command, so all night, all day, as long as you want, you have this fire that is a thing of beauty to watch. When my daughter has sleepovers, at a certain point, I put the Holiday Hearth DVD in, and pretty soon, all the chatterboxes are slumbering away.

I have many fireplace DVDs, the picture is quite good, I had lines in it but when I chose (deinterlace) option, the picture was great again.What sets this one apart is that the songs are vocals instead of instrumentals; I love the selections (23 classic Christmas songs) andthe vocal renditions, from traditional choral singing (like old time Ray Conniff like aother reviewer noticed), non stop for enjoyable variety;as usual, you can choose natural wood burning sounds or Christmas music or both. It's only one hour long but it loops indefinitely.The only criticism is that the fire doesn't progress enough; it should burn out gradually like a real fireplace, but for the price, it's an interesting addition to my growing collection.

This "fire" looked so nice on Christmas Eve.. several people said they felt Heat coming from it !! :) Very realistic ... and we didn't have to worry about putting a log on !