Like that glittery snowman decoration that your family hangs in the window every year, there's not much new with these recently released holiday classics. They have seen many Christmases past on DVD.

But here's a closer look at this year's go-round, along with a similarly themed alternative that truly is new to DVD for those who want to explore a different winter wonderland.

'DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS'

Christmas present: The animated classic's "50th Birthday Deluxe Edition" features blemish-free image quality and a new, lightweight featurette — plus all the old trimmings.

Christmases past: Issued in 1997, '99, 2000.

Alternative: More great cartoons by "Grinch" director Chuck Jones return this holiday season (with work by others) in "Looney Tunes: Golden Collection, Vol. 4" (Warner), a four-disc set with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and pals.

'IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE'

Christmas present: Frank Capra's timeless film, starring James Stewart as a desperate businessman who finds a new appreciation for life at Christmas, is back, under new ownership. Fortunately, maligned former DVD issuer Artisan (now Lionsgate) got it right — fine transfer, intro by Frank Capra Jr., thoughtful retrospective — because Paramount has just reissued the old disc with new packaging.

Christmases past: Issued in 2001, '02, '03.

Alternative: "The Premiere Frank Capra Collection" (Sony), coming Tuesday, contains more memorable fare by the legendary director: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "It Happened One Night," "You Can't Take It With You," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "American Madness," and the bio "Frank Capra's American Dream."

'MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET'

Christmas present: The special edition of the 1947 holiday classic, in which Natalie Wood plays a little girl who believes that a department-store Santa is real, now includes commentary by star Maureen O'Hara, a retrospective, a TV version and other extras. The DVD has the black-and-white original and a colorized version of the film, but don't bother with the latter.

Christmases past: Issued in 1999, '02, '03, '05.

Alternative: Foreign-film Oscar nominee "Joyeux Noel" (Sony) is no family film, but the acclaimed drama does offer another "miracle": the touching true story of a Christmas Eve truce among Scottish, French and German troops during World War I.

'THE ORIGINAL TELEVISION CHRISTMAS CLASSICS'

Christmas present: This set of Rankin & Bass' much-loved stop-motion TV specials — "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" and "The Little Drummer Boy" — and the traditionally animated "Frosty the Snowman" now also includes their "Cricket on the Hearth."

Christmases past: Issued in 1999, '00, '01, '02, '04, '05.

Alternative: For more stop-motion holiday TV fun, check out the delightful "Creature Comforts: Merry Christmas Everybody!" (Sony), from the same Brits who created "Wallace & Gromit."