I don't recall seeing Christmas Vacation at the time it was released. A couple years ago, I saw it in the $5 movie bin at Target or some other store and bought it. I do not get what anyone sees in that movie. If I ever watch it again, I'll be surprised.
I'll watch Die Hard anytime and briefly was in the "it's a Christmas movie" camp, but it really isn't.
When the kids were little, we (meaning the kids and my wife) had the Santa Clause movies THE go-to movies of the season. I really only watched for the family experience and for Elizabeth Mitchell. The first one is so hilariously '80s (despite having been released in '94), and I cannot stand Tim Allen's kid.
Honestly, there aren't a ton of Christmas movies that really do it for me. I'm far more into the Rudolph/Frosty claymation TV shows, The Year Without a Santa Clause. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, the Grinch, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, etc. THOSE say Christmas to me.