# The best Christmas TV episodes

Festivus, the Holiday Armadillo, Abed's stop-motion Christmas and the Simpsons' very first episode: the holiday episodes MovieWeb and Collider rank highest.

- 82 votes · 12 items
- Dec 8, 2025 · sketchbook_philly
- https://even.best/en/l/4553/the-best-christmas-tv-episodes

## Top 12

1. **Seinfeld – 'The Strike' (1997)** (11 · ▲11 ▼0) — Season 9, episode 10: Frank Costanza's Festivus, 'for the rest of us'.
2. **Friends – 'The One with the Holiday Armadillo' (2000)** (8 · ▲8 ▼0) — Season 7, episode 10: Ross teaches Ben about Hanukkah dressed as an armadillo.
3. **The Simpsons – 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire' (1989)** (7 · ▲7 ▼0) — Season 1, episode 1: Homer loses his Christmas bonus and the family gets Santa's Little Helper.
4. **The Office – 'Christmas Party' (2005)** (7 · ▲7 ▼0) — Season 2, episode 10: Michael turns Secret Santa into Yankee Swap.
5. **Community – 'Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas' (2010)** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — Season 2, episode 11: Abed sees everything in stop-motion.
6. **Grey's Anatomy – 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' (2005)** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — Season 2, episode 12: Christmas and Hanukkah at Seattle Grace.
7. **Ted Lasso – 'Carol of the Bells' (2021)** (5 · ▲6 ▼1) — Season 2, episode 4: Ted's first Christmas away from his son.
8. **Parks and Recreation – 'Citizen Knope' (2011)** (4 · ▲6 ▼2) — Season 4, episode 10: Leslie's team gives her the perfect gift.
9. **It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia – 'A Very Sunny Christmas' (2010)** (4 · ▲5 ▼1) — Season 5, episode 13: the gang's twisted holiday traditions.
10. **How I Met Your Mother – 'Symphony of Illumination' (2011)** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — Season 7, episode 12: Robin narrates for once, with a heartbreaking twist.
11. **30 Rock – 'Christmas Special' (2008)** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — Season 3, episode 6: Jack tries to win back his mother's affection.
12. **Brooklyn Nine-Nine – 'Christmas' (2013)** (0 · ▲3 ▼3) — Season 1, episode 11: Jake becomes Captain Holt's bodyguard.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.