Our Favorite Christmas TV Episodes

It is that time of the year again. After eating pounds of turkey last month on Thanksgiving, TV fans are now treated to countless television movies and episodes devoted to the Christmas season. Before your favorites series take a break and return next month with fresh new episodes, they may feature a holiday-themed episode before saying goodbye for the year.

While there have been many great Christmas-themed hours of TV in 2014, like New Girl‘s “LAXmas,” The Middle‘s “The Christmas Wall,” and The Mindy Project‘s aptly titled “Christmas,” we decided to turn our attention to some of our favorite shows from the past and take a look at their best holiday-centric installments. From The Office to The O.C. (because you can’t have Christmas episodes without Chrismukkah, and anyone who disagrees is wrong, plain and simple), these are our favorite Christmas TV episodes.

The Office, Episode 5.10 Moroccan Christmas, original airdate December 11, 2008

The Office featured many Christmas themed episodes during its nine season run, but this episode from the fifth season takes the cake… or should we say eggnog? Phyllis is heading up the party planning committee at Dunder Mifflin and she decided to throw a Moroccan themed holiday party for her co-workers. This angers Angela, especially because she lost her title on the committee after Phyllis became aware of Angela and Dwight’s office romance. Phyllis takes advantage of this knowledge by putting Angela to work setting up all the decorations for the festivities. Meredith downs liquor like there is no tomorrow and ends up setting her hair on fire. Since Michael is a dedicated manager, he decides to throw an intervention for Meredith during the party. Meredith denies having a problem, so Michael tricks her into getting into his car so he can take her to rehab. Once they are there, Meredith discovers what has happened and the end result is a comedic moment of Meredith running away from Michael in the rehab parking lot. There is also another story involving Dwight purchasing an abundance of Princess Unicorn dolls and selling them at a high price to last minute shoppers including Toby and Darryl.

Full House, Episode 2.09 Our Very First Christmas Show, original airdate December 16, 1998

Though this is the first Christmas episode for Full House, this classic episode took place during the comedy’s second season. The Tanner clan is going to Colorado for Christmas. Stephanie is worried that Santa Claus is not going to find her, so she decides to draw him a map so he can deliver her gifts. While on the plane, the family runs into Becky who is traveling back home to see her family for the holidays. What a coincidence?! A freak snowstorm causes the flight to land at an airport and everyone is forced to spend Christmas Eve there. This holiday episode has everything you could ask for: kissing under the mistletoe, missing Christmas presents, an explanation of the true meaning of Christmas, and a message from Santa on a retro computer. And who could forget a cute Michelle turning on the baggage claim escalator while her father Danny is sleeping on it.

How I Met Your Mother, Episode 2.11 How Lily Stole Christmas, original airdate December 11, 2006

For Christmas 2006, Ted has decided to stay in New York and celebrate Christmas with his friends. The reason he does not want to head back to Ohio is because he does not want to see his mom with her new boyfriend or watch his father making beer with his new love. Lily is decorating the apartment for Christmas. This is the first time she and Marshall are celebrating the holiday since she broke up with him and ran off to San Francisco. Lily hears an old answering machine messages. It is from Ted, and he calls Lily a bad name. Future Ted inserts the word “Grinch” into the retelling to his children. Ted explains why he said that to Marshall, which angers Lily. He goes back to the apartment to apologize and finds that all of the Christmas decorations have disappeared. Marshall buys Lily an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas because her mother refused to get her one as a child. The episode concludes with the gang visiting Ted at his cousin’s place. Lily apologizes for being such a “Grinch.” Ted’s cousins kids end up chanting “Grinch” over and over again.

Friends, Episode 2.09 The One with Phoebe’s Dad, original airdate December 14, 1995

Many Friends’ fans remember the holiday episode, “The One with the Holiday Armadillo,” however this classic from season two is greater by far. Monica is short on cash this year so instead of tipping people with cash, she has been baking them cookies, with less than stellar results from the recipients. She and Rachel throw a holiday themed party at their house, but the heater is broken and it becomes extremely hot in the apartment. Phoebe realizes the man she thought was her father is actually the Macy’s model that appears in all the frames at the department store. Phoebe’s grandmother gives her his actual address so she can meet him. Joey and Chandler go with her on the trip, but she is too scared to confront him. Because they are gone so long, the three miss the party and are also unable to purchase any gifts. They end up buying presents at a gas station for their friends which include toilet seat covers, windshield wipers, and pop.

The O.C., Episode 4.07 The Chrismukk-Huh?, original airdate December 14, 2006

Seth Cohen decides to create a holiday that combines Christmas and Hanukkah together as his father his Jewish while his mother is not. The series fourth season’s holiday episode is the best. Ryan and Taylor are discussing their relationship while hanging Christmas lights at the Cohen home. They both end up falling off a ladder and wake up in an alternate reality. In this world, Ryan never came to Newport. As a result, Sandy is the mayor of the city and married to Julie Cooper. Kirsten is with Jimmy Cooper. Seth was never able to come out of his socially awkward shell and is constantly picked on. Summer is a typical party girl with no set future. She is dating Che, who was played by the awesome Chris Pratt if you forgot, and he is bedding Julie. It is also confirmed from Kaitlin that Marissa died in Tijuana three years prior because Ryan was not there to save her.