The Simpsons: Every Christmas Episode Over the Decades, Ranked

Over its many years on television, The Simpsons has delivered some truly memorable Christmas episodes. While the show is famous for its Halloween specials, Christmas has always been a major holiday for the series as well. In fact, The Simpsons‘ connection to Christmas goes all the way back to how the show originally started.

Since it began, The Simpsons has given us many Christmas episodes that viewers still remember. These episodes vary in how much they focus on the holiday and how well they capture its spirit. However, when looking at all the Christmas episodes released so far—including those from the current 37th season—some consistently stand out as more enjoyable and well-made than others.

20). Gone Boy

The Season 29 episode, “Gone Boy,” is generally considered one of the weakest Christmas episodes of The Simpsons. While it starts with a brief holiday-themed opening, the story quickly shifts to Bart getting lost and Sideshow Bob’s attempts to find him. Unlike most great Simpsons Christmas episodes, it doesn’t focus much on the holiday itself, and that lack of Christmas spirit holds it back from ranking higher.

19). She of Little Faith

The Season 13 episode, “She of Little Faith,” follows a similar pattern. Lisa explores Buddhism, leading to humorous moments as Homer and Marge try to steer her back to Christianity with the promise of a pony and the appeal of Christmas. While the episode offers a satisfying conclusion to Lisa’s spiritual journey and sets up a lasting change for her character, it doesn’t really feel like a Christmas episode. Compared to other holiday-themed episodes, it falls a bit short on capturing the festive spirit.

18). The Nightmare After Krustmas

Many Simpsons Christmas episodes feature a surprise visitor joining the family for the holidays, and the results are usually a bit of a mixed bag. The Season 28 episode, “The Nightmare After Krustmas,” is one of the less exciting installments, focusing on Krusty the Clown and his seldom-seen daughter, Sophie. Krusty goes through a crisis of faith and even briefly tries Christianity, which unfortunately makes the episode less enjoyable overall. It’s often considered the first truly holiday-focused episode, which may explain its place on many ‘worst of’ lists.

17). White Christmas Blues

When it comes to weak episodes featuring guests, “White Christmas Blues” from Season 25 is a prime example. The premise – Springfield capitalizing on tourists eager to see snow – is initially amusing. Marge starts a bed and breakfast, an idea surprisingly suggested by Homer, to make extra money. However, the episode is difficult to watch. The new guests are intentionally irritating, and their presence drags the whole thing down. It doesn’t feel like a cheerful Christmas episode, though it does have a few funny moments that prevent it from being the absolute worst, better than many of Krusty’s appearances.

16). Kill Gil, Volumes 1 & 2

When it comes to houseguests during Christmas, Season 18’s “Kill Gil, Volumes 1 & 2” really stands out. It’s more than just annoying – after years of being a lovable underdog, it feels natural that Gil would take advantage of the Simpsons’ generosity. The connection between Marge and Gil makes it particularly satisfying to see her finally get fed up with him overstaying his welcome. While it might be a bit of a stretch, the episode ends with a genuinely heartwarming holiday spirit, bringing the story full circle.

15). ‘Tis the 30th Season

The Season 30 episode, “‘Tis the 30th Season,” takes the Simpsons to Florida for the holidays. The story centers around Homer and the family trying to cheer up Marge after a disastrous Black Friday shopping trip. While the premise is a bit of a stretch, the episode is heartwarming and ultimately delivers a perfect holiday celebration, culminating in a surprising scene at Moe’s Tavern. It’s a sweet reminder of how much the family cares for Marge, a sentiment that’s always good to see.

14). Bobby It’s Cold Outside

The Season 31 episode, “Bobby It’s Cold Outside,” is another unexpected Christmas story focusing on Sideshow Bob, but it’s more engaging than his previous holiday appearance in “Gone Boy.” The episode cleverly references past Christmas episodes, like Maggie’s rivalry with a garden gnome and Bob’s time living in a lighthouse. It also puts a fresh spin on the typical Christmas plot, with Bob unexpectedly helping to catch the person stealing everyone’s Amazon deliveries. However, the episode feels a little dated due to a recurring “Baby Shark” joke. As you might guess, the package thief turns out to be Mr. Burns.

13). The Fight Before Christmas

You know, it’s funny looking back at “The Fight Before Christmas” from Season 22. When it first aired, people were really split on it! It was structured like a Halloween special, with three separate stories that weren’t really part of the show’s main timeline, and it finished with this… elaborate puppet sequence featuring Katy Perry. Honestly, a lot of fans didn’t love it at the time, mostly because of that puppet bit. But I actually think each of those little segments were really enjoyable and a fun departure from the usual storylines. It’s kind of charming to revisit it now, actually!

12). I Won’t Be Home for Christmas

The Season 26 episode, “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas,” isn’t the most original Simpsons holiday story—it revolves around Marge being upset that Homer is late and making him spend Christmas away from home. However, it’s a surprisingly heartwarming episode. We see Homer interacting with Springfield’s usual underdogs, but the episode avoids being overly critical of them. Even Moe, who deliberately keeps Homer out late, has a relatively stable Christmas—he doesn’t attempt suicide, which is often a good indicator of a positive outcome for his character.

11). Simpsons Christmas Stories

Season 17 of The Simpsons continues the tradition of non-canon Christmas specials with “Simpsons Christmas Stories,” and it’s considered one of the better ones. The episode features three separate stories: a retelling of the Nativity, an exploration of Grampa’s past, and a musical segment. While a running joke about Moe’s suicidal tendencies feels drawn out, and one of the stories isn’t particularly strong, the episode overall captures the festive Christmas feeling fans enjoy.

10). ‘Tis the Fifteenth Season

Oh man, Season 15’s “‘Tis the Fifteenth Season” is a classic example of Homer being… well, Homer! He gets totally caught up in himself and needs a reminder about what the holidays are really about. It’s not the first time he’s tried to swipe presents, but this episode really leans into the “Grinch” vibe, which is hilarious. I love the parody song he gets to sing! It’s a fun episode where he ends up in a competition with Ned Flanders to see who can be the most upstanding citizen. Poor Ned always has a bit of a sad role in these Christmas episodes, but honestly, this one lets his competitive side shine, and it’s genuinely funny to watch!

9). A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas

The Season 32 episode, “A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas,” playfully spoofs the classic Hallmark holiday movie. When a Hallmark movie producer arrives in Springfield, the town enthusiastically tries to create the perfect Christmas movie atmosphere. A charming, but ultimately funny, romance blossoms between her and Principal Skinner. The episode is particularly enjoyable for Marge, revealing a new facet of her personality (and her fondness for Hallmark films), and is widely considered one of the strongest episodes from the show’s later seasons.

8). Miracle on Evergreen Terrace

Looking back, it’s amusing how much people used to dislike the Season 9 Christmas episode, “Miracle on Evergreen Terrace.” In it, Bart is very self-centered and unintentionally ruins all the Christmas decorations and presents. This leads to him tricking the town, which then tries to reclaim their money. However, as the show released several less impressive holiday episodes later on, this one actually holds up surprisingly well. It features many memorable jokes and a lot of festive cheer, as Bart realizes his mistakes and learns a valuable lesson. It’s a really solid episode for the season.

7). Skinner’s Sense of Snow

While “Skinner’s Sense of Snow” from Season 12 isn’t heavily focused on Christmas, it’s still a hidden gem worth watching during the holiday season. The episode centers around the kids being stuck at school after Principal Skinner keeps it open, leading to a chaotic and funny takeover. Skinner eventually manages to escape, and Homer and Ned team up in a hilarious attempt to rescue the students. Overall, it’s a wonderfully silly episode with plenty of memorable lines – not necessarily a Christmas must-watch, but definitely enjoyable during the holidays.

6). Grift of the Magi

Many fans overlook the Season 11 episode, “Grift of the Magi,” despite it being a surprisingly strong Christmas offering. While it doesn’t immediately feel like a holiday episode – it starts with a marketing firm buying the school and Lisa trying to expose them – the story quickly centers around ‘Funzo,’ a new toy tested on the kids. The episode is full of funny moments, especially Homer’s sneaky attempts to steal Funzo while Bart and Lisa create a diversion. It’s a really enjoyable episode to revisit.

5). Manger Things

Season 32 of The Simpsons stands out because it includes two Christmas episodes, and the second one is particularly good. As the show’s 700th episode, it’s a special installment where Homer is once again sent away by Marge for being inconsiderate during Christmas. The episode features a flashback that reveals a fun fact – Todd Flanders’ middle name is Homer, a nod to Homer helping deliver him! It also offers a heartwarming look at Bart and Lisa, and is full of festive spirit. Definitely worth watching if you’ve missed it.

4). Holidays of Future Passed

The Season 23 episode, “Holidays of Future Passed,” is a memorable one in The Simpsons’ history. Like the earlier episode “Future Drama,” it jumped the show forward in time, but this version became the established future for the characters for many years. In fact, it was almost considered as a possible ending to the entire series, which makes sense given how neatly it tied up loose ends. This Christmas special cleverly brought the show back to its roots, referencing the very first episode, while also promising a cheerful future for everyone. Though it didn’t end up being the series finale, it remains an enjoyable episode to revisit.

3). O C’mon All Ye Faithful

Watching “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” felt like a real event in Simpsons history. It’s the first time they’ve done an episode that’s a full hour long, and it’s also the first Christmas special made just for Disney+. The creators clearly put a lot of effort into it, bringing back little pieces of what made past Christmas episodes so good. There’s a touching storyline for Ned, who always seems a bit down during the holidays, and of course, Homer gets to play Santa again, bringing joy to Springfield. Ultimately, it’s a really heartwarming episode with a lovely message about the spirit of Christmas – everything you could ask for in a great holiday special.

2). Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

The very first episode of The Simpsons, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” wonderfully introduces the entire family. It’s a surprisingly touching Christmas episode, and a big reason why the show has remained popular for almost forty years and over 800 episodes. The premiere—originally intended for a later date—effectively establishes the family’s relationships and focuses on a relatable financial hardship. Packed with genuine emotion, this episode set the tone for the heartfelt storytelling that would define the series for years to come.

1). Marge Be Not Proud

When it comes to the best Christmas episodes of The Simpsons, ‘Marge Be Not Proud’ from Season 7 is hard to top. This beloved episode centers on Bart stealing a video game, which deeply hurts Marge. The family can’t fully enjoy the holidays until Bart makes amends, culminating in one of the most heartwarming and memorable scenes in the show’s history. It’s packed with jokes and perfectly captures that bittersweet Christmas feeling we all love in a great holiday special – truly the best of the best.

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2025-12-08 17:17