NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 25, 2024 (#297)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 25, 2024: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 25, 2024? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for December 25, 2024, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
A visit from Santa
The puzzle calls today’s theme “A visit from Santa”. Read it loosely: the 8 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, C, O, P, P, S, S, T. Several share a starting letter (C, P, S).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 and 7. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 7.
SpangramThe spangram
STOCKING
8 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with S, ends with G.
AnswersAll theme words
- COAL4 letters
- PENS4 letters
- TOYS4 letters
- CANDY5 letters
- SCARF5 letters
- SOCKS5 letters
- ORANGE6 letters
- PLUSHIE7 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.