The holiday season is a special time for kids all around the world. The school year is winding down and the promise of good food and presents is amongst them no matter what winter holiday they celebrate. As if that's not fun enough, all the best kids' shows join in on the fun creating new holiday-themed episodes for kids to watch by themselves and with their families.
Over the years, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network have all been home to some pretty iconic holiday episodes for their animated and live-action shows. Recently, Netflix has even gotten in on the action creating a holiday episode for its beloved kids' shows too. With so many options out there, every kid and kid at heart can watch multiple holiday episodes a day leading up to the holiday season.
Rugrats: "A Rugrats Kwanzaa" - 6.6
Holiday episodes tend to center around Christmas, however, Rugrats made it a habit to include episodes highlighting other wintertime holidays. In December 2001, Rugrats released "A Rugrats Kwanzaa" where Tommy and the gang meet Susie Carmichael's great-aunt who teaches them about Kwanzaa in a way the babies can understand.
While the episode was hailed by many and even led to Susie's voice actress winning an NAACP Image Award for her performance in the episode, some critics felt the episode led to the commercialization of the holiday.
Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug & Cat Noir: "Santa Claws" - 7.6
The superhero world of the French animated series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir got into the Christmas spirit in 2016. "Santa Claws" not only is the shows' first-holiday episode but it's also the first episode of the second season. And it's a musical episode!
"Santa Claws" centers on Adrien who is spending his first Christmas without his mother. Hurt that his father isn't spending time with him, Adrien transforms into Cat Noir and runs away from his house where he helps a Santa deal with two evil kids. One thing leads to another and Santa ends up akumatized by Hawk Moth and Ladybug and Cat Noir must save him.
Rugrats: "A Rugrats Chanukah" - 7.4
Given that Tommy Pickles's mom is Jewish it was only a matter of time before the Rugrats writers told a story centered around Chanukkah. In fact, this was the series second Jewish holiday episode to air, the first being "A Rugrats Passover."
"A Rugrats Chanukah" follows the babies as they learn about Chanukah from Tommy's grandma. Of course, the babies misinterpret aspects of the story and end up believing that Tommy's grandpa's enemy Shlomo is the "Meanie of Chanukah" and set out to stop him from ruining the Chanukah play.
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: "Christmas At The Tipton" - 7.9
Disney Channel didn't miss a beat when it came to creating a holiday special for its original series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. In fact, "Christmas at the Tipton" aired in 2005 which just so happened to be the first season of the series.
The episode follows Zack, Cody, and the Tipton gang who all find themselves trapped inside the Tipton because of a Christmas Eve snowstorm. With no escape, Zack and Cody hope to get their divorced parents to reconcile. Meanwhile, Maddie attempts to rig a game of "Secret Santa" so that London will have to buy her an expensive gift and a young married couple delivers their first child in the elevator.
Kim Possible: "A Very Possible Christmas" - 8.0
Airing as part of Kim Possible's first season, "A Very Possible Christmas" is the first and last Christmas special created for this animated classic cartoon. The episode follows the entire Possible family plus Ron as they plan to spend their holiday together.
After getting the perfect Hanukah gift from Kim (a kiss on the cheek), Ron is determined to get Kim an equally as amazing Christmas present. When he discovers that Drakken is up to no good again, he sets out to stop him himself so that Kim can enjoy the holiday with her family.
The Fairly OddParents: "Christmas Everyday" - 8.0
While Nickelodeon's original animated series The Fairly OddParents had a made for TV movie centered around Christmas, they only aired one Christmas episode. "Christmas Everyday" aired during the first season of the show and is still a fan-favorite episode.
The episode follows Timmy Turner, who after a wonderful Christmas day with his family, decides to wish that every day should be Christmas. The wish is great at first: Timmy gets lots of presents, there's no school, and he doesn't have to see Vicky. However, the magic of Christmas soon wears off as Santa becomes overworked and soon the other holiday mascots attempt to take down Santa themselves. It's up to Timmy to save the day but of course, he has to do it without Cosmo and Wanda who have also been kidnapped by the holiday mascots.
Rugrats: "The Santa Experience" - 8.1
In addition to its Kwanza and Chanukah episodes, Rugrats also aired several Christmas-themed episodes over its historic run but none of them rank higher than the season 2 episode "The Santa Experience."
Determined to give the babies the "perfect Christmas" and cure Chuckie of his fear of Santa Claus, the Pickles, and their friends decide to rent a cabin in the mountains. While Chuckie and Tommy try to figure out a way to catch Santa, Angelica is busy trying to get onto Santa's nice list after her grandfather warns her that naughty kids get coal from Santa.
Phineas and Ferb: "Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation" - 8.7
While Phineas and Ferb takes place over the brothers' summer vacation, the writers decided to throw in a special Christmas vacation-themed episode during the show's second season. And luckily they did since the episode went on to be one of the most-watch episodes of the series.
The episode follows Phineas and Ferb, who have yet to go on their epic summer vacation adventures, as they decorate their city for Santa Claus. Their hard work is threatened though by Dr. Doofenshmirtz who plans to ruin Christmas by making Santa think the whole town has been naughty.
Regular Show: "The Christmas Special" - 8.8
Cartoon Network has aired a plethora of holiday episodes for its various animated shows over the years, but none are as beloved as Regular Show's "The Christmas Special," which aired during the show's fourth season.
"The Christmas Special" centers its action on one of Santa's elves who plans to destroy Christmas with a present after being mistreated by Santa. When the present arrives at the park, it's up to Mordecai and Rigby to find and destroy it in order to save Christmas.
SpongeBob SquarePants: "Christmas Who?" - 8.8
SpongeBob SquarePants is one of Nickelodeon's longest-running original shows of all time and as such, it's aired several holiday specials over its historic run. However none rank as high or as beloved as the first every holiday special "Christmas Who" which aired during the second season.
The episode follows SpongeBob as teaches the residents of Bikini Bottom all about Christmas and Santa after learning all about the holiday from Sandy. When Santa doesn't show up, SpongeBob is devastated while Squidward rubs it in his face. Feeling bad, Squidward ends up dressing up as Santa to save the day.