| 100% | MOUSE | 5 | "The Nutcracker and the ___ King," a famed Christmas tale by E.T.A Hoffmann about a toy that comes alive |
| 40% | NUTCRACKER | 10 | "The ___," Tchaikovsky's Christmas ballet that follows the story of the titular toy soldier that comes alive and transforms into a Prince |
| 34% | NOSED | 5 | "Rudolph the Red ___ Reindeer," a famed Christmas tale by Robert L. May from where the character originates |
| 33% | TOY | 3 | "___ Story," a popular franchise about action figures and dolls that come alive |
| 30% | ONEFINEDAY | 10 | 1980 Carole King song about a love-to-be that was recorded earlier by the Chiffons: 3 wds. |
| 29% | JACKFROST | 9 | Famed 1979 stop motion animated Christmas TV special that tells the tale of a winter sprite: 2 wds. |
| 29% | FISHERMAN | 9 | "The ___ and the Little Fish," a popular fable by 38-Down about a small fish that begs for its life on account of its size |
| 29% | FROZEN | 6 | 1998 song by Madonna that peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with lyrics about a cold and emotionless man |
| 28% | FROSTY | 6 | "___ the Snowman," holiday tune about a magical snowman that wasn't originally written as a Christmas song |
| 28% | SATURDAYEVENINGPOST | 19 | 1821: The ___ publishes its first issue (covers by Norman Rockwell would come about a century later) |
| 27% | THEFATHER | 9 | "___ Christmas Letters," a collection of letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien that document the adventures of Santa and his helpers: 2 wds. |
| 27% | SANDMAN | 7 | Folkloric inspiration for E. T. A. Hoffmann, Neil Gaiman, and Metallica |
| 27% | FINDINGWINNIE | 13 | Children's book about the bear that inspired A.A. Milne by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall that won the 2016 Caldecott Medal (2 wds.) |
| 27% | SPIDER | 6 | "The ___ and the Fly," poem by Mary Howitt about a manipulative web-spinner |
| 27% | CASTLESMADEOF | 13 | "___ Sand," a song by Jimi Hendrix that is about the temporary nature of existence and how nothing can be taken for granted: 3 wds. |
| 27% | ECSTASY | 7 | "The Agony and the ___" (biographical novel about Michelangelo that inspired a Charlton Heston film) |
| 27% | YOYO | 4 | Toy on a string that may go around and come back around: Hyph. |
| 27% | DENVER | 6 | "John ___ and the Muppets: A Christmas Together," Christmas television special and soundtrack album that first aired in 1979 |
| 27% | ELO | 3 | Band led by Jeff Lynne that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
| 26% | BEAUTY | 6 | "___ and the Beast," French fairy tale about a cursed prince living deep within a forest |
| 26% | STANDBYME | 9 | King classic that begins, "When the night has come / And the land is dark" |
| 26% | ASTIR | 5 | Up and about, judging by the banging and clomping coming from above |
| 26% | THERE | 5 | "___ has never been a sadness that can't be cured by breakfast food," quote from the TV series "Parks and Recreation" |
| 26% | SEVERANCE | 9 | Apple TV+ drama about a company that separates the work and non-work memories of its employees |
| 26% | ONTHEROADAGAIN | 14 | Song by 30-Across/33-Across that won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (4 wds.) |
| 26% | TUT | 3 | King who's the subject of a song by Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons |
| 26% | STORM | 5 | Windy and cold natural phenomenon that comes after the calm, in a saying |
| 26% | RIVER | 5 | Joni Mitchell song about heartbreak that's popular around the holidays but wasn't originally written as a Christmas song |
| 26% | TREE | 4 | Christmas ___, object under which one hides presents, and a tradition that originated in the Renaissance era |