The Definitive Ranking: All 7 'The Office' Christmas Episodes, From Secret Santa Chaos To Belsnickel’s Judgment

The holidays are here again in December 2025, and for millions of fans, that means only one thing: a mandatory rewatch of The Office’s iconic Christmas episodes. The Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch was a factory for holiday chaos, delivering seven distinct, hilarious, and often heartwarming specials across the series' run. These episodes perfectly encapsulated the show's unique blend of cringe comedy, office politics, and genuine emotional connection, making them essential annual viewing.

From disastrous Secret Santa exchanges and ill-advised interventions to the introduction of frightening German folklore, the Christmas specials of The Office are a masterclass in holiday television. We’ve scoured the latest fan rankings and critical consensus to bring you the definitive, most up-to-date ranking of every single Christmas episode, highlighting the moments that cemented their legendary status and the topical entities that made them shine.

The Complete List of The Office Christmas Episodes & Essential Entities

To fully appreciate the genius of these holiday specials, it's important to know the full lineup. Each episode title is a gateway to a specific brand of chaos, usually orchestrated by Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute, and features key character developments that drive the series' overall arc. Here is the list of all seven The Office Christmas episodes, serving as your ultimate viewing guide:

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• 1. "Christmas Party" (Season 2, Episode 10): The foundational episode. Features the disastrous Secret Santa/Yankee Swap and Jim's iconic teapot gift for Pam.
• 2. "A Benihana Christmas" (Season 3, Episodes 10 & 11): A two-part special focused on Michael's heartbroken attempt to move on after a breakup, leading to a memorable trip to a Benihana restaurant.
• 3. "Moroccan Christmas" (Season 5, Episode 11): Notable for Michael's misguided intervention for Meredith Palmer's alcoholism and Dwight's elaborate desk-wrapping prank on Jim.
• 4. "Secret Santa" (Season 6, Episode 13): Highlights the battle for office Santa between Michael (as Jesus) and Phyllis, and Andy Bernard's increasingly expensive "12 Days of Christmas" gifts for Erin Hannon.
• 5. "Classy Christmas" (Season 7, Episodes 11 & 12): Another two-part episode centered on the return of Holly Flax to the Scranton branch, prompting Michael to demand a sophisticated holiday party. Also features the epic Jim vs. Dwight snowball fight.
• 6. "Christmas Wishes" (Season 8, Episode 10): The first Christmas episode without Michael Scott, with Andy Bernard as the new manager attempting to fulfill everyone's wishes, and Erin navigating a love triangle with Andy and his girlfriend.
• 7. "Dwight Christmas" (Season 9, Episode 9): Dwight attempts to introduce his family's traditional German Christmas celebration, featuring the terrifying Belsnickel and a new focus on Jim and Pam's relationship struggles.

The Definitive Ranking: Which Office Christmas Episode Reigns Supreme?

While every episode offers a unique flavor of holiday dysfunction, some stand out as all-time classics. This ranking is based on a synthesis of recent fan polls, critical acclaim, and the sheer volume of memorable, quotable moments, ensuring the list is as fresh and relevant as possible in late 2025.

7. Christmas Wishes (Season 8, Episode 10)

Coming in at the bottom of the list is the Season 8 entry, "Christmas Wishes." This episode suffers from the absence of Michael Scott, the show's holiday maestro of chaos. While Andy Bernard tries his best as the new manager to make everyone's wishes come true, the episode feels a little flat compared to the earlier classics. The main storyline involves Andy's attempts to navigate a love triangle between Erin and his new girlfriend, Jessica. The most memorable—and perhaps most cringe-worthy—moment is Jim and Dwight trying to get a drunk Meredith to stop flashing people at the bar, a scene that never quite reaches the comedic heights of the show's peak.

6. Secret Santa (Season 6, Episode 13)

"Secret Santa" is a solid, mid-tier Christmas episode, primarily memorable for the power struggle over the office Santa suit. Michael is furious when Phyllis is chosen to be Santa, leading him to dress up as Jesus, and later a dark, grumpy Santa, to undermine her. The B-plot, however, is a classic example of Andy's over-the-top, slightly misguided romantic gestures: he gives Erin the increasingly elaborate, and annoying, "12 Days of Christmas" gifts. The episode is a great exploration of Michael's need for attention and his inability to share the spotlight, even during a holiday meant for giving.

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5. Moroccan Christmas (Season 5, Episode 11)

"Moroccan Christmas" is a dark horse on the list, often cited for having one of the best cold opens of any Office Christmas episode: Jim's elaborate prank where he wraps Dwight's entire desk and chair in wrapping paper, making it impossible for him to work. The episode’s main plot is deeply uncomfortable, revolving around Michael's attempt to stage an intervention for Meredith's alcoholism after she gets drunk at the party. This storyline is a perfect example of The Office's cringe humor at its peak, with Michael forcing Meredith into a car to take her to rehab. The episode also features the topical entity of Phyllis's Moroccan-themed party, which is a key source of the holiday atmosphere.

4. Dwight Christmas (Season 9, Episode 9)

The final Christmas installment, "Dwight Christmas," is a fan-favorite for its deep dive into Dwight Schrute's bizarre family traditions. When the office opts for a traditional party, Dwight attempts to introduce them to the Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas, featuring the terrifying figure of Belsnickel—a half-Santa, half-Krampus character who judges people as either "admirable" or "impish." This episode is a goldmine of LSI keywords and topical entities, including the German Christmas traditions, the Belsnickel costume, and Darryl's accidental injury. It’s also a crucial episode for the Jim and Pam storyline in the final season, as their relationship struggles begin to surface.

The Top Tier: Three Episodes That Define Dunder Mifflin's Holiday Spirit

The top three episodes are universally considered the gold standard of The Office Christmas specials. They combine major romantic milestones, Michael Scott's most outrageous behavior, and truly unforgettable comedic set pieces that are referenced year-round.

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3. Classy Christmas (Season 7, Episodes 11 & 12)

“Classy Christmas” is a two-part special that is essential viewing for any fan of the Michael Scott and Holly Flax romance. Michael, upon hearing that Holly is returning to Scranton for a short period, scraps the existing party plans and demands a sophisticated, "classy" affair to impress her. The episode provides a major emotional payoff, but the comedy highlight is undoubtedly the escalating snowball war between Jim and Dwight. Dwight, furious at Jim's pranks, relentlessly attacks him with snowballs, culminating in a genuinely unsettling and hilarious scene where Jim is completely terrorized. This episode perfectly blends the show's heart with its signature dark humor.

2. A Benihana Christmas (Season 3, Episodes 10 & 11)

This two-part special is a masterpiece of character-driven comedy. The episode is split between two competing parties: the "Margarita Karaoke Christmas" party planned by Pam and Karen, and Michael's disastrous outing to Benihana after his girlfriend, Carol, breaks up with him. The most iconic moment, and a classic example of Michael's cluelessness, is when he marks one of the Benihana waitresses with a Sharpie, unable to tell them apart, before bringing her back to the office. The episode uses the holiday setting to explore Michael's deep-seated loneliness and his search for connection, ultimately leading to a surprisingly sweet moment of camaraderie with Andy, Dwight, and Jim. The topical entity of the Benihana restaurant is now synonymous with this episode.

1. Christmas Party (Season 2, Episode 10)

The undisputed champion and the episode that set the template for all future holiday specials is "Christmas Party." This Season 2 classic is the first time we see the Dunder Mifflin Secret Santa exchange, which quickly devolves into chaos when Michael, unhappy with the handmade oven mitt he receives, forces the group to switch from Secret Santa to a "Yankee Swap" (or White Elephant). The episode features one of the most pivotal romantic moments of the entire series: Jim's iconic gift to Pam. The teapot, filled with inside jokes, was meant to be a confession of his feelings, but he removes a crucial note at the last second. The episode is a perfect storm of Michael's selfishness, the employees' despair, and the underlying, genuine love story between Jim and Pam. It is the most rewatched, most quoted, and most beloved Christmas special, solidifying its place as the definitive The Office holiday experience.