If you’re a fan of Friends, then you know that there are actually a lot of great holiday-themed episodes throughout the series, and Christmas is no exception. In this post, I have listed every single Christmas episode of Friends in order, so you can make sure you watch all of the most festive episodes before the holiday season ends.
From Monica’s candy making to an appearance by The Holiday Armadillo and Phoebe’s iconic Christmas song, these episodes are packed with festive scenes, funny moments, and all kinds of Christmas cheer. Read on for the list of best Christmas Friends episodes!
Every Christmas Episode of Friends In Order:
“The One With the Monkey”
(Season 1, Episode 10)
“The One With Phoebe’s Dad”
(Season 2, Episode 9)
Phoebe is finally told by her grandmother that her father is not in fact a tree surgeon who lives in Burma but rather a pharmacist who lives in upstate New York. Determined to meet him face to face, Phoebe sets off in her grandma’s taxi cab with Joey and Chandler. However, it takes Phoebe a while to decide whether she wants to walk up and knock on the door, which doesn’t leave any time for Christmas shopping. So, instead, the friends buy some “gifts” at a gas station on the way back home.
Meanwhile, Ross (who Rachel is understandably still mad at after he made a list comparing her and his ex) breaks the radiator knob in the girls’ apartment, turning their Christmas party into a sweltering tropical-themed get-together.
Also, this episode is the source of Phoebe’s “Happy Christmas Eve Eve” line that goes viral every single holiday season.
“The One Where Rachel Quits”
(Season 3, Episode 10)
When Gunther tells Rachel she has to be trained again, she quits her job at Central Perk and begins searching for a new one. Meanwhile, Ross helps a young Mae Whitman sell Girl Scout cookies after he accidentally breaks her leg.
Joey also gets a job selling Christmas trees during this episode, and Phoebe visits him at work. However, she becomes distraught when she witnesses an old tree being destroyed in the chipper. As a kind gesture, Joey and Monica bring all the old, dead, dried-out trees to the girls’ apartment and set them up, giving them another life for Christmas and cheering Phoebe up.
“The One With the Girl From Poughkeepsie”
(Season 4, Episode 10)
This episode may not be the most festive of them all but Phoebe’s Christmas song earned it a spot on this list. Remember… “Please tell Joey, Christmas will be snowwwyYYyYyy!” Iconic.
No one else is doing anything particularly Christmassy- Ross is exhausted from dating two women, one who lives uptown and one who lives in Poughkeepsie (a mere two hours away). I’m not too sure how Ross is getting all these girlfriends, but it makes for an interesting plot line.
Meanwhile, Chandler sets up Rachel with someone from work and Monica hires Joey at her restaurant with plans to fire him in hopes of appearing tough in front of the other employees.
“The One With the Inappropriate Sister”
(Season 5, Episode 10)
This episode is a little all over the place. Rachel figures out that her new boyfriend, Danny, has a questionably close relationship with his sister. Joey, Ross, and Chandler are living together now, and Ross is driving Joey crazy while trying to help him write a screenplay.
The festive part of this episode comes when Phoebe rings the bell to collect money for charity outside of Macy’s. Unfortunately, a lot of people throw just about anything but money in the collection bucket, bringing out Phoebe’s darker side- “Street Phoebe”.
“The One With the Routine”
(Season 6, Episode 10)
This one is a bit more New Year’s-themed than Christmas-themed but the decor is still pretty festive! (Although Monica has a hard time giving up control of the Christmas tree ornament placement.)
Ross, Monica, and Joey tag along with Joey’s roommate Janine (not to be confused with Oh. My. God. Janice) to the taping of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Ross and Monica deliver quite the performance as backup dancers. Clearly they’ve been preparing for this their entire lives. Meanwhile, Chandler, Phoebe, and Rachel scour the apartment in search of Christmas presents Monica has hidden.
“The One With All the Candy”
(Season 7, Episode 9)
Rachel is dating her younger assistant, Tag, but they have to keep it a secret at work. When Rachel makes a mistake that could expose their relationship, Tag has to think on his feet and cover for her.
Monica, meanwhile, is frantically making batch after batch of holiday candy to keep up with the demand of tenants in the apartment building. What started as a nice gesture for her neighbors, has turned into a pressure-filled obligation to produce more and more candy for the crowd waiting outside the apartment. Eventually, Chandler stands up for Monica and sends the candy-greedy mob home to their own apartments.
“The One With the Holiday Armadillo”
(Season 7, Episode 10)
Ross comes up with a plan to teach his Christmas-obsessed son Ben about the Festival of Lights. When he can’t find a Santa costume to rent, he pivots (pun intended) and shows up as “The Holiday Armadillo” instead. However, Chandler manages to procure a Santa costume and shows up as Saint Nick, followed shortly by Joey in a Superman costume.
I’m pretty sure Ben was left even more confused about the holidays after all that, but at least he is now fully aware that “if Santa and The Holiday Armadillo are in the same room for too long, the universe will implode.” Good to know. This is definitely one of the best Friends holiday episodes ever.
“The One With Ross’s Step Forward”
(Season 8, Episode 11)
Ross and his girlfriend Mona take pictures together at the Rockefeller Center, and Mona wants to send them out as holiday cards to friends. Ross panics since they’ve only been dating for a few months, and the whole joint holiday card thing seems like too big a step for them. However, to avoid having the dreaded “What are we?” conversation, he gives Mona a key to his apartment… and then changes the locks.
Chandler’s boss also invites Monica and Chandler to dinner in this episode, but Monica refuses to go. Meanwhile, Rachel is dealing with pregnancy hormones, and the idea of a potential relationship between Rachel and Joey is hinted at.
“The One With Christmas in Tulsa”
(Season 9, Episode 10)
Chandler is forced to stay in Tulsa for work to meet a deadline this Christmas, and Monica becomes worried when she learns he’ll be joined by a very attractive co-worker. However, all Chandler can think about is all of the funny and embarrassing moments from past holidays shared with his friends.
In the end, Chandler quits his job and returns home for Christmas. All the friends spend the holiday together with snow lightly falling through the window in the background. This is the last Christmas-themed episode of the series, and it’s a sweet way to end the holiday tradition.
How to Watch Friends This Holiday Season
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Friends: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary DVD) |
$89.99
$42.79 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-11-20 at 10:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Next Up For You
Check out the best Christmas gifts for Friends fans in this gift guide. From apparel to quirky decor and more, there’s a little something for everyone on your list who loves the series.
Or, check out some other Friends episode guides below…
The Best Episodes of Friends to Watch This Fall
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