Every South Park Christmas Episode

The South Park Christmas episodes prove that literally nothing is sacred when it comes to one of the crudest and darkest comedies on television, including the holiday season. Matt Stone and Trey Parker's globally acclaimed and foul-mouthed 1997 sitcom South Park has been rooted in the holiday season since its inception. Before Comedy Central brought the foul-mouthed elementary school kids to the small screen, Stone and Parker created video-based Christmas cards and sent them out with crude animated representations of the boys along with a shocking battle between Santa Claus and Jesus Christ. From there, South Park took form.

There are plenty of memorable moments in which South Park either mocks or embraces the Christmas spirit. Some of their holiday episodes are better than others, but all have something funny to offer, even if it's unbelievably twisted. From anthropomorphic excrement helping to save Christmas to a notorious cult leader getting into the Yuletide spirit, South Park takes the most wholesome of holidays to their usual extremes. The series is never afraid to push boundaries with its humor, and every single South Park Christmas episode is full of shocking moments other edgy sitcoms find difficult to match — especially during holiday season specials.

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The Spirit Of Christmas

Animated Christmas Card Released Before South Park Started

"The Spirit of Christmas" is a collection of two short animated films that serve as precursors to South Park, introducing the humor and characters that would become the main elements of the series. The first short film is called "Jesus Vs. Frosty," a short in which Frosty the Snowman turns out to be a deranged snowman who, of course, kills Kenny. Jesus then has to kill Frosty and save Christmas. The second short film is called "Jesus Vs. Santa," which features Santa Claus and Jesus fighting in a crude satirization of the Mortal Kombat video game franchise.

Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo

Season 1, Episode 9

The South Park season 1 Christmas episode gave birth to the iconic character Mr. Hankey, the Christmas poo. In the episode, the town of South Park is getting rid of any potentially religious Christmas decorations out of fear of being politically incorrect or offensive. Kyle discovers Mr. Hankey one day and tries to convince the town of his existence. However, Mr. Hankey stops talking in front of everyone save for Kyle, leading to the whole town thinking he's suffered a psychotic break. While the character of Mr. Hankey is undeniably strange, his theme song is incredibly memorable.

Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson!

Season 2, Episode 16

Most holiday specials try to impart lessons of faith and virtue, and, in this South Park Christmas episode, Stan is taught an important lesson from convicted cult leader Charles Manson. After escaping prison with Cartman's uncle, Manson hides out in Cartman's house, and wacky hijinks ensue with the animated version of one of America's most notorious criminals.

South Park often mocks some of history's most infamous figures, and, of course, Charles Manson gets no mercy. In an odd way, this episode does have an important message about loving family — twisted as it is. Manson even has a change of heart, which is undeniably Parker and Stone's way of lambasting the themes of the holiday season being a miracle cure for bad morals present in many Christmas specials (especially those from places like Hallmark).

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Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics

Season 3, Episode 15

"Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" is a series of famous holiday songs sung by various South Park characters. There are a lot of great festive musicals, but few are like the season 3 South Park Christmas episode. Hosted by the Christmas icon Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo, each song is perverted in some fashion. The show doesn't hold back in this episode, offering such hits as "Christmas Time in Hell," sung by Satan, and a rendition of "O Tannenbaum" sung by an animated Adolf Hitler. It certainly isn't as innocent as other animated Christmas specials, but, for those who love dark humor, it doesn't get much better than this.

Interestingly, though he's one of South Park's most recognizable side characters, he's one of the show's most maligned players. Though he was referenced in the recent "Post-Covid" special, Mr. Hankey hasn't appeared on the show since 2018's "The Problem With A Poo."

A Very Crappy Christmas

Season 4, Episode 17

Season 4's South Park Christmas episode shows why Mr. Hankey became something of a cultural phenomenon during the show's early years. When the town of South Park decides to celebrate a non-materialistic Christmas, the boys try to create a short animated film that can capture what they see as the spirit of the holiday and inspire the town to start buying presents once again. The highlight of this episode is the introduction of Mr. Hankey's family. Mr. Hankey has a stressful home life with his dissatisfied alcoholic wife, and their three "nuggets," Cornwallis, Amber, and Simon. It's a hilarious episode that also critiques how commercialized Christmas has become.

Red Sleigh Down

Season 6, Episode 17

In "Red Sleigh Down," one of the most controversial South Park Christmas episodes, the boys ask Santa to try and bring the Christmas spirit to Iraq. However, once they arrive, Santa is immediately shot down and captured. The boys then seek the help of Jesus to save Santa and Christmas. Mixing Christmas with the war in Iraq is something only South Park could make work. It's extremely irreverent, and it definitely feels like a relic of the early 2000s, but hardcore South Park fans will always be able to get a kick out of this episode. It also features one of the best versions of Santa Claus.

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It's Christmas In Canada

Season 7, Episode 15

South Park often rips on Canada, and "It's Christmas in Canada" is one of the best examples. In the episode, Canada signs a new law that rules that every adopted Canadian child must return to their birth parents in Canada, and this includes Kyle's brother, Ike. The four boys then travel to Canada to ask the prime minister to change the law. The episode is a parody of The Wizard of Oz and features various musical numbers and colorful Canadian stereotypes. For those who love South Park's weird obsession with poking fun at Canada, this episode can't be topped.

Woodland Critter Christmas

Season 8, Episode 14

"Woodland Critter Christmas" is infamous for being one of the darkest episodes of South Park. The episode puts a twist on innocent children's Christmas specials with cute animals who have overly-obvious names like Beary the Bear, Porcupiney the Porcupine, and Rabbity the Rabbit. Stan finds these characters, who ask him to kill a mountain lion so Porcupiney can give birth on Christmas Day. However, Stan soon finds out that the critters are a group of Satan worshippers who are giving birth to the antichrist. It's about as horrific as a Christmas comedy special could be. It's no surprise that it ranks as a favorite episode of South Park's creators.

#HappyHolograms

Season 18, Episode 10

"#HappyHolograms" is the season finale of season 18 and the conclusion of a two-part episode. In this South Park Christmas episode, Kyle is gathering celebrities to put on the most extravagant Christmas special ever. The episode rips into 2014 pop culture, including jokes aimed at Bill Cosby, Iggy Azalea, Lorde, and hologram celebrities of 2pac and Michael Jackson. Cartman becomes a popular YouTube personality and tries to take over, but is defeated by PewDiePie, who cameos in the episode as himself. While "#HappyHolograms" was hilarious when it first debuted, the pop culture references it relies on now feel a little dated.

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Bike Parade

Season 22, Episode 10

The final installment of South Park's 2018 go-around, "Bike Parade" sees the kids desperate to find bike parts after an Amazon worker strike holds up deliveries. It's a massive jab at Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the potentially malicious practices employed by the company, and it ends on a high note when the town comes together to celebrate with a whole lot of "Tegridy". Though it's only tangentially related to the holiday season, Santa does show up to help the children of South Park, but he leaves when he learns what they've done to Mr. Hankey.

Christmas Snow

Season 23, Episode 10

One of South Park's best running jokes is Tegridy Farms, a marijuana farm run by Randy Marsh. In "Christmas Snow," Santa Claus becomes enraged because the residents of South Park can't seem to stop driving under the influence. Eventually, Santa bans alcohol sales in South Park, causing all the residents to become depressed and lose the Christmas spirit. In an attempt to brighten the holidays, Randy sells a new strand of his cannabis called Christmas Snow, which turns out to be cocaine. While there aren't many animated Christmas TV specials that go so wild with drug humor, this South Park episode killed the Tegridy Farms plot.