Streaming new holiday shows, specials, and movies is great, but what if you are just in need of a little comfort this holiday season? We highly recommend re-watching old holiday episodes of Friends. After all, what could be better than watching Ross (David Schwimmer) getting dressed up as giant holiday armadillo or Chandler (Matthew Perry) quitting his job to make it home to New York City in time for the holidays? How about Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) collecting money for those in need or Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) quitting her job at Central Perk Coffeehouse after receiving some bad advice? Remember Ross and Monica’s (Courteney Cox) iconic dance routine and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) trying to get a NYE kiss from Elle Macpherson at midnight?
All year round, Canadian streaming platform Crave offers up every episode of the beloved sitcom, that originally ran on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. So, if you’re in need of a break this holiday season, you can dive straight into the yuletide episodes of Friends for a binge-watching marathon. There’s one festive installment per season, for the exception of seasons one and season ten.
Could we be more excited?! Keep reading for the complete list of all of the Friends Christmas episodes.
Season 2, Episode 9: “The One with Phoebe’s Dad”
Original episode aired: December 14, 1995
The series’ first Christmas episode follows Monica’s attempt to try tipping with cookies as opposed to cash, which doesn’t go over so well. As Phoebe tries to track down her father, and Ross and Rachel have a lovers’ quarrel, Joey and Chandler forget to buy presents for the gang — and are forced to buy them from a gas station.
Season 3, Episode 10: “The One Where Rachel Quits”
Original air date: December 12, 1996
Yearning for a career in fashion, Rachel quits her job at Central Perk Coffeehouse after receiving some bad advice from Joey and Chandler. Phoebe sadly learns that her dead Christmas trees go into the chopper, and Ross accidentally breaks Girl Scout Sarah Tuttle’s (Mae Whitman) leg and is forced to sell the cookies himself to make it up to her.
Season 4, Episode 10: “The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie”
Original air date: December 18, 1997
Ross is torn between a woman (Yasemin Baytok) from Poughkeepsie and one who lives nearby. Joey attempts to help Monica gain respect among the insubordinate kitchen staff at her new job, and things don’t go well for Rachel when Chandler sets her up on a bad date with a colleague. Meanwhile, Phoebe sets out to write a Christmas song for her friends but struggles to get it to rhyme.
Season 5, Episode 10: “The One with the Inappropriate Sister”
Original air date: December 17, 1998
Phoebe decides to give back and collect money for those in need. The three male friends face conflict living in one apartment, and Monica and Chandler continue to hide their relationship. Rachel discovers her boyfriend, Danny (George Newbern), is weirdly obsessed with his sister, Krista (Julie Lauren).
Season 6, Episode 10: “The One with the Routine”
Original air date: December 16, 1999
Ross and Monica attempt to steal the show at the taping of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, while Joey tries to get a kiss from Janine (Elle Macpherson) at midnight. Back home, Phoebe, Chandler and Rachel frantically search for Monica’s Christmas presents.
Season 7, Episode 10: “The One with the Holiday Armadillo”
Original air date: December 14, 2000
Ross dresses up as an armadillo to teach his son, Ben (Cole Sprouse), about Hanukkah. However, Chandler impresses him more when he dresses up as Santa Claus. Phoebe tries to drive Rachel out of Joey’s apartment and move back in with her.
Fun fact about this episode. Schwimmer cited this episode as the one he was most looking forward to showing his daughter when she was old enough. In 2016 he told Glamour: “‘The One with the Holiday Armadillo’ was fun! I mean, it was really fun.”
Season 8, Episode 11: “The One with the Ross’ Step Forward”
Original air date: December 13, 2001
Ross voices his concerns to Mona (Bonnie Somerville) when she decides to send a Christmas card with both of them on it. Chandler tries to avoid his horrible boss, Doug (Sam McMurray), and Rachel — pregnant with Ross’ baby — deals with her hormones.
Season 9, Episode 10: “The One with Christmas in Tulsa”
Original air date: December 12, 2002
Chandler makes a huge decision to quit his job after his co-worker, Wendy (Selma Blair), tries to make a pass at him. He finally returns home for the holidays, much to the delight of Monica and the rest of his friends. The episode also features various flashbacks.
STREAM THESE CHRISTMAS-THEMED EPISODES FROM OUR FAVES:
