Merry X-Mas

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Last Updated: 
23rd December 2015

While Marvel’s sliding time scale may not follow accurately the passing of the years, thus leaving our favorite heroes forever young, several years have passed within the world of the X-Men, as can been seen by the many times the X-Men have celebrated Christmas. Starting with the X-Men (1st series) #98 by Chris Claremont, the following is a list of Holiday issues for the X-Family over the years.

Summary of X-Men Holiday Issues
Issue Title Publication Date Evidence of Christmas Season

X-Men (1st series) #98

"Merry Christmas, X-Men" April 1976

Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Banshee and Moira MacTaggert gather in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Jean comments that with the snow, they finally have an-honest-to-goodness white Christmas.

X-Men (1st series) #119

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" March 1979

In Japan, Banshee is released from the hospital after having suffered injuries during the X-Men’s latest battle. As he arrives at Shiro Yoshida’s house, he is greeted with by the other X-Men, who wish him a Merry Christmas. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Phoenix is welcomed on Christmas Day by Moira, Havok, Lorna Dane and Jamie Madrox.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #143

"Demon" March 1981

On Christmas Eve, newest X-Man Kitty Pryde is left alone at the Mansion while the other X-Men celebrate Christmas plans. They later return with her parents to surprise her.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #168

"Professor Xavier is a Jerk!" April 1983

In Manhattan, on Christmas Eve, flight attendant Amanda Sefton returns to her apartment, where she is surprised with presents and champagne by her boyfriend Nightcrawler.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #180

"Whose Life is it, Anyway?" April 1984

Kitty Pryde and her friend Doug Ramsey are at Salem Center Mall, which is decked out with Christmas decorations.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #192

"Fun'N'Games!" April 1985

Shortly before Christmas, Professor X, who has been teaching classes at Colombia University, is wished Happy Holidays by his students, but is then mugged and beaten up in an alley.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #193

"Warhunt II" May 1985

On Christmas morning on Muir Isle, Banshee is jogging when he is attacked by Thunderbird II, seeking revenge for his older brother’s death.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #205

"Wounded Wolf" May 1986

At South Street Seaport in Manhattan, young Katie Power is caroling with her babysitter, Miss Randolph.

New Mutants (1st series) #38

"Aftermath" April 1986

At the Salem Center High School, the post-Beyonder “zombie” New Mutants attend a Christmas dance and are perceived as snobs by the local students.

X-Factor (1st series) #27

"Gifts!" April 1988

X-Factor takes their young wards down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to look at the Christmas decorations. In their new alien spaceship home, the teenagers later receive presents, a Christmas tree and ornaments. They decide to donate the many gifts to the sick children at the local hospital, where Beast dresses up as Santa Claus. Meanwhile, Apocalypse spies on them and wishes them a “Merry Christmas.”

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #230

"'Twas the Night..." June 1988

The X-Men return belongings and heirlooms the Reavers stole to their rightful owners all over the world on Christmas night. Realizing that it is Christmas, they give a motorcycle to Dazzler. The New Mutants are seen caroling in Salem Center.

X-Factor (1st series) #52

"Celebrity!" March 1990

In Manhattan, Iceman is Christmas shopping with baby Nathan Christopher, and stumbles into a CD store, where he meets Opal Tanaka for the first time. Opal is wearing a Santa hat.

Generation X #4

"Between the Cracks" February 1995

Generation X goes on a field trip to Maine during the holiday season. Jubilee wears a Santa hat.

Generation X #24

"Home for the Holidays" February 1997

Emma Frost, Jubilee, Husk and M are at the latter’s beach house in Monaco on Christmas Eve, where they share stories of how their powers emerged.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #341

"When Strikes a Gladiator" February 1997

Bishop, Gambit, Cannonball, Rogue, Joseph, Beast and Trish Tilby are in front of the Rockerfeller Center Christmas tree, in a scene that evokes the aforementioned X-Men (1st series) #98. When the team splits, Cannonball goes Christmas shopping for his younger siblings at FAO Schwarz.

X-Men (2nd series) #73

"The Elements Within Us" March 1998

The X-Men write down their New Year's resolutions, and Beast watches Dick Clark’s New Year’s Special ball drop on television.

Generation X Holiday Special

"Yes, Jubilee... There is a Santa Claus" February 1999

Generation X goes Christmas shopping at the mall in Snow Valley. When they are kidnapped by Nanny and the Orphanmaker, Jubille tries to rescue them and has a run-in with Santa Claus, who is strongly implied Santa to be a mutant. At the end, the team exchanges gifts on Christmas.

Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #365

"Ghosts of X-Mas Past!" March 1999

The X-Men surprise Colossus with a story and a tree in the living room for Christmas.

Generation X #60-61

"Christmas Fear, Parts 1 & 2" February-March 2000

Orphans Jubilee, Skin, Chamber, Artie, Leech and Penance spend Christmas at the Massachusetts Academy with Banshee and Ms. Frost, where they are attacked by Black Tom, Juggernaut and Mondo.

X-Men (2nd series) #109

"Ceremonies" February 2001

On Christmas Eve, the X-Men have a snowball fight, go skating and enjoy downtime in Salem Center. Later that night, they celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts at the Mansion, while Storm forms her X-Treme X-Men team.

X-Men (2nd series) #165

"Hark How the Bells..!" February 2005

The X-Men and the Xavier Institute students have big Christmas celebration at the school with their other friends and family present. Beast dresses as Santa Claus, and Kitty and Rachel as elves.

Marvel Holiday Special 2004

"An X-Men X-Mas" January 2005

All the Institute’s students go home for the holidays, except for Wither. Emma Frost and Cyclops cancel their vacation to stay with him. From Dec. 22-24, they visit FAO Schwarz and go skating at Rockefeller Plaza, and finally return to the school, where they decorate a Christmas tree and sing carols in front of a fire.

Marvel Holiday Special 2008 - Digital Exclusive

"If the Fates Allow" December 2008

Newly married Storm visits the X-Men, who now live in San Francisco. As they remember the recently lost Kitty Pryde, the X-Men celebrate Christmas in their own way and according to their own beliefs.

Marvel Holiday Comic 2011

"Logan's Lost Lesson" December 2011

Wolverine makes his students to play ice hockey as punishment for wrecking Dr. McCoy's lab.