15 Fun Facts About Friends Christmas Episodes

1. The Holiday Armadillo Was a Last-Minute Idea

In the episode "The One with the Holiday Armadillo," David Schwimmer (Ross) was originally supposed to dress as Santa Claus. However, the costume department couldn't find a Santa suit in time, leading to the now-iconic Holiday Armadillo costume. The creators loved it so much that it stayed in the script.

2. Phoebe's Christmas Song Was Largely Improvised

In "The One with the Monkey," Phoebe's quirky Christmas song was partly ad-libbed by Lisa Kudrow. Her ability to deliver spontaneous, humorous lyrics added to Phoebe's charm as a character.

3. Joey’s Superman Reference Became a Fan Favorite

In "The One with the Inappropriate Sister," Joey mentions that Superman can hear everything. This subtle nod to Joey's childlike fascination with superheroes became a memorable Christmas detail.

4. Jennifer Aniston Struggled with the "Thong" Scene

In "The One with the Inappropriate Sister," Rachel's storyline involves her brotherly "close" neighbor, Danny. Jennifer Aniston found the "thong folding" scene hilarious and reportedly needed multiple takes to get through it without laughing.

5. Monica’s Christmas Cookies Were Real

The cookies Monica bakes in "The One with the Monkey" were real, and the cast loved snacking on them between takes. The props team made sure they tasted as good as they looked.

6. Chandler’s "Santa Bonding" Line Was Scripted on Set

In "The One with the Holiday Armadillo," Chandler's line, "My favorite part was when Superman flew all the Jews out of Egypt," was added during rehearsals. It became one of the episode’s funniest lines.

7. Ross and Rachel’s New Year’s Kiss Was Improvised

In "The One with the Monkey," the unplanned New Year’s kiss between Ross and Rachel added an authentic layer of awkwardness that fit perfectly with the storyline.

8. Phoebe’s Misheard Lyrics Were Inspired by Real-Life Fans

The "Monica, Monica, have a Happy Hanukkah" song in "The One with the Holiday Armadillo" was inspired by fans who loved Lisa Kudrow’s quirky musical moments and wanted to see more.

9. Joey’s Snowman Costume Was Made from Scratch

In "The One with Christmas in Tulsa," Joey’s goofy snowman outfit wasn’t a store-bought costume. The props team custom-designed it to match his over-the-top personality.

10. Rachel’s Gift-Wrapping Skills Were Intentionally Bad

Jennifer Aniston’s character Rachel famously struggles with wrapping presents in "The One with Christmas in Tulsa." The showrunners asked her to make it look as bad as possible for comedic effect.

11. "The One with the Monkey" Was Almost a Valentine’s Episode

Originally, the showrunners planned to air "The One with the Monkey" around Valentine’s Day. However, they moved it to the holiday season to align better with the storyline and seasonal humor.

12. The Armadillo Costume Was Painfully Hot

David Schwimmer revealed in interviews that the Armadillo costume was extremely uncomfortable and hot, making it challenging to film scenes without frequent breaks.

13. Gunther’s Crush Took Center Stage

In "The One with the Inappropriate Sister," Gunther's unrequited love for Rachel is hilariously on display during the Christmas season, setting up one of the show’s longest-running gags.

14. Monica and Chandler’s Ornament Argument Was Based on a Real Debate

The argument over Christmas tree decorations in "The One with the Inappropriate Sister" was inspired by a debate among the writers about traditional versus eclectic ornamentation.

15. The Cast Loved Holiday Episodes

The main cast of Friends often cited holiday episodes as some of their favorites to film, as they enjoyed the festive atmosphere and comedic scripts that brought everyone together.

Reliving the Joy of Friends’ Holidays

From the Holiday Armadillo to Joey’s snowman antics, Friends Christmas episodes continue to bring laughter and warmth to fans every year.