It's Christmas Day, and the New York Times presents its second ever Connections holiday puzzle! If you've tackled previous holiday puzzles, you know the NYT can be quite clever at subtly incorporating holiday themes.
Need a hand with today's puzzle? This guide provides hints, category-specific help, and even spoilers, without revealing the core gameplay rules.
Words in NYT Connections Puzzle #563 (December 25, 2024):
The puzzle includes: Queen, Star, Cupid, Strong, Rudolph, Sagittarius, Nanny, Comet, Vixen, Moon, Robin Hood, Shannon, Hawkeye, Fey, Jenny, and Planet.
Understanding "Jenny":
The word "Jenny" has multiple meanings: a spinning machine, a female name, a female animal (certain species), and a nautical term for a jib sail.
Puzzle Hints and Solutions:
The following sections offer hints and solutions. Expand each section for assistance.
General Hints:
- No category focuses on reindeer names.
- No category focuses solely on female first names.
- "Shannon" and "Strong" belong to the same category.
Yellow Category (Easy): Hints & Solution
Hint: Consider black holes and satellites.
Solution: Celestial Objects (Comet, Moon, Planet, Star)
Green Category (Medium): Hints & Solution
Hint: Think Katniss, Artemis, Legolas.
Solution: Archers (Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius)
Blue Category (Hard): Hints & Solution
Hint: Consider a doe, a hen, a molly.
Solution: Female Animals (Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen)
Purple Category (Tricky): Hints & Solution
Hint: Think comedians.
Solution: SNL Cast Members (Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong)
Complete Solutions:
- Yellow: Celestial Objects (Comet, Moon, Planet, Star)
- Green: Archers (Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius)
- Blue: Female Animals (Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen)
- Purple: SNL Cast Members (Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong)
Ready to play? Find the New York Times Games Connections online, accessible on most devices.