Monday

Richard Hughes' Christmas-themed NYT packs a lot of bonus theme entries into the grid in addition to YES VIRGINIA/THERE IS/A SANTA CLAUS: there are four 6-letter Yule-related entries going across, plus DEER ("Rudolph and team") going down. Having spent hours draping TINSEL and hanging ornaments while listening to CAROLS, the puzzle was a perfect way to cap off Sunday afternoon. Now, given that it was the New York Sun that originally published the "Yes, Virginia" editorial, I wonder whether Peter Gordon has a similar puzzle in store for us this week...

NYS tba
CS 3:03
NYT 2:44
LAT 2:19