Solve today's Christmas Eve Strands puzzle with this helpful guide! Unsure if the puzzle has a holiday theme? This guide offers spoiler-free hints, individual word solutions (if you need them), a theme explanation, and the complete answer if you're truly stumped.

NYT Games Strands Puzzle #296, December 24, 2024

Today's Strands puzzle clue is Who on Earth...? Seven words await: one pangram and six themed words.

New York Times Games Strands Hints

Need a nudge without spoilers? These hints point you towards the theme:

General Hint 1

Hint 1: Earthly inhabitants.

read more### General Hint 2

Hint 2: Common given names.

read more### General Hint 3

Hint 3: Names found in nature.

read moreSpoilers for Two Words

Need help with specific words? These sections reveal one word each, along with its placement in the puzzle:

Spoiler 1

Word 1: Brook

read more### Spoiler 2

Word 2: Willow

read moreThe Complete Solution

Ready for the full answer? This section reveals all themed words, the pangram, and their positions in the grid.

The theme is Nature Names. The words are Holly, Willow, Brook, Laurel, River, and Clementine.

read moreTheme Explanation

Still stuck? This section breaks down the clue, theme, and word connections.

Today's themed words are all Nature Names – given names that also represent natural elements, like River. The clue "Who on Earth...?" refers to these earthly names.

read morePlay Strands on the New York Times Games website – accessible on most devices.