It's Christmas Day, and a new Connections puzzle awaits! This NYT puzzle cleverly incorporates holiday themes without being overtly holiday-specific. Need a hand? We've got hints, category clues, and even full spoilers below. (But remember, the fun is in the solving!)

The words in today's puzzle (NYT Connections #563, December 25, 2024) are: Queen, Star, Cupid, Strong, Rudolph, Sagittarius, Nanny, Comet, Vixen, Moon, Robin Hood, Shannon, Hawkeye, Fey, Jenny, and Planet.

What is Jenny?

Jenny refers to a spinning jenny (a yarn-spinning machine), a female name, certain female animals, and a nautical term for a jib sail.

Hints and Spoilers:

Below are hints and answers, revealed section by section.

General Hints:

• No reindeer names.
• No categories based solely on female first names.
• Shannon and Strong belong together.

Yellow Category (Easy):

Hint: Think about celestial bodies beyond planets and stars. Consider black holes and satellites.

Answer: Celestial Objects

Words: Comet, Moon, Planet, Star

Green Category (Medium):

Hint: Think archery and mythological figures. Consider Katniss, Artemis, and Legolas.

Answer: Archers

Words: Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius

Blue Category (Hard):

Hint: Consider other female animal terms. Think doe, hen, and molly.

Answer: Female Animals

Words: Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen

Purple Category (Tricky):

Hint: Think about a famous comedy show's cast.

Answer: SNL Cast Members

Words: Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong

Complete Solution:

• 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 puzzle online – it's playable on most devices.