Star Trek may not have a dedicated Christmas episode, but some episodes still channel the holiday spirit. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry intentionally created a future where humanity had largely abandoned organized religion. Because of this, Christmas is rarely mentioned throughout the Star Trek timeline, and none of the franchise's main characters are shown openly celebrating the holiday. Still, if the Christmas season is about celebrating friends and family and the beauty of human connection, then Star Trek has plenty of episodes for that.
From Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his Starship Enterprise crew to the lower deckers of the USS Cerritos, Star Trek has always been a celebration of found families and the progress that can be achieved by working together. Every Star Trek series has episodes that highlight the camaraderie and celebration often associated with Christmas. Some of these Star Trek episodes take inspiration directly from holiday classics like Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, while others simply have elements that make them feel right for the holidays.
"All Good Things..."
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26
There are several delights in Star Trek: The Next Generation's feature-length series finale that make it a great episode to watch around the holidays. The story follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) as he begins jumping through three different time periods aboard the USS Enterprise-D. Like Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (a character Patrick Stewart has also portrayed), Picard experiences events from the past, present, and future. Jean-Luc then works to solve the mystery of a strange anomaly in all three timelines.
For an alternative TNG Christmas experience: one could argue that since Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and TNG season 6, episode 18, "Starship Mine" is basically Die Hard in space, then logically, "Starship Mine" is also a Christmas episode.
Not only does Picard rely on his crew members for help in every time period, but his former enemy, Q (John de Lancie), also lends a helping hand. Like the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future, Q helps Picard navigate his journey through time while also testing the captain. "All Good Things..." may focus on Picard, but it gives every character a chance to shine and highlights how close the Enterprise crew members have become. In the final scene, Picard sits down with his crew for a game of poker, like a family finally coming together for a game night over the holidays.
"In the Cards"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 5, Episode 25
![Star Trek DS9 In the Cards Jake Sisko Nog 2]()
With the Dominion War looming ever closer, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) is not in the best of spirits. To cheer him up, Sisko's son Jake (Cirroc Lofton) recruits his best friend Nog (Aron Eisenberg) to help him acquire a 1951 Willie Mays rookie card that will be for sale at an upcoming auction. When an eccentric scientist named Elias Giger (Brian Markinson) buys the card, he offers to trade it to Jake for several pieces of equipment found throughout the station. Jake and Nog then perform various odd jobs for the station's senior staff to acquire all of the stuff Giger wants.
Although the Dominion negotiator, Weyoun (Jeffrey Combs), suspects Jake and Nog are up to something nefarious, the boys eventually present the baseball card to Captain Sisko. Not only does this brighten Sisko's day, but Jake and Nog's actions also cheer up everyone else on the station. Sisko's closing captain's log feels like a voiceover at the end of a Christmas film, as a montage shows the positive effects of Jake and Nog's actions. The holidays are not always happy for everyone, and Sisko's final line feels particularly fitting for those who may be struggling: "Even in the darkest moments, you can always find something that'll make you smile."
"11:59"
Star Trek: Voyager Season 5, Episode 23
In "11:59," Star Trek: Voyager tells the story of an ancestor of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) named Shannon O'Donnell. Janeway believed that her ancestor had been an important astronaut, but she later learns that Shannon lived a relatively normal life. Near the end of December 1999, Shannon passed through a town in Indiana where the Millennium Gate was being built. While there, Shannon meets a bookstore owner named Henry Janeway (Kevin Tighe), who refuses to sell his store to make room for the Millennium Gate project.
In many ways, the flashback story of "11:59" feels like a classic Hallmark Christmas movie with a twist. Normally, the female lead would try to help save the small-town bookstore rather than convince the owner to sell it to the corporation.
The company building the Millennium Gate offers Shannon a job if she can convince Henry to sell his bookstore before 11:59 on New Year's Eve. In the end, Henry agrees to sell his bookstore, the Millennium Gate project moves forward, and Henry and Shannon live happily ever after. Back on the USS Voyager, Neelix (Ethan Phillips) creates a new holiday called Ancestor's Eve, meant to reflect on those who came before, and the whole crew gathers around for a family photo. With its wintery setting and classic story, plus its celebration of family, "11:59" feels perfect for the holidays.
"Subspace Rhapsody"
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 9
Music has long been a big part of Christmas and the holiday season, so what better way to celebrate than with Star Trek's first musical episode? In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' "Subspace Rhapsody," an improbability field causes everyone aboard the USS Enterprise to break out into song. From singing their status reports to sharing their innermost feelings, most of the main crew members get a chance to show off their singing and dancing chops. Not only is "Subspace Rhapsody" an incredibly fun episode of television, but it also has some great character development and moves along several storylines.
With brilliantly written songs and some incredible musical talent, everything about "Subspace Rhapsody" works. Plus, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his crew truly feel like a family, and the closing musical number beautifully brings them all together to save the day. In only two seasons so far, Strange New Worlds has already become one of Star Trek's best modern shows, thanks in large part to its stellar cast. With its forever hopeful view of the future, Star Trek already feels like a perfect choice for holiday viewing, but some episodes just feel more festive than others.
