The Holiday Mini Crossword: Thursday, December 25, 2025
Today’s theme: 2025 in theatre.
Today’s theme: 2025 in theatre.
By Andy Kravis
December 25, 2025
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Andy Kravis is an associate puzzles-and-games editor at The New Yorker.
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Video
[
Virtual Togetherness Through Partner Crosswords
](https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/virtual-togetherness-through-partner-crosswords)
Social dynamics of the crossworld, a crossword meet-cute, and other ways to puzzle with friends while social distancing.
Crossword
[
The Holiday Crossword: Wednesday, December 24, 2025
](https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword/2025/12/24)
Today’s theme: 2025 in movies.
Crossword
[
The Holiday Crossword: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
](https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword/2025/12/23)
Today’s theme: 2025 in literature.
Shuffalo
[
Shuffalo: Sunday, December 28, 2025
](https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/shuffalo/2025/12/28#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
Can you make a longer word with each new letter?
Novellas
[
“The Ice-Skater”
](https://www.newyorker.com/books/novellas/the-ice-skater#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
The man from Kabul had warned about the number of men assigned to each room. “I won’t lie to you,” he had said. “You’ll be uncomfortable. You’ll have to adjust.”
Persons of Interest
[
Natalia Lafourcade Reimagines Mexican Folk Music
](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/natalia-lafourcade-reimagines-mexican-folk-music#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
The former teen pop star has become a new emblem of “Veracruz sound.”
This Week in Fiction
[
Kanak Kapur on Migrant Labor and Skating in Dubai
](https://www.newyorker.com/books/this-week-in-fiction/kanak-kapur-on-migrant-labor-and-skating-in-dubai#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
The author discusses her novella “The Ice-Skater.”
Critic’s Notebook
[
The Weirdly Refreshing Honesty of the Oscars of TikTok
](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/critics-notebook/the-weirdly-refreshing-honesty-of-the-oscars-of-tiktok#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
The app might wreak havoc on users’ mental health, but there was a satisfying frankness at the gathering about the fact that everything in life is now fodder for content.
2025 in Review
[
Why A.I. Didn’t Transform Our Lives in 2025
](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2025-in-review/why-ai-didnt-transform-our-lives-in-2025#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
This was supposed to be the year when autonomous agents took over everyday tasks. The tech industry overpromised and underdelivered.
Shuffalo
[
Shuffalo: Saturday, December 27, 2025
](https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/shuffalo/2025/12/27#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
Can you make a longer word with each new letter?
Goings On
[
What to Do on New Year’s Eve
](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/goings-on/what-to-do-on-new-years-eve#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
Also: Vinson Cunningham on his favorite songs of the year.
Crossword
[
The Holiday Mini Crossword: Friday, December 26, 2025
](https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/mini-crossword/2025/12/26#intcid=_the-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc_c0215b63-3bec-4538-9ef0-80ed32414e44_roberta-similarity1_fallback_cral-top2-2)
Today’s theme: 2025 in poetry.