Christmas

Christmas (Japanese: クリスマス Christmas) is a winter holiday celebrated throughout the Pokémon world. Much like the secular aspects of the Western holiday in the real world, people wait for Santa Claus to come down their chimneys and deliver gifts and goodwill to them.

Ash, Dawn, and Brock getting ready for Christmas

In the core series games

 
Happy Calendar card
 
Happy Calendar card back

In Generation II, many Pokémon were given away at the New York Pokémon Center as part of the Gotta Catch 'Em All campaign. Each week, a different set of Pokémon were distributed. From December 21 to 27, 2001, the week was Christmas week, and a Delibird with Pay Day (as an Egg) and a Celebi were distributed.

In Generation III, many Pokémon were given away at the New York Pokémon Center. On Christmas Day 2003, a Kingdra, Zangoose, Seviper, and Milotic were distributed as part of this campaign.

In 2011, to celebrate Christmas, fans could greet staff members in a certain area of Japanese Pokémon Center stores, and if they did they would receive a small calendar card called the "Happy Calendar" with a unique password included on the back. This password could be input into the Pokémon Global Link to receive a Blissey. This Blissey could then be sent to a Generation V game using Game Sync. The password could be redeemed from November 19 to December 25, 2011.

In 2012, the Pokémon Center Tohoku Victini was distributed to all Generation V games at Pokémon Center stores to Celebrate Christmas. This Victini was available from November 25, 2012 to January 3, 2013.

In 2013, a Scyther holding a Metal Coat and a Haunter without a held item were distributed via trade to players with Pokémon X or Y at Pokémon Center stores and select Toys "R" Us stores across Japan. These Pokémon both had the original Trainer "Christmas" (in Japanese). Since they were both distributed via trade, they would undergo evolution as soon as the player received them. Furthermore, a serial code to obtain a Lucky Egg was also given out at Pokémon Center stores to any players who brought a copy of Pokémon Black or White, Pokémon Black 2 or White 2, or Pokémon X or Y; the serial code could only be redeemed in Pokémon X and Y.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Pokémon Masters EX has a yearly tradition of releasing two Christmas-themed sync pairs around the Holiday season, accompanied by Christmas-themed seasonal events.

Sync Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role Base Potential Availability
#039   Holiday 2019
Rosa
#0225   Delibird
Flying
 
Steel
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#052   Holiday 2019
Siebold
#0224   Octillery
Water
 
Electric
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#005   Holiday 2020
Erika
#0764   Comfey
Fairy
 
Steel
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#041   Holiday 2020
Skyla
#0468   Togekiss
Flying
 
Electric
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#118   Holiday 2021
Leon
#0898   Calyrex
Ice Rider
Ice
 
Bug
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#125   Holiday 2021
Nessa
#0875   Eiscue
Ice Face ↔ Noice Face
Ice
 
Fire
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#093   Holiday 2022
Jasmine
#0181   Ampharos
  Mega Ampharos
Electric
 
Ground
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#012   Holiday 2022
Whitney
#0586   Sawsbuck
Winter Form
Normal
 
Fighting
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#060   Holiday 2023
Viola
#0666   Vivillon  
Icy Snow Pattern
Bug
 
Rock
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#116   Holiday 2023
Professor Sycamore
#0673   Gogoat
Grass
 
Fire
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout

In the anime

In the dub of Island of the Giant Pokémon, James's Koffing was revealed to be a Christmas gift. In the Japanese version, it was a year-end gift.

In Under the Pledging Tree!, the Coumarine City Festival had a lot in common with Christmas, specifically the Christmas lights and sharing gifts under a tree.

In Suffering the Flings and Arrows!, a box of Christmas decorations appeared at the Celadon Gym. Ash used some Christmas lights from the box to decorate Pikachu during a flower arranging class.

The following are episodes featuring Christmas:

In the manga

These are manga chapters featuring Christmas:

Magical Pokémon Journey

Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪

Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire

Pocket Monsters DP

Pocket Monsters BW

Pokémon Newspaper Strip

In Strip 15, Ash mentioned that he didn't want to spend Christmas trapped under his Snorlax.

In Strip 16, Ash and Pikachu were sleeping in his room at Christmas Eve when they heard Santa Claus making noise and commanding his reindeer: "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now—" Ash did not recognize the voice, and commanded Pikachu to "shut up" the person making the noise. Pikachu zapped Santa and caused the noise to stop.

In the books

These are books featuring Christmas:

In the TCG

The Flaaffy from the Expedition Base Set features Flaaffy sitting underneath a Christmas tree next to a collection of presents.

In other media

Pokémon Christmas Bash is a CD album with a collection of Christmas-themed Pokémon songs.

Related articles

Anime-exclusive festivals and holidays
Multiregional ChristmasJohto FestivalKid's DaySummer Festival
Kanto Aura Guardian FestivalPokémon Flower Arrangement
Princess Festival
Orange Archipelago Legend Festival
Johto Eclipse FestivalMareep FestivalParade of the Chinchou
Pokémon ExhibitionPokémon Street Performer Festival
Pokémon Swap MeetSunflora FestivalWobbuffet Festival
Hoenn Feather CarnivalMay FestivalMillennium Festival
Sinnoh Pastoria Croagunk FestivalSinnoh FestivalTwinleaf Festival
Unova Eindoak Harvest FestivalKanto Fair
Subway Bosses' Stamp RallyWishing Bell Festival
Decolore Grand Harvest Festival
Kalos Camphrier Harvest FestivalCoumarine City Festival
Gadget FestivalGourgeist FestivalZapdos Festival
Alola Manalo FestivalWela Fire Festival
Unknown Wind Festival