The Santa Simulation
In 2012, The Big Bang Theory season 6's 'The Santa Simulation' didn't have much Christmas references. Instead, its premise focused on the boys planning an exclusive hang-out where they would play Dungeons and Dragons all night long. It wasn't until the final half of the outing that CBS leaned on the matter when the game started incorporating references about the holiday. It involved Sheldon, Stuart, and Howard doing a bell performance of 'Deck The Halls' while Leonard watched. The most memorable moment in the episode, however, was when Sheldon shared his story of asking Texas Santa Claus to bring back his late grandfather because he missed him too much.
The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon, Howard, and Stuart holding bells.
The Clean Room Infiltration
The Big Bang Theory season 8's 'The Clean Room Infiltration,' which was released in 2014, had more holiday cheer than 'The Santa Simulation.' In the episode, Amy hosted her first Christmas party for the Pasadena gang despite strong opposition from Sheldon. Raj's father, Dr. Kootrappalli (played by Star Trek actor, Brian George) also came to town to unwind on the heels of his separation from his wife. Sheldon's whole arc revolved around wanting to get back at Amy for forcing him to attend her dinner. However, he was surprised when he discovered that Amy's dinner was rooted in her wanting to genuinely make him happy.
Johnny Galecki as Leonard, Melissa Rauch as Bernadette, Jim Parsons as Sheldon, Mayim Bialik as Amy, and Simon Helberg as Howard sitting on a couch in The Big Bang Theory's The Holiday Summation
The Maternal Congruence
2009's The Big Bang Theory season 3's 'The Maternal Congruence' was set around the holiday season, as evidenced by the decorations in Apartment 4A. It also marked the return of Leonard's mother, Beverly Hoftsadter's return to Pasadena. Admittedly, the episode itself didn't exude much holiday vibe, but considering when it was set and how pivotal it was to The Big Bang Theory's overall storytelling, it ranks decently in the list. Beverly's appearance allowed her to bond with Penny, laying the groundwork for their surprisingly great relationship moving forward.
The Big Bang Theory's The Maternal Congruence
The Holiday Summation
Because of its rather big cast, CBS tended to break up The Big Bang Theory's episodic storytelling into at least two plots. This meant that the cast was usually also separated, with only a brief moment of crossover involving everyone. Somehow, that was what happened in The Big Bang Theory season 10's 'The Holiday Summation,' which was released in 2017. In the episode, the Pasadena gang gathered at Apartment 4A for their usual get-togethers. There, they shared how their respective holidays panned out. While they didn't spend the holidays together, CBS created a fun way for them to share their respective experiences, which grounded the otherwise bizarre episode.
Howard-Bernadette-Big Bang Theory
