It's Christmas Day, and it's time for another Connections puzzle from the New York Times! If you've tackled previous holiday puzzles, you know the NYT can be quite clever at subtly incorporating festive themes.

Need a hand with today's challenge? Look no further! Below, you'll find hints, category clues, and even spoilers – everything but the game's basic rules.

Words in NYT Connections Puzzle #563 (December 25, 2024)

Today's puzzle includes: Queen, Star, Cupid, Strong, Rudolph, Sagittarius, Nanny, Comet, Vixen, Moon, Robin Hood, Shannon, Hawkeye, Fey, Jenny, and Planet.

What is the Definition of "Jenny"?

A "jenny," also known as a spinning jenny, is a yarn-spinning machine. It's also a female given name and a term for certain female animals (like some birds). In nautical slang, a jenny (or genoa) is a type of jib sail.

NYT Connections Puzzle Hints & Solutions

Uncover hints and solutions below using the "Read More" buttons.

General Hints for the Entire Puzzle

Here are some general tips:

1. Reindeer names are not a category.
2. Female first names aren't a category either.
3. "Shannon" and "Strong" belong together.

read moreYellow Category Hints

Hints for the yellow (easy) category: Consider black holes and satellites.

read moreYellow Category Answer

The yellow category is Celestial Objects.

read moreYellow Category Answer & Words

Celestial Objects: Comet, Moon, Planet, Star

read moreGreen Category Hints

Hints for the green (medium) category: Think Katniss, Artemis, and Legolas.

read moreGreen Category Answer

The green category is Archers.

read moreGreen Category Answer & Words

Archers: Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius

read moreBlue Category Hints

Hints for the blue (hard) category: Consider a doe, a hen, and a molly.

read moreBlue Category Answer

The blue category is Female Animals.

read moreBlue Category Answer & Words

Female Animals: Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen

read morePurple Category Hints

Hints for the purple (tricky) category: Think comedians.

read morePurple Category Answer

The purple category is SNL Cast Members.

read morePurple Category Answer & Words

SNL Cast Members: Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong

read moreComplete Answers for NYT Connections #563

• 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 website on your favorite device.