What the Dickens? It can only be the annual

Across

• 1.) One of Boogie's Boys along with Shock and Barrel in The Nightmare Before Christmas. (4)
  
• 5.) He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle And away they all flew like the ? of a thistle. (4)
  
• 8.) Oh yes it is. (2,2,2,3'1)
  
• 14.) Horizontal fib we still see the little town of Bethlehem do. (3)
  
• 15.) Archaic often shortened. (3)
  
• 17.) Tool used to chop firewood and/or Christmas trees.
  
• 18.) Milked animal that is often found eating from a manger. (3)
  
• 20.) Slang word for those who believe in Father Christmas. (4)
  
• 22.) Traditional theatrical family seasonal show based on fairy tales or folklore. (9)
  
• 24.) Type of television show that dominates Christmas Day, alas. (6)
  
• 25.) Plant decorated at Christmas. (4)
  
• 26.) To set alight, such as firewood, to glow or to arouse an emotion. (8)
  
• 27.) Frank Cross didn't get his brother this for Christmas in Scrooged (3)
  
• 28.) Lucky, lucky lucky lucky Australian actress who had a Christmas no. 2 in 1988 and shares her name with one of the eight white kangaroos that according to An Aussie Night Before Christmas pulls Santa's sleigh in Australia (alongside Kirsty, Shazza, Shane, Kipper, Skipper, Bazza and Wayne). (5)
  
• 30.) Wet white fluffy stuff. (4)
  
• 33.) Fur covering a reindeer's antlers. (6)
  
• 35.) No, none, zip or zero. The amount of room in the inn. (3)
  
• 36.) John sang 'Step Into Christmas'. (5)
  
• 37.) Incorrect plural of Father Christmas's favourite animal that according to Kristoff are better than people. (9)
  
• 41.) The first one of these the angels did say. (4)
  
• 43.) Glittery, sparkling, festive decorations are often this. (8)
  
• 45.) Beatle who has had Christmas Number 1s in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1977, 1984 and 2004 (last two with Band Aid), Christmas Number 2s in 1963 and 1967, Christmas No. 3 in 1984, his brother was Christmas Number 1 in 1968 and his 1979 Christmas hit still often makes the charts while another is set on Christmas Day 1914. (4)
  
• 48.) Good German Intestine reaction. He had a broad face and a little round belly. That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. (3)
  
• 49.) Father Christmas has this medical condition. (7)
  
• 51.) Springy reindeer. (7)
  
• 52.) When out on the ? there rose such a clatter. (4)
  
• 53.) Magical being often found in a lamp. (5)
  
• 55.) Present day country the Nativity took place in. (6)
  
• 58.) Most volcanic body in the solar system, completely unlike the North Pole. (2)
  
• 59.) Classic Christmas Novella by Charles Dickens often filmed. (1,9,5)
  
• 62.) Long time ? in Bethlehem so the Holy Bible say. (3)
  
• 64.) Character played by Kermit the Frog in Muppet Christmas Carol. (3,8)
  
• 70.) Partly-melted snow. (5)
  
• 71.) First live-action Christmas film to show Father Christmas delivering presents in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. (5,5,3,5)

Down

• 1.) The other place Father Christmas lives. (7)
  
• 2.) Frozen snowman. (4)
  
• 3.) Little girl whose tree is stolen by the Grinch. (5,3,3)
  
• 4.) Device used to make a nice, hot, cup of tea. (6)
  
• 5.) Opened daily on Advent Calendars but not used by Santa. (4)
  
• 6.) The Box ? Delights is a book by John Masefield adapted into a television series. I'm dreaming a white Christmas. (2)
  
• 7.) The angel said, 'Don't be afraid, Mary. You will give birth to a son and you will ? him Jesus.' (4)
  
• 8.) Not in that poor lowly stable with the ? standing by we shall see Him.
  
• 9.) Word substitute for Hell. (4)
  
• 10.) Play dealing with the circumstances of Jesus' birth. (8)
  
• 11.) Number of drummers drumming and days of Christmas. (6)
  
• 12.) Young children do this on Father Christmas's knee. (3)
  
• 13.) Three kings came from the East; Russia's monarchs are called ? (5)
  
• 16.) Colourful noose given to men at Christmas, no-one knows why. (3)
  
• 18.) Stripy mint sweet shaped like a Shepherd's hook. (4)
  
• 19.) It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of. Does your granny always tell you that the songs are the best? (3)
  
• 20.) Body part Father Christmas puts children on. (4)
  
• 21.) The Halls with bells/boughs and/of Holly fa la la la la la la la la (4)
  
• 23.) Film Me in St Louis (1944) first introduced song 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' (4).
  
• 28.) Duke Wenceslas of Bohemia murdered by his brother in 935 was posthumously promoted to ? by the Holy Roman Emperor later.
  
• 29.) Contrary to logic, such as the existence of a man delivering presents to everyone in one night aided by flying reindeer. (7)
  
• 30.) Here it is Merry Christmas everybody's having fun. And this is Christmas and what have you done? (2)
  
• 31.) Making a list checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty nice.
  
• 32.) What the weather will likely be on Christmas. (7)
  
• 34.) 1914 ceasefire is known as the Christmas ? (5)
  
• 38.) Who is the television highlight of Christmas Day. (2)
  
• 39.) Oh what fun it is to ride on a horse or reindeer drawn sledge. (6)
  
• 40.) Charles Dickens' miser. (7)
  
• 42.) An Alien wishing to phone home in a film often on at Christmas. (2)
  
• 43.) Initials of who who was Christmas no 1 in 2008 with 'Hallelujah'. (2)
  
• 44.) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, abbreviation for Gentlemen. (4)
  
• 45.) Father Christmas gives presents, another word for Father. (2)
  
• 46.) Chestnuts roasting on open fire. (2)
  
• 47.) Santa's surname (5)
  
• 50.) Card that lets people send Christmas text messages. (3)
  
• 51.) Someone wearing a Christmas jumper looks like one. (4)
  
• 54.) Initials of the main character in A Christmas Carol (2)
  
• 56.) Initials on a red dressing gown in The Santa Clause. (2)
  
• 57.) Word censored by the BBC in the 1987 Top of the Pops performance of 'A Fairytale of New York'. Ricky Tomlinson's Christmas #25 song was 'Christmas My ?'. (4)
  
• 60.) Initials of who was 1972 Christmas no 2 with 'My Ding-a-ling'. (2)
  
• 61.) Initials of Aardman film about the Christmas family. (2)
  
• 62.) Cave-dwelling salamander unrelated to Christmas in any way. (3)
  
• 63.) With Gladness, Men of Old (2)
  
• 65.) British telephone company. People phone others around Christmas. (2)
  
• 66.) Andy's toy car in Toy Story (2)
  
• 67.) 1952's Christmas #1 was ? Martino with 'Here in My Heart'. (2)
  
• 68.) Abbreviated word for thank you, said after receiving gifts. (2)
  
• 69.) What fun is to laugh and sing a sleighing song tonight came upon a midnight clear. (2)

Please note: all songs and Christmas chart positions are based on Britain's national chart.

Answers next week!

Bluebottle

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