Christmas Characters Trending in 2025: Who’s Hot This Year

As the holiday season approaches, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for Christmas characters pop culture in recent memory. Across social media, streaming platforms, and retail spaces, certain characters have taken center stage, captivating audiences of all ages. From timeless classics to modern favorites, these figures are trending this year for reasons that go far beyond simple nostalgia. They resonate with audiences through a combination of social media virality, bold visual identities, emotional connection, and savvy marketing strategies. Among the most prominent are the Grinch, Frozen’s Elsa and Anna, Pixar Cars Christmas edition, SpongeBob Christmas edition, Santa Claus and his reindeer, Disney princesses Christmas edition, and Jack Skellington.

In this article, we’ll explore why each of these characters has become a cultural touchstone this holiday season, highlighting the trends, emotions, and media forces that have fueled their popularity.

Grinch – The Mischievous Holiday Icon

Few characters capture holiday mischief like the Grinch. Originally created decades ago, the Grinch has experienced a resurgence in 2025 thanks to social media trends and viral content. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are full of short videos, memes, and reels centered around the so-called “Grinch energy,” portraying everything from sarcastic takes on holiday stress to humorous “anti-Christmas” moments. This ironic humor resonates strongly with teens and young adults who enjoy playful subversion during the festive season.

Beyond online trends, marketing campaigns have revitalized the Grinch’s presence in both merchandise and streaming content. The character is no longer perceived as only for children; he has become a symbol of irreverent fun and holiday rebellion. The Grinch’s striking green color, often contrasted with red hats or scarves, gives him a visual identity that is both immediately recognizable and highly shareable. In 2025, the Grinch embodies a playful critique of traditional Christmas cheer, appealing to audiences that enjoy celebrating the holiday in their own unique way.

Frozen Characters – Elsa, Anna, and Olaf

Disney’s Frozen franchise continues to capture hearts in 2025. Elsa, Anna, and Olaf are particularly prominent this season, thanks to their natural alignment with winter aesthetics and ongoing popularity across generations. The icy landscapes and snow-themed visuals of Frozen perfectly complement the holiday mood, and these visuals are constantly circulated on social media platforms, boosting their relevance.

Frozen also benefits from a cross-generational appeal. Many fans who grew up with the original film are now adults, engaging with holiday content as a form of nostalgia while introducing the characters to a younger generation. Olaf, with his goofy charm and heartwarming personality, adds a layer of humor that complements the elegance and fantasy embodied by Elsa and Anna. Streaming releases, including holiday-themed specials and short films, have reinforced Frozen’s dominance in seasonal pop culture, keeping the characters visible and talked about.

The combination of beauty, magic, and humor ensures that Frozen remains a cultural mainstay. In 2025, these characters are not just symbols of winter but also touchstones for emotional resonance, allowing fans to connect with the holidays on multiple levels.

Pixar Cars Christmas Edition

The Cars franchise has long been beloved among children, but the 2025 Christmas edition has sparked renewed attention. Pixar has skillfully merged the excitement of racing with the festive season, capturing the imaginations of families worldwide. The bright, animated visuals of Lightning McQueen, Mater, and other characters in holiday-themed settings make them especially appealing on social media. These visuals are vibrant, playful, and easily shareable, which is crucial in an era where online visibility drives trends.

The limited-edition merchandise released this year has also fueled hype. Collectors and parents alike are drawn to the colorful, festive iterations of the characters. Beyond merchandise, Cars Christmas edition content resonates because it combines high-energy storytelling with seasonal warmth. Its family-friendly appeal ensures it engages audiences of all ages, making it one of the standout trends of the holiday season. Nostalgia for the original films also plays a role, as older fans experience the satisfaction of revisiting familiar characters while enjoying new holiday twists.

SpongeBob Christmas Edition

SpongeBob SquarePants has remained a cultural icon for decades, and the Christmas edition in 2025 highlights the enduring appeal of this quirky cartoon character. Known for exaggerated expressions and absurd humor, SpongeBob fits perfectly into the viral meme culture that dominates social media today. Holiday-themed SpongeBob content, including videos and posts featuring him in festive attire, has gone viral repeatedly, cementing his relevance this season.

SpongeBob’s cross-generational appeal is another reason for his popularity. Children enjoy his silliness, while adults appreciate nostalgic references or ironic humor. His bold yellow color paired with classic red and green holiday motifs makes him visually striking, ensuring that posts featuring SpongeBob capture attention quickly. The combination of playful energy, humor, and familiar visuals makes him a natural favorite for both audiences and marketers in 2025.

Santa Claus and Reindeer – Timeless Holiday Figures

Despite the popularity of new and trendy characters, Santa Claus and his reindeer remain central to the Christmas conversation. The continued prominence of Santa in 2025 is not surprising; he is the universal symbol of generosity, joy, and the magic of the season. Reindeer, in particular, add charm and fantasy to the narrative, reinforcing the magical aura of the holidays.

Santa’s enduring popularity is reinforced by media saturation. He appears in films, commercials, online videos, and holiday events everywhere, ensuring constant visibility. The emotional appeal of Santa imagery is equally powerful. Adults associate Santa with childhood memories, family traditions, and seasonal anticipation, while children continue to see him as the embodiment of festive excitement. In a year dominated by fleeting social media trends, Santa and his reindeer offer a grounding element, reminding audiences of the core values and imagery of the holiday season.

Disney Princesses Christmas Edition

Disney princesses such as Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel have always been beloved, but the 2025 Christmas edition brings them back into the spotlight. Festive costumes and seasonal adaptations of these characters have captured attention across social media, streaming platforms, and merchandise. Holiday-themed attire allows the princesses to feel fresh, even for longtime fans.

The appeal of Disney princesses this season stems from a combination of elegance, nostalgia, and cross-generational fandom. Young audiences are drawn to their fantasy stories and visually stunning aesthetics, while adults enjoy the nostalgic connection to their own childhoods. Streaming specials featuring these princesses in holiday contexts have also amplified excitement in 2025, generating buzz across platforms. Disney’s marketing approach, which combines limited-time releases and highly shareable visuals, ensures that these characters remain culturally relevant. The Christmas adaptations offer something new while staying true to the essence of each princess, creating a perfect blend of innovation and familiarity.

Jack Skellington – The Spooky Holiday Crossover

Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas represents a unique phenomenon in 2025. As a character bridging Halloween and Christmas, Jack appeals to both alternative and mainstream audiences. His skeletal figure, quirky demeanor, and dark humor make him visually distinctive and culturally versatile.

Jack’s dual-holiday identity is key to his trendiness. He allows fans to celebrate Christmas with a twist, embracing unconventional, slightly spooky aesthetics. Longstanding cult followings ensure that new Jack Skellington content—whether merchandise, media, or social posts—immediately generates attention. His visual style, including thin limbs and expressive skeletal features, makes him iconic and instantly recognizable. The character appeals to audiences seeking something different from traditional holiday figures, offering an alternative yet festive take on Christmas.

Cultural Forces Behind 2025 Christmas Character Trends

The popularity of these characters is far from accidental. Several cultural trends converge in 2025 to elevate these figures in the public imagination. Nostalgia is a major driver, as characters like Frozen, Jack Skellington, and Disney princesses connect audiences to formative childhood experiences. Social media amplifies this nostalgia, allowing memes, viral videos, and creative content to spread rapidly, giving even older characters a modern twist.

Visual identity is also critical. Characters with distinctive color schemes or silhouettes—like the Grinch’s green fur, Lightning McQueen’s red body, Olaf’s white shape, or Jack Skellington’s skeletal form—perform better online and remain memorable in retail and media contexts. Limited-edition releases and seasonal adaptations create a sense of urgency and excitement, while characters that appeal to multiple demographics—such as Santa, Frozen characters, and Disney princesses—can dominate conversations across generations.

Finally, emotional resonance drives trends. Characters that evoke joy, humor, wonder, or nostalgia are more likely to be shared, discussed, and integrated into holiday celebrations. The mix of timeless and modern, classic and alternative, ensures that audiences in 2025 have a wide array of figures to connect with during the festive season.

Conclusion

In 2025, the Christmas characters dominating popular culture are a blend of the timeless, the whimsical, and the unexpected. The Grinch captures playful mischief and ironic humor, while Frozen’s Elsa, Anna, and Olaf provide winter magic, nostalgia, and emotional resonance. Pixar Cars Christmas edition combines high-energy fun with seasonal cheer, and SpongeBob’s quirky humor keeps audiences laughing. Santa Claus and his reindeer remain foundational symbols of holiday magic, Disney princesses enchant with elegance and festive adaptations, and Jack Skellington introduces a unique, alternative holiday perspective.

The trends of 2025 demonstrate that holiday popularity is shaped by more than media exposure—it is a mix of nostalgia, social engagement, visual identity, and cross-generational appeal. Each character resonates for a reason, capturing imagination and emotion while reflecting broader cultural forces. This year, Christmas pop culture proves that the season is both timeless and adaptable, able to celebrate classic values while embracing new, viral sensations. These characters don’t just define holiday trends—they define the season itself.