Ariadne’s Crossword Library, December 2025

ACL Grid: 12 mins, Meta: 10 seconds [3.33 avg; 6 ratings] rate it

G’day! Ben, here, with the final selection from Ariadne’s Crossword Library for 2025. This month we’re back in the capable hands of Emma Oxford, with a puzzle entitled “Gift Wrapping”. The prompt: The meta answer is a character associated with the holiday season.

Tough grid! There were lots of entries I needed to Google. But as I was filling in the grid, I noticed BOW in the long entries:

• 20A {US-Canada connector that spans the Niagara River} = RAINBOW BRIDGE
• 37A {Former stage name of Shad Gregory Moss} = LIL BOW WOW
• 56A {One of four for Mike Wagner} = SUPER BOWL RING

And then omega across was:

• 69A {Surface of a gift that the bow goes on} = TOP

That suggests we should look at the letters below BOW. And that works!

• 24A {Not just any} = THE
• 43A {Pola of silent film} = NEGRI
• 62A {Unit of precipitation} = INCH

… which gives us THE GRINCH, a character associated with the holiday season. Book returned!

And that wraps up Ariadne’s library for 2025 (pun intended!) Thanks to Emma Oxford for another fun meta, with the promise of more to come in 2026. If you have been enjoying these literary-themed puzzles, please consider donating so that Emma can recompense guest solvers appropriately.

Merry Christmas, one and all!