In this episode Ben mentions that he sells spirits in his department store and that moonshiners like Jim cut in on his business. However, it is often stated that Mayberry is a dry county, meaning no alcohol sales in the county at all. It is also perfectly legal to make one's own liquor (in small quantities) it's just illegal to sell it so technically Jim Muggins never broke the law. (edit) This is the first appearance of shrewd and scroogy businessman Ben Weaver. (edit)

Andy: There's more than one way to plug a buzzard. (edit) Andy: Santy Claus, did you park your reindeers out back?
Barney: Huh?
Andy: It sounds like Donner and Blitzen and Rudolph ain't gettin' along so good! I better go see what's rilein' them. (edit) Andy: You figure on doin' anymore moonshinin' Sam?
Sam: Naaawww, Sheriff! (edit) [Ben steals a bench]
Opie: Look Pa, outside, a robber! (edit)

This is the series' only Christmas episode. (edit) This is a rare (if not the only time) you see the folks in Mayberry wearing jackets/gloves and hats. Instead of the perpetual summer of Mayberry, we actually see cold weather. (edit) Andy says to Aunt Bee "I hope you made some of that good orange dressing like you did last year" The trouble is that Aunt Bee just arrived to Mayberry, and hadn't seen Andy in quite some time before that. (according to the first show)so she wouldn't have been there for Christmas. (edit) Barney gets a Christmas card from Hilda May, an early girlfriend before he and Thelma Lou became more of a steady couple. (edit) Barney and Andy have to search for the bulb that short-circuited the whole tree, back in the days when one light knocked out all the others. (edit) An old circus poster hangs in the back alley where Ben falls down. (edit) Ben says that he sells spirits at his store, but Mayberry is dry. (edit)

The Christmas Carol "Away In The Manger" was sung during a somewhat serious moment in the series. (edit)