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Johnny Dee

NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, December 22 (game #294)

NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #294) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Are you listening?

NYT Strands today (game #294) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • WINK
  • RING
  • KING
  • WREN
  • RENT
  • ANGEL

NYT Strands today (game #294) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

We’re happy tonight

NYT Strands today (game #294) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #294) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #294, are…

  • SNOW
  • BELLS
  • GLISTENING
  • WALKING
  • SLEIGH
  • SPANGRAM: WINTER WONDERLAND

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

Taking words from the first verse of WINTER WONDERLAND made today’s Strands a breeze – and I’m sure you were singing about Parson Brown by the time you completed it.

It’s one of those songs that’s hard to ruin, which makes it the perfect karaoke song – perfect except for the fact that it only really works for one month a year.

In the UK, it’s a song that’s been co-opted by soccer fans, who will change the words to fit their star striker with a few variations to fit the club and player. For example, in Scotland in the 1990s Celtic fans would honor goalscorer Jorge Cadete with the chant:

“There’s only one Jorge Cadete / He puts the ball in the netty / He’s Portuguese / and he scores with ease / Walking in a Jorge Wonderland.”

Erm, what I was saying about being a song that’s hard to ruin… I take it back.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 21 December, game #293)

  • ABBEY
  • TABERNACLE
  • MOSQUE
  • TEMPLE
  • MONASTERY
  • SPANGRAM: SACRED SPACES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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