“"Christmas comes but ___ a year"” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.ONCE is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “"Christmas comes but ___ a year"”. It was last seen in the puzzle of July 28, 2025, where it runs at 28 Down and fills 4 squares. It crosses 4 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.