"The Santa in the Slush" is the second Christmas episode of the FOX detective/mystery drama Bones, aired as the ninth episode of the show's third season (though it is actually the season's tenth episode in production order).
The sad discovery of the remains of a mall Santa has Bones and Booth also discovering the man was perhaps as close to the real thing as this world offers, with his apartment like a shrine to Christmas. This leads them further into a subculture of mall Santas, all of whom take their trade very seriously, all while seeking one who may have done in a fellow St. Nick. Upon entering the apartment of the deceased, they find a virtual shrine to Christmas in all its aspects, showing how seriously the victim took his role.
As that mystery unfolds, Bones and Booth find themselves forced into an awkward kiss; Booth attempts to connect with his young son for the holidays, despite unease between him and his ex-girlfriend. Bones arranges to have her supremely dysfunctional family have Christmas in the prison where both her father and her brother are incarcerated.
Each manages to pull off some uncomfortable, at times painful. but ultimately joyous small miracles with their loved ones; When the murderer is exposed by a specific eating habit, the Santas thrash the traitor--with a loud, shaming chorus of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and proclaim that his victim will always be remembered as the biggest believer of them all.
David Boreanaz is no stranger to Christmas episodes. He starred as Angel in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Amends" and also made a cameo appearance as himself in the Family Guy episode "Road to the North Pole".