In this episode, Mr. Guster is portrayed by actor Keith David. In the season 2 Christmas episode, Mr. Guster was played by Ernie Hudson.
The painting that Shawn pulls out of the box of Christmas stuff is the same painting he had made in the season 2 episode Dis-Lodged.
After Gus and Shawn convince Juliet to initially release Santa from jail, the celebration dance they do mirrors the boy in orange and the girl in purple from the dance scene in "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
SPOT THE PINEAPPLE: About 15 seconds into the first present day scene, Shawn is emptying a box of Christmas items when he very obviously shows off a pineapple with red ribbon as gift wrapping.
This episode has a modified theme song using the same lyrics and basic melody, but the composition includes various instruments and elements such as church bells and jingle bells to make it sound more Christmasy.