Cryptic crossword No 2,170

Haha thanks Chopin, nicely done. 6d nho but pleasingly gettable from the atrocious punnery 😜 9a's fodder may need attention? Faves include 13a, 19a for the festive surface, 8d & 18d. Is 27a's "once" arguably doing double-duty? Thanks again, & Merry Christmas!

Nicely done and for a good cause, Chopin. Though I was beaten by the intersecting 8d and 15a as well as 6d which is nho. Got the first bit of it but not the remainder. 20a, 23a and 7d my podium. Thanks. PM

What a wonderful puzzle. Grins all the way through and especially for 6d once it clicked. You very much earned the Shelter donation. Other faves 11a 13a 15a 18d

What a clever puzzle! I greatly enjoyed decoding 6d, even though I didn’t get all the way to the answer (a NHO neologism to me). The way you seeded all those words throughout, keeping to the seasonal theme, was a joy. I also really liked 3a and 26a. Merry Christmas!

Too many good clues to pick a favourite (But I did like 15a, 26a, ...)! I saw what was going on with 6d half way through, so guessed the start; mercifully I seem to have missed the emergence of that neologism but managed to guess it from the crossers. Great job getting the seasonal theme into so many clues and answers.

I'd just like to say that I've got this far without so much as thinking about 6d, and when I decoded the clue, having solved the refs, I laughed like a drain. Very good!

Thanks Chopin. Very jolly! I particularly liked 1d, 5d, 7d and 20a. Enjoyed the final denouement tremendously! Merry Christmas!🎅