Holidays of Future Passed

"**Holidays of Future Passed**"
"Holidays of Future Passed"
The Simpsons episode
	Bart and Lisa reconcile in their old treehouse. This scene was particularly acclaimed for its emotional weight.
Episode no.	Season 23; Episode 9
Directed by	Rob Oliver
Written by	J. Stewart Burns
Production code	NABF18
Original air date	December 11, 2011
Episode features
Chalkboard gag	"Cafeteria trays are not toboggans"
Couch gag	The Simpson family, as gingerbread people, jumps on a plate for Santa Claus, and Homer eats his own arm.
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Ten-Per-Cent Solution"	Next →; "Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson"
	The Simpsons season 23
	List of episodes

"Holidays of Future Passed" is the ninth episode of the twenty-third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 11, 2011. Most of the episode is set thirty years (2041) into the future, when Bart and Lisa take their children with them to Homer and Marge's house over Christmas, while a pregnant Maggie goes into labor. Bart has divorced his wife, Jenda, and is struggling to become a better father for his two boys, while Lisa has trouble connecting with her rebellious teenage daughter, Zia. The Simpsons creator Matt Groening made a minor uncredited cameo appearance as a sports commentator shouting "goal!" during a soccer game.

Originally written as a potential series finale, the episode has received highly positive reception from television critics who often cited it as the best episode of the season. It has been particularly praised for its humor and for its emotional scenes, such as one where Bart and Lisa sit in their old treehouse and talk about how difficult parenting is.

During the original broadcast, "Holidays of Future Passed" was watched by about 6.43 million people.