The scene where Lily rides a tricycle down a hallway and runs into Manny and Luke, wearing matching outfits, is a reference to the Shining (1980). In the movie Danny Torrance rides a tricycle down a hall and comes upon the Grady twins, who are wearing matching outfits.
The episode title has a secondary reference aside from the obvious Christmas connotation. Andrea Martin, who guest stars in this episode, was also in the seminal 1974 horror film Black Christmas (considered to be the proto-slasher film that set the formula for the genre), playing the role of "Phyl".
The running Shining gag reference includes similar tracking shots through the hallways and culminates with use of the iconic synth theme music from Wendy Carlos.
2nd episode in a row to feature a member of Second City TV (Andrea Martin and Catherine O'Hara).
Fourth Christmas themed episode.