APAD: Christmas comes but once a year

Christmas comes but once a year

Used to emphasize the annual distinctiveness of Christmas, especially in contexts where either the special joys or tribulations of the holiday are described.

Apparently coined by the English poet Thomas Tusser (c. 1524 – 1580)

At Christmas play and make good cheere,
for Christmas comes but once a yeere.

Other rhyming couplets from Thomas Tusser:

such as

Swéete April showers,
Doo spring Maie flowers.

and

A foole and his monie be soone at debate,
which after with sorrow repents him too late.

The later two had become the early version of the proverbs:

• April showers bring May flowers
• A fool and his money are soon parted.