Solution to Christmas Checkerboard Challenge by Arcadia

 Solution to Checkerboard Challenge by Arcadia

E. Solvers must first add cell entries in grids A to D to the letters already shaded in E, mod 26, to create a grid as shown on the left, below, with symmetry along the NE-SW diagonal, in which the words MAKE REAL ENTRIES appear. Rearranging the cells while retaining the symmetry produces a word square. The colours show how. 

The words making up the final grid E, with their relevant “extra words”, are:

BACKACHE - “ lumbago?”, APHELIAN - “farpoint”, CHARACID - “piranha”, KEROSENE - “paraffin”, ALASTRIM - “smallpox”, CICERONI - “guides”, HAININGS - “enclosures”, and ENDEMISM - “prevalence”

Full solution here

Solution to Seasons Greetings by Eclogue

 Seasons Greetings by Eclogue - Solution

“PAST THREE O’CLOCK” is a English Christmas carol set to the traditional tune “LONDON WAITS” (both illustrated by the clock hands to be drawn).  The words were written by GEORGE RATCLIFFE WOODWARD (highlighted).  The THIRD letter of each extra word clues in grid order provides “LIGHT OUT OF STAR-LAND, LEADETH FROM FAR LAND.”

L 1 Verdun ; hidden; doVER-DUNkirk ; roLling

I 2 London ; ND in LOON ; toIlsome 

G 3 gonion ; (n)GONI(s) + ON ; arGued

H 4 ENAIRA: Ariane (rev.) ; (IN AREA)* ; scHeduling

T 5 Ankara ; ANK(h) + AR(e)A ; auTocratic

O 6 ELBARA: arable (rev.) ; ARAB + LE ; prOvided

U 7 flairs ; L in FAIR ; soUlless

T 8 facias ; FAC(e) + (I before AS) ; atTractive

O 9 SAGIAS: saigas (rev.) ; SAI + GAS ; prOvoking

F 10 awaits ; WAITS after A ; reFrains

S 11 SWERTS: strews (rev.) ; S +TREWS ; maSter’s

T 12 PMIRCS: scrimp (rev.) ; SCR + IMP ; atTacked

A 13 AMEZCE: eczema (rev.) ; EC + MAZE* ; feAturing

R 14 foozle ; OF< + OZ + LE ; peRson

L 15 NOVELE: elevon (rev.) ; EN around LOVE* ; soLid

A 16 SDLEIF: fields (rev.) ; FIE(n)DS around L ; brAve

N 17 SDROIF: fiords (rev.) ; IF< + ORDS ; maNy

D 18 shroff ; SH + R + O + FF ; boDy

L 19 choofs ; HOOF in CS ; deL

E 20 proofs ; OF in PROS(e) ; poEtry

A 21 briefs ; two meanings ; flAbbergasted

D 22 DELEER: reeled (rev.) ; EEL in RED; weDged

E 23 verger ; VERGE + R; spEedily

T 24 saggar ; (RAG + GAS)<; meTal

H 25 NAEBAS: Sabean (rev.) ; SA + BEAN; ecHoing

F 26 ELOBOS: sobole (rev.) ; SOB + OLE ; afFectedly

R 27 YLRUOS: sourly (rev.) ; OUR in SLY ; puRe

O 28 segued ; GU in SEED ; poOr 

M 29 weened ; homophone ; WEANED  WEENED ; duMmy

F 30 opined ; PIN in OED ; reFined

A 31 opener ; hidden; hOPE NERves ; agAinst

R 32 DEINER ; renied (rev.) ; [(s)IN in REED]< ; veRdant

L 33 WERDER ; redrew (rev.) ; RED + REW ; heLd

A 34 AESDER ; Red Sea (rev.) ; R + EASED* ; boAt

N 35 REVIER ; reiver (rev.) ; RE + I + VE + R ; coNcerning 

D 36 DENIUR ; ruined (rev.) ; I in RUN + ED ; laDies