Christmas carol contraction

TIS

Think of the first word in the classic carol that begins "’Tis the season to be jolly"—what’s the shortened form of "it is"?

This clue plays on the phrase "’Tis the season," a classic opening line from Christmas carols like Deck the Halls. The contraction "’tis" is an old-fashioned way of saying "it is," often heard in holiday songs. The answer drops the apostrophe for crossword style, leaving just "TIS." It’s a nod to festive tradition wrapped in a bit of grammar.