Photo: Actress Camila Banus will be leaving behind the role of Gabi Hernandez at the end of December.

Christmas comes to Salem once again and Brady decides to reward himself with his own little pile of snow. He manages to pull his face out of the drug pile thanks to frequent intrusions from his family. Wiping the white powder off his face, he attempts to convince Maggie that moving back into the mansion with Victor is a bad idea. Brady knows something about bad ideas. He runs off to meet his dealer and is caught by Nicole. Rather than have the truth about his nose’s recent adventures come to light, he decides to smear JJ’s name when the Deveraux nearly blabs about it to Dr. Dan.

Things aren’t exactly going well at the Horton house either. Anne has decided that this is the year that she will spoil the season by destroying one of the cherished traditions of the Horton clan. The holiday could already be ruined by some bad news. Hope has to finally tell Ciara the truth about Bo. Meanwhile, Sami decides to tell EJ the truth about what happened to Nick. They head out to the scene of the crime to look things over at the river and she winds up seeing something that leaves her totally horrified.

As winter sets in, Rafe and Jordan need to feel some warmth. Luckily for them, they are both quite happy to share their body heat. Less luckily, they have Kate looming and looking to hand out some revenge this holiday season.

In the spirit of asking for a lot more than she gives, Sami demands that EJ finally air all of the dirty secrets that he has kept quiet for his sister. Could this be enough to put a nail in EJami’s coffin? Of course, the grave isn’t enough to end anything in Salem. Just ask Gabi. She freaks out when she discovers that Abby has just received news from someone who is no longer supposed to be in the land of the living.

It looks like Jenn receives a brain boost under her tree this year because she notices that her son is being super manipulative. While she continues to pretend she isn’t pining for Daniel and lectures her son, the doctor is busy helping Nicole save Brady. Mr. Black continues to dig himself into a deeper hole and his friends may not be enough to save him. And Nicole does some digging of her own as she tries to bury her lingering feelings for Eric.

Updates:

“Days Of Our Lives” will not air on Wednesday, January 1.

There will be a BIG fight with the drug dealer in town with Brady & Dr. Dan.

Actress Camila Banus will be leaving behind the role of Gabi Hernandez at the end of December. Blake Berris (Nick)  will leave the show in early January, as will Drake Hogestyn (John Black) and Diedre Hall (Marlena).

The role of Will Horton has been recast with Guy Wilson, who first appears on January 8. Chandler Massey will last be seen in the role on January 2.

Jade Harlow (ex-Jessica, “Passions”) arrives in Salem as a new character (no name as of yet) who runs into Lucas (Bryan Dattilo).

Days is searching for 5-year-old twin blue-eyed girls to play Sydney. Currently she’s played by Nadia and Talia Hartounian.

The show is looking for a man of any ethnicity with a distinctive voice to play a hit man for multiple episodes.

Doug Hayes (Doug) and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) will be back in Salem this Christmas.

More casting notes: “Days” is casting for a three-day principal role for Debra, a woman in her early 30s to 40s, blonde, blue-eyed, petite and fit. This character is rebuilding her life after a bad marriage.