Xmas season to these spiritual stragglers? (4)

I believe the answer is:

noel

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'xmas' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for noel that I've seen before include "A lone French Christmas" , "namely 4 [COWARD]" , "Xmas refrain" , "Coward who wrote and acted, d. 1973" , "Lone male name" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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