In the words of Wikipedia, "Tradition has it that The Merry Wives of Windsor was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I. After watching Henry IV Part I, she asked Shakespeare to write a play showing Falstaff in love."
These words can also be found on the RSC's website, where they are followed by "But it seems likely that this is not true, as the sources for the story are unreliable."
The RSC adds: "It is possible that the play was commissioned for a celebration on 23 April 1597, although it is equally likely that a masque performed at the celebration was later incorporated into the play. This would date the composition to around the same period as Henry IV Part II, which seems likely. The play was first published in a 'bad' quarto in 1602, the frontispiece of which suggested that the play had already been regularly performed, and more than once before the Queen. It was first published in an authoritative version in the First Folio in 1623."
"Commissioned for a celebration on 23 April 1597". Nothing to do with Christmas then, but more likely something to do with St. George's Day – which also happened to be Shakespeare's birthday.
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