I haven't played tf2 for a few months now and I guess a lot has changed, item wise.  
 
I just got a crate from a random drop. It's a festive holiday crate, or something along those lines, and it says normal keys won't open it. 
 
anyone have any idea as to how i get whatever is inside?

Normal crates require you to open them by buying a key from the Mann Co. Store with real money. Nobody yet knows how to open the festive crates but it has been speculated that they'll open automatically on December 25th.

...goes back to idling in TF2 now.

*Actually boots up TF2*

hmm. It opening on it's own as a special tf2 christmas present is actually pretty cool. 
 
glad i booted it up yesterday for the first time in months =p

It's more likely that they'll have something closer to the Halloween event  with some way to open the crates. Either them dropping keys at random or having some way to earn the keys.  Just opening them or christmas day sounds pretty lame. 
 
FYI it is always a good time to get back into TF2.

" *Actually boots up TF2* "

bah the only TF2 i play anymore is the beta. None of this recent item junk.