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I am new to crosswords and need a little help. I've read up on indicator words but couldn't find out what 'seldom' could mean. For instance, the clue is 'A cake tin seldom has a shiny inside. (6)' and it is Christmas/winter themed. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi joe46, here seldom is part of the wordplay with the "indicator" in this clue being "inside" ie a "container" indicator. The answer is tinsel and can be found \within [ a cake) tin sel(dom ]. It's not the greatest clue as "a cake" other than aiding the surface reading is superfluous.

Hi Joe, the key word in the clue is "Inside". So if you look at the letters 'inside the preceding words - "TIN SEL(dom)". Mind you, I'm not sure why "A cake" is in the clue as it plays no part in the wordplay or definition.

Thanks ginge! I had the wrong indicator. I'm sure spotting these will become second nature with repetition.

Spot on joe46 and there are plenty of folks here willing to help with answers and parsing.

What about this one: "It's scary weather in Berlin, but we never let you down." (6,3,7) I think the answer is 'frosty the snowman'. Is it because scary weather (snow) is 'in' and 'Berlin' is berr+in (something cold inside like a snowman). Or weather that never comes down like frost? Am I missing something? Thanks for any insight.

That one looks to be, DONNER UND BLITZEN (no wordplay as such, just a wry double definition - German for Thunder and Lightning + two of Santa's reindeer that fly through the air).

Joe there's a helpful resource here if you hadn't already found it:

https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2008/09/dictionary.html

Happy crosswording!

Thanks drxx. Looks like I made the clues fit my answer instead of the other way around. I'm pretty good at lateral logic, and I thought I was starting to get used to finding indicator words, but none of that matters if I need to be bilingual or an etymologist. I'm going to have to go back to Sudoku. I do have one last clue to solve before I go. I gave it a half hour.
Santa's son's a dwarf...? (5,9)

joe46 - I'm sure your lateral thinking will get you there in the end, and crosswords get much easier as you go along (especially proper ones where you've got crossing letters to help you progress).

That last clue is a combination of two ideas - Santa being a parent (Father ...) and the name of one of the 7 dwarfs...

I hope you have a...