Explore over 231 Christmas words and phrases with their meanings in this comprehensive guide. Perfect for adding sparkle to your cards, conversations, and Christmas vocabulary!
Christmas is a time filled with traditions, joy, and unique vocabulary! From carols to decorations, there are numerous words that define this festive time. In this article, we’ll explore 231+ Christmas words and phrases along with their meanings, to help you fully embrace the holiday spirit and learn the Christmas lingo.
Christmas Words List
Here is a collection of Christmas words, organized alphabetically, to help you build a strong Christmas vocabulary:
Christmas Words Starting With A
- Abundance: A large quantity of something, often symbolizing plenty or prosperity.
- Accepting: Willing to embrace or receive something, often representing goodwill and kindness.
- Adorn: To decorate or add beauty to something, often referring to holiday decorations.
- Advent: The period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, usually starting four Sundays before Christmas.
- Advent Calendar: A special calendar used to count down the days until Christmas, with small gifts or treats behind each date.
- Aglitter: Shining with reflected bright light, typically referring to the sparkle of Christmas decorations.
- Angel: A spiritual being believed to act as a messenger of God, often depicted in Christmas scenes.
- Angelic: Resembling or characteristic of an angel, typically meaning pure or kind.
- Anticipation: A feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen, such as the arrival of Christmas.
- Antler: The branched horns of deer, often associated with reindeer in Christmas lore.
- Aroma: A pleasant scent, often associated with holiday baking or seasonal spices.
- Artificial Christmas Tree: A man-made, reusable version of a traditional Christmas tree.
- Awaiting: The act of waiting for something, often referring to the excitement of Christmas Day.
- Awe: A feeling of wonder, often evoked during Christmas when people see a beautiful Christmas tree or Christmas lights.
Christmas Words Starting With B
- Baking: The process of cooking food, especially cookies and pies, associated with Christmas traditions.
- Bauble: A small, decorative ornament for a Christmas tree.
- Belief: Trust or confidence in something, often used to describe the faith in the Christmas spirit.
- Bells: Musical instruments with a ringing sound, often used to signal the festive season.
- Bethlehem: The town in the Bible where Jesus was born, a central place in the Christmas story.
- Birth: The event of being born, celebrated on Christmas as the birth of Jesus.
- Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving, known for its shopping sales, marking the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
- Blessing: A prayer or wish for someone’s happiness, often said during holiday meals or gatherings.
- Bliss: Perfect happiness, often experienced during the holidays.
- Blitzen: One of Santa Claus’s reindeer, known for pulling his sleigh.
- Boot: A sturdy shoe, often associated with Santa’s attire or children’s shoes left out for Christmas gifts.
- Bow: A ribbon tied in a decorative knot, used to adorn gifts and decorations.
- Box: A container often used to store or present Christmas gifts.
- Boxing Day: The day after Christmas, traditionally a day of giving to the less fortunate.
- Bûche De Noël: A traditional French Christmas dessert, shaped like a Yule log.
Christmas Words Starting With C
- Candle: A stick of wax with a wick, burned to provide light and often used in Christmas displays.
- Candlelight: The soft glow from candles, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.
- Candy: Sweet treats, often in festive shapes or colors, associated with Christmas.
- Candy Cane: A striped candy shaped like a cane, often red and white, symbolizing Christmas.
- Cap: A hat, often worn during the cold season or as part of Santa’s outfit.
- Card: A printed greeting, often sent to friends and family during the holiday season.
- Carol: A religious or festive song, traditionally sung during Christmas.
- Carolers: People who go door to door singing Christmas carols.
- Caroling: The act of singing Christmas songs in public or to spread cheer.
- Carols: Songs of joy or praise, especially those sung during the Christmas season.
- Celebrate: To honor or mark a special occasion, such as Christmas, with festivities.
- Ceremonious: Formal and grand, often referring to traditional Christmas rituals.
- Charity: The act of giving to those in need, often emphasized during the Christmas season.
- Cheer: A feeling of joy and happiness, often spread during the holiday season.
- Cheerful: Feeling or showing happiness, especially during festive times.
- Chestnuts: Edible nuts roasted during the holiday season.
- Chimney: A structure through which smoke from a fireplace is released, often associated with Santa Claus entering homes on Christmas Eve.
- Chocolate: A sweet treat made from cocoa, often enjoyed during the holidays in the form of candy, hot chocolate, or desserts.
- Christ: The central figure of Christianity, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day.
- Christmas: The annual Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25th, also widely observed as a cultural holiday.
- Christmas Cake: A rich fruitcake, often covered with marzipan and icing, traditionally served during the Christmas season.
- Christmas Card: A greeting card sent to friends and family during the Christmas season to convey holiday wishes.
- Christmas Carol: A traditional song or hymn sung during the Christmas season, often celebrating the birth of Jesus or spreading holiday cheer.
- Christmas Crackers: A festive party favorite consisting of a small, paper-wrapped tube that makes a bang (“cracks”) when pulled apart, often containing a paper crown, a small toy, or a joke.
- Christmas Day: December 25th, the main day of Christmas celebrations, marking the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Christmas Eve: The evening of December 24th, the night before Christmas Day, often celebrated with gatherings, church services, and traditions.
- Christmas Pudding: A steamed, dense dessert made with dried fruits and spices, traditionally served in the UK at Christmas dinner.
- Christmas Tree: An evergreen tree, either real or artificial, decorated with lights, ornaments, and tinsel during the Christmas season.
- Christmas Tree Stand: A device used to hold a Christmas tree upright, often allowing it to be watered to stay fresh longer.
- Christmastide: The period of time around Christmas, traditionally lasting from Christmas Eve to January 6th (Epiphany).
- Church: A place of worship, often central to Christmas celebrations through special services such as Midnight Mass.
- Cider: A beverage made from fermented apple juice, often served warm and spiced during the winter holidays.
- Coal: A lump of carbon-rich material, traditionally said to be given to naughty children instead of gifts by Santa.
- Comet: One of Santa’s eight reindeer, known for pulling his sleigh on Christmas Eve.
- Cookies: Sweet baked treats, often made in various shapes for Christmas and left out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
- Crackling: The sound made by a fire or by roasting certain foods, often associated with the cozy warmth of the Christmas season.
- Cranberries: Tart red berries commonly used in Christmas dishes like cranberry sauce, or as decorations in garlands.
- Cyber Monday: The Monday after Thanksgiving in the United States, when many online retailers offer significant discounts, often kicking off the online Christmas shopping season.
Christmas Words Starting With D
- Dancer: One of Santa’s reindeer, known for pulling his sleigh.
- December: The twelfth month of the year, when Christmas is celebrated.
- December 25th: The date on which Christmas is observed around the world.
- Decorate: To make something look festive by adding ornaments, lights, or other items.
- Decorations: Items used to beautify a space or object, especially for the Christmas season.
- Donkey: The animal traditionally believed to have carried Mary to Bethlehem.
- Donner: One of Santa Claus’s reindeer, known for pulling his sleigh on Christmas Eve.
- Drummer: A character from the song “The Little Drummer Boy,” representing humility and gift-giving.
Christmas Words Starting With E
- Egg Nog: A rich, creamy drink often flavored with spices and served during the Christmas season.
- Elf: A small, magical being often depicted as Santa’s helper in making toys.
- Elves: The plural form of elf, referring to Santa’s many helpers.
- Emmanuel: A name for Jesus, meaning “God with us.”
- Epiphany: A Christian feast day on January 6, celebrating the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles.
- Evergreen: A type of tree that remains green all year, symbolizing life, and is used for Christmas trees.
- Exchange: The act of giving and receiving gifts, a common Christmas tradition.
Christmas Words Starting With F
- Faith: Strong belief or trust, especially in spiritual matters, symbolizing the religious aspect of Christmas.
- Family: A group of people related by blood or love, central to holiday gatherings.
- Father Christmas: Another name for Santa Claus, especially in British tradition.
- Feast: A large meal, often associated with holiday celebrations like Christmas dinner.
- Festive: Joyous and celebratory, often describing the atmosphere of the Christmas season.
- Festivus: A secular holiday celebrated on December 23rd, made popular by the television show Seinfeld.
- Figgy Pudding: A traditional British Christmas dessert made with figs.
- Fir: A type of evergreen tree, often used as a Christmas tree.
- Fire: A source of warmth and light, often associated with the hearth and fireplaces during winter.
- Fireplace: A structure containing a fire, around which families often gather during the holidays.
- Frankincense: A fragrant resin used in ancient times, one of the gifts brought to Jesus by the Wise Men.
- Frosty: Covered with frost, or referring to “Frosty the Snowman,” a popular Christmas figure.
- Frosty The Snowman: A fictional snowman brought to life in a popular Christmas song and story.
- Fruitcake: A dense cake filled with dried fruits and nuts, often given as a gift during the holidays.
Christmas Words Starting With G
- Garland: A decorative wreath or cord used during Christmas, made from flowers, leaves, or tinsel.
- Generosity: The act of giving freely, often celebrated during Christmas as a spirit of giving.
- Gingerbread: A type of spiced cookie, commonly made into houses or men during Christmas.
- Gingerbread House: A festive decoration and treat made from gingerbread cookies and candy.
- Gingerbread Man: A cookie shaped like a person, traditionally made during Christmas.
- Glad Tidings: A phrase meaning “good news,” often used in Christmas carols.
- Glitter: Small, shiny, decorative material used to add sparkle to Christmas decorations.
- Gloria: A Latin word meaning “glory,” often sung in Christmas hymns.
- Goodwill: A feeling of kindness and compassion towards others, especially during the holiday season.
- Goose: A bird traditionally roasted and served for Christmas dinner in some cultures.
- Grace: The free and unmerited favor of God, often referenced during Christmas.
- Gratitude: The quality of being thankful, often expressed during Christmas.
- Greetings: A polite expression of wishes or regards, commonly exchanged during Christmas.
- Grinch: A fictional character who tries to steal Christmas, from Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Christmas Words Starting With H
- Hallelujah: An expression of worship or rejoicing, often heard in Christmas hymns.
- Holiday: A special day of celebration or rest, such as Christmas.
- Holly: A plant with red berries and sharp leaves, often used as a Christmas decoration.
- Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular outcome, often related to the Christmas spirit.
- Hot Chocolate: A warm beverage made from milk, chocolate, and sometimes marshmallows, often enjoyed during winter.
- Hymn: A religious song of praise, many of which are sung during Christmas.
Christmas Words Starting With I
- Ice Skating: The activity of gliding on ice with skates, often associated with winter and holiday festivities.
- Icicle: A hanging piece of ice formed when water freezes, often associated with winter and Christmas scenes.
- Illumination: The act of lighting something up, often referring to Christmas lights.
- Invitation: A request to attend an event, often extended for Christmas parties.
- Ivy: A plant often used in Christmas decorations, symbolizing eternal life.
Christmas Words Starting With J
- Jack Frost: A mythical figure representing winter and cold weather.
- Jerusalem: A city with religious significance, often mentioned in Christmas stories and hymns.
- Jesus: The central figure of Christmas, believed to be the Son of God by Christians.
- Jingle Bells: A popular Christmas song, as well as the small bells that ring during the holiday.
- Jolly: Happy and cheerful, often used to describe Santa Claus.
- Joseph: The husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ, a key figure in the Nativity story.
- Joy: A feeling of great happiness, often associated with the Christmas season.
- Joy To The World: A well-known Christmas hymn celebrating the birth of Jesus.
- Joyeux Noël: French for “Merry Christmas.”
Christmas Words Starting With K
- Kindness: The quality of being friendly and generous, often encouraged during Christmas.
- King Wenceslas: A historical figure celebrated in the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas.”
- Krampus: A mythical creature in European folklore that punishes naughty children during the Christmas season.
- Kris Kringle: Another name for Santa Claus.
Christmas Words Starting With L
- Lamb: A symbol of Christ and innocence, often mentioned in Christmas carols
- Lights: Illuminations used to decorate homes, trees, and streets during Christmas.
- Little Drummer Boy: A popular Christmas song about a poor boy who plays his drum for baby Jesus.
- Log: A large piece of wood burned in the fireplace, traditionally part of Christmas Eve celebrations.
- Love: A deep affection, often emphasized during the Christmas season.
Christmas Words Starting With M
- Manger: A trough for feeding animals, where baby Jesus was laid according to the nativity story.
- Mary: The mother of Jesus, a central figure in the Christmas story.
- Merry: Cheerful and lively, often paired with “Christmas” to spread holiday joy.
- Midnight Mass: A religious service held at midnight on Christmas Eve.
- Mince Pies: Small, sweet pies filled with a mixture of dried fruits, spices, and sometimes spirits, traditionally eaten during the Christmas season, especially in the UK.
- Miracle: A surprising and welcome event, often believed to be divine in origin, associated with the Christmas season.
- Mistletoe: A plant hung during Christmas under which people traditionally kiss.
- Mitten: A type of glove worn in cold weather, often part of winter clothing.
- Mouse King: A character from The Nutcracker ballet.
- Myrrh: A fragrant resin used in perfumes, one of the gifts given to Jesus by the Wise Men.
Christmas Words Starting With N
- Nativity: The scene of Jesus’ birth, often depicted with figures of Mary, Joseph, and others.
- Naughty: Behaving badly, often used to describe children who don’t receive gifts from Santa.
- Nice: Well-behaved, used to describe children who receive gifts from Santa.
- Noel: Another word for Christmas, from the French term for the holiday.
- North Pole: The fictional home of Santa Claus and his workshop.
- Nutcracker: A decorative tool used to crack nuts, also a character in The Nutcracker ballet.
Christmas Words Starting With O
- Offering: A gift or donation, often given during Christmas to those in need.
- Ornaments: Decorative objects used to adorn Christmas trees.
- Oven: An appliance used to bake holiday treats like cookies and pies.
Christmas Words Starting With P
- Package: A box or wrapped item, often containing a gift.
- Pageant: A public performance or reenactment, often telling the Christmas story.
- Parade: A public procession, often held during holidays like Christmas.
- Partridge: A bird, often referenced in the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
- Peace: A state of tranquility and calm, often emphasized during Christmas.
- Peppermint: A mint flavor often associated with Christmas candies.
- Pine: A type of evergreen tree, often used as a Christmas tree.
- Pinecone: The fruit of pine trees, often used as decoration during Christmas.
- Plum Pudding: A traditional Christmas dessert made with dried fruits.
- Poinsettia: A red and green plant often used as a Christmas decoration.
- Popcorn: Often strung together as a garland to decorate Christmas trees.
- Prancer: One of Santa’s reindeer, known for pulling his sleigh.
- Presents: Gifts exchanged during the Christmas season.
- Proclaim: To announce something publicly, often used in Christmas hymns or services.
Christmas Words Starting With R
- Rat King: A character from The Nutcracker ballet.
- Receive: To be given something, often referring to the exchange of gifts at Christmas.
- Reindeer: Deer that are said to pull Santa’s sleigh.
- Rejoice: To feel or show great joy, often used in religious Christmas hymns.
- Ribbon: A strip of fabric used to tie up gifts and decorations.
- Ritual: A ceremonial act, often repeated during Christmas to honor traditions.
- Rudolph: The red-nosed reindeer who leads Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Words Starting With S
- Saint Nicholas: The historical figure on whom the legend of Santa Claus is based.
- Santa Claus: A legendary figure who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
- Santa’s Helpers: The elves who help Santa make toys for Christmas.
- Santa’s List: The list Santa checks to see who’s been naughty or nice.
- Santa’s Workshop: The place where Santa and his elves make toys for children.
- Savior: Referring to Jesus Christ, believed by Christians to be the savior of mankind.
- Scrooge: A character from A Christmas Carol known for his miserly ways.
- Season’s Greetings: A common holiday message exchanged during Christmas.
- Secret Santa: A gift exchange game where participants are randomly assigned someone to give a gift to.
- Shepherd: A person who tends to sheep, often included in the nativity story.
- Sled: A vehicle used to slide over snow, often associated with winter fun.
- Sleigh: A vehicle Santa uses to deliver gifts, pulled by reindeer.
- Sleigh Bells: Bells attached to a sleigh that make a jingling sound.
- Snow: Frozen precipitation that often creates a winter wonderland during Christmas.
- Snow Angel: An image made by lying in the snow and moving arms and legs to form the shape of an angel.
- Snowball: A ball of snow, often used in playful fights during winter.
- Snowman: A figure made of snow, often built by children during winter.
- Spirit: The mood or essence of something, such as the “Christmas spirit” of joy and giving.
- Star: A celestial body, often symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem in the Christmas story.
- St. Nicks: Another name for Santa Claus.
- Stocking: A large sock hung on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill with small gifts.
- Sugarplum: A type of candy, often referenced in The Nutcracker.
- Sweater: A warm, knitted garment often worn during cold weather and festive occasions.
- Symbol: Something that represents or stands for something else, such as symbols of Christmas.
Christmas Words Starting With T
- Tannenbaum: A German word for Christmas tree.
- Three Kings Day: A Christian feast day on January 6th celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to baby Jesus.
- Tidings: News or information, often referring to the good news of Jesus’ birth.
- Tinsel: Thin strips of shiny material used to decorate Christmas trees.
- Tiny Tim: A character from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.
- Toboggan: A long, flat sled used for sliding down snow-covered hills.
- Toys: Items given as gifts, especially to children during Christmas.
- Tradition: Customs or practices passed down through generations, such as Christmas traditions.
- Tree Stand: A device used to hold a Christmas tree upright.
- Trimming: The act of decorating, often referring to the decoration of a Christmas tree.
- Turkey: A bird often roasted for Christmas dinner.
Christmas Words Starting With U
- Unwrap: The act of removing the wrapping from a gift.
Christmas Words Starting With V
- Vacation: A break from work or school, often taken during the Christmas season.
- Visit: The act of spending time with someone, often referring to holiday visits.
- Vixen: One of Santa’s reindeer.
Christmas Words Starting With W
- Wassail: A hot spiced cider traditionally drunk during Christmas.
- Winter: The season in which Christmas occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, often characterized by cold weather and snow.
- Winter Wonderland: A beautiful snowy landscape, often associated with Christmas imagery.
- Wise Men: The three kings or magi who visited Jesus after his birth.
- Wonder: A feeling of amazement, often experienced during the magical moments of Christmas.
- Workshop: A place where Santa’s elves make toys for Christmas.
- Worship: The act of showing reverence and adoration, especially during Christmas services.
- Wrap: To cover a gift in paper.
- Wrapping Paper: Decorative paper used to wrap gifts.
- Wreath: A circular arrangement of flowers or greenery, often hung during Christmas.
Christmas Words Starting With X
- Xmas: A common abbreviation for Christmas.
Christmas Words Starting With Y
- Yule: An ancient festival celebrating the winter solstice, now synonymous with Christmas.
- Yule Log: A large log traditionally burned in the hearth on Christmas Eve.
- Yuletide: The Christmas season.
What Are The Top 10 Christmas Words?
The top 10 Christmas words typically evoke the spirit, traditions, and iconic symbols of the holiday season. Here’s a list of some of the most popular Christmas words:
- Christmas: The central word itself, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and the festive season.
- Santa Claus: The legendary figure who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
- Joy: A feeling of great happiness, a core emotion associated with Christmas.
- Tree: Referring to the Christmas tree, a symbol of the holiday, decorated with ornaments and lights.
- Gift: Exchanging presents is one of the main traditions of Christmas.
- Snow: Often symbolizing a “white Christmas,” snow evokes winter and holiday imagery.
- Family: Christmas is often celebrated with family gatherings and shared traditions.
- Carols: Christmas songs that spread joy and bring people together during the holiday season.
- Reindeer: The animals that pull Santa’s sleigh, with Rudolph being the most famous.
- Merry: Often paired with “Christmas,” this word expresses the festive and joyful atmosphere of the season.
These words reflect the joy, warmth, and traditions that are deeply intertwined with the holiday season.
What Are Some Popular Christmas Phrases?
Whether you’re preparing your Christmas cards, getting into the Christmas spirit, or writing your Christmas party invitations, these are some familiar festive phrases that you might come across:
- Merry Christmas! – A classic and widely used greeting during the holiday season.
- Season’s Greetings – A more inclusive way to send holiday wishes.
- Happy Holidays! – Another inclusive greeting for the festive season, often used when referencing multiple holidays such as Christmas and New Year.
- Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All – A phrase symbolizing the spirit of Christmas, drawn from the Bible and often used in carols.
- Tis the Season – Short for “’tis the season to be jolly,” indicating the festive time of year.
- Deck the Halls – Referring to decorating the house for Christmas, from a popular Christmas carol.
- Joy to the World – A phrase from a famous Christmas hymn, symbolizing the joy of the season.
- Ho Ho Ho! – Santa Claus’s famous laugh, symbolizing fun and cheer.
- Let It Snow – A phrase celebrating the beauty of snow during the Christmas season, also the title of a well-known song.
- It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – A joyful phrase that captures the excitement of the Christmas season, also from a popular holiday song.
- Good Tidings We Bring – A phrase from the carol We Wish You a Merry Christmas, conveying good wishes.
- All Is Calm, All Is Bright – A peaceful line from the carol Silent Night, reflecting the serene side of Christmas.
- Naughty or Nice – Referring to Santa’s list, this phrase relates to the behavior of children determining whether they receive presents.
- Believe in the Magic of Christmas – Expresses the sense of wonder and joy associated with the season.
- Walking in a Winter Wonderland – A phrase from a famous song, evoking snowy Christmas scenes.
These phrases are commonly used on Christmas cards, in songs, and in festive conversations! If you’d like to know more check this list of Christmas sayings and phrases.
Conclusion
Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and traditions. These 231+ Christmas words and phrases capture the essence of the holiday season. Whether you’re writing holiday cards, decorating your home, or simply soaking in the festive atmosphere, these words can help you fully embrace the Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas!
The founder of DoTEFL, James is passionate about helping others fulfill their dreams through teaching and traveling abroad.
James has been helping people teach English abroad for over twelve years. He’s traveled to over 30 countries, lived in 3, and taught English in Chile and online.
James has been helping people teach English abroad for over twelve years. He’s traveled to over 30 countries, lived in 3, and taught English in Chile and online.
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