{"id":175430,"date":"2015-12-15T05:55:42","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T10:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/english-christmas-vocabulary\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T00:57:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T05:57:31","slug":"english-christmas-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/english-christmas-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Common English Christmas Vocabulary Words"},"content":{"rendered":"

All over the world, Christmas is a time to exchange presents, be with family and loved ones, and have fun.<\/p>\n

Christmas, also known as Xmas<\/strong>, means good food, decorated homes and thoughtful presents.<\/p>\n

It also means a lot of new English vocabulary, some of which is only used during this season.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

50 English Christmas Words You Should Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Word<\/th>Meaning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
advent calendar<\/i><\/td>special calendar that marks the days of December to Christmas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bauble<\/i><\/td>cheap decoration of piece of jewelry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
candy cane<\/i><\/td>striped candy shaped like a cane<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
caroling<\/i><\/td>singing happily, especially special Christmas songs known as carols<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
chimney<\/i><\/td>hollow pipe above a fire that vents out smoke<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christmas Eve<\/i><\/td>the day before Christmas Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christmas pudding<\/i><\/td>special dessert that contains nuts and raisins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christmas stocking<\/i><\/td>sock that holds small Christmas presents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
cider<\/i><\/td>sweet drink usually made from apples<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
decoration<\/i><\/td>object to make something look pretty or fancy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
elf<\/i><\/td>magical, human-like being with long, sharp ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
eggnog<\/i><\/td>drink made from eggs, sugar and milk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
eve<\/i><\/td>day before an event<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
exchange<\/i><\/td>giving something to someone who gives you something back<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
feast<\/i><\/td>large meal eaten in celebration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
festivities<\/i><\/td>celebrations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fireplace<\/i><\/td>space in a room where a fire can be lit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
frost<\/i><\/td>thin layer of ice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fruitcake<\/i><\/td>cake made with candied or dried fruit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
garland<\/i><\/td>ring of flowers and leaves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
gingerbread<\/i><\/td>sweet made with molasses and ginger <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
goodwill<\/i><\/td>kind, supportive feelings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
holly<\/i><\/td>plant that has bright red berries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
jolly<\/i><\/td>happy, friendly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
merry<\/i><\/td>happy, enjoyable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
mince pie<\/i><\/td>pie that contains mincemeat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
mistletoe<\/i><\/td>plant that has small white or red berries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
North Pole<\/i><\/td>the northernmost point on Earth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ornament<\/i><\/td>decoration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
peppermint<\/i><\/td>type of mint with a strong taste<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
poinsettia<\/i><\/td>plant with colorful red leaves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
present<\/i><\/td>gift, something you give to someone else<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reindeer<\/i><\/td>horned deer that live in cold, northern places<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ribbon<\/i><\/td>material or fabric used to tie things<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sack<\/i><\/td>large bag<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
secular<\/i><\/td>not religious<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Santa Claus<\/i><\/td>mascot of Christmas, a big, jolly man who gives presents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scrooge<\/i><\/td>someone who doesn't like giving or spending money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sleigh<\/i><\/td>vehicle that is pulled by animals and used to ride over snow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
snowflake<\/i><\/td>small piece of snow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
snowman<\/i><\/td>figure made out of snow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
stocking stuffer<\/i><\/td>object that can be put inside a Christmas stocking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tidings<\/i><\/td>news, message<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tinsel<\/i><\/td>shiny foil material that can be wrapped around objects for decoration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tradition<\/i><\/td>something, like a custom, that is passed down over time<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
unwrap<\/i><\/td>to open up, take out of packaging<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wrapping paper<\/i><\/td>material used for covering and wrapping presents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wreath<\/i><\/td>collection of flowers and leaves, usually circle-shaped<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xmas<\/i><\/td>shorter name for Christmas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
yule log<\/i><\/td>piece of wood that's burned for Christmas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

How Christmas is Celebrated<\/h2>\n

Christmas decorations<\/h3>\n

\"english<\/a><\/p>\n

One fun thing about Christmas is putting up the decorations<\/strong>, which are pretty items you put around the house or outside to make your home look pretty.<\/p>\n

Decorations are also called ornaments<\/strong> or baubles<\/strong>. One of the most common Christmas ornaments are shiny ball-shaped decorations that you hang from the tree branches. Ornaments shaped like snowflakes <\/strong>and snowmen, <\/strong>both things made of snow, are also very common.<\/p>\n

After you hang all the ornaments, it\u2019s time to put the tinsel<\/strong> on the tree. Tinsel is long strings of shiny strips of foil. They\u2019re usually silver, red or gold, and they look beautiful when the light reaches the fluffy foil!<\/p>\n

Christmas stockings <\/strong>are hung up near the tree as well. Every family member gets one stocking, which is shaped like a large sock. Small gifts can be placed inside, like candy or small toys. These small gifts are called stocking stuffers<\/strong>, because they’re stuffed (put) in stockings.<\/p>\n

The tree is not the only bit of nature people bring into their homes for the holidays. Three traditional Christmas plants are holly<\/strong>, poinsettias<\/strong>, and mistletoe<\/strong>. All three come in the colors of Christmas: green and red.<\/p>\n

Holly and poinsettias are used just as decorations, but mistletoe has a special meaning. Hang one somewhere high, and any two people who stand under the mistletoe together\u00a0must kiss!<\/p>\n

On the outside of your home, you can put lights on your windows or a wreath <\/strong>on your door. A wreath is a round decoration usually made with leaves and other natural objects like pinecones and flowers.<\/p>\n

You can even decorate yourself<\/em> by putting a garland<\/strong> around your neck. A garland is a cord that\u2014like a wreath\u2014is made of twigs, leaves and flowers, though these are usually fake.<\/p>\n

Giving and getting gifts<\/h3>\n

\"english<\/a><\/p>\n

Christmas is all about showing goodwill<\/strong>, friendly and kind feelings towards others. You don’t want to be someone mean and greedy like Ebenezer Scrooge<\/strong> from the story “A Christmas Carol.”<\/p>\n

Christmas is the time to exchange<\/strong>, or give and receive, presents<\/strong>, which are things that you give to others as a gift. You hand over the present to the person and you wish them a merry<\/strong>, happy Christmas.<\/p>\n

To get your presents ready, you have to cover them in wrapping paper<\/strong>, which is special decorative paper that hides your gift.<\/p>\n

Finally, you finish by putting a ribbon<\/strong> around it, or a strip of fabric or fabric-like material. This makes the whole present fun to unwrap<\/strong>, or open, for the person who gets it!<\/p>\n

Santa Claus<\/h3>\n

\"english<\/a><\/p>\n

When you were a child, you might have believed in Santa Claus<\/strong>, a fat man who lives in the North Pole <\/strong>(the northern part of the world). He’s also known by the name Kris Kringle<\/strong> in the United States.<\/p>\n

Santa wears a red coat, pants and hat, and gives out presents on Christmas Eve <\/strong>(the day before Christmas) to children around the world. Santa is a jolly<\/strong> man, which means he\u2019s very happy and friendly!<\/p>\n

Of course, even if he isn\u2019t real, Santa can\u2019t do all that on his own. Little magical people called elves<\/strong> help him make all the toys and other presents.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s time to go deliver the presents, Santa puts them in a sack<\/strong>, a very large bag usually made from thick fabric.<\/p>\n

According to the story, Santa rides in a sleigh<\/strong>, a special vehicle which is made to be pulled by animals through the snow. Sleighs are real vehicles, but Santa\u2019s sleigh is magical\u2014it can fly!<\/p>\n

To pull the sleigh, Santa uses deer-like animals with antlers (long, branch-like horns) called r<\/strong>eindeer<\/strong>. Some people think reindeer are imaginary animals created for the Santa story, but they\u2019re real animals!<\/p>\n

These days many people live in apartments, so it\u2019s harder to explain how Santa gets into homes. But many private homes have chimneys<\/strong>, square pipes which let out the smoke from a fireplace (or a kitchen). Santa uses chimneys to get into homes. How does he fit his fat stomach and big sack through a thin chimney? It\u2019s magic!<\/p>\n

Traditional Christmas food and drinks<\/h3>\n

\"english<\/a><\/p>\n

Traditional Christmas food and drinks are different around the world. In America, there\u2019s a big focus on things that make you feel warm, like hot drinks and spices. Many places have a feast<\/strong>\u2014a large meal eaten in celebration.<\/p>\n

Many traditional foods are sweet treats. Gingerbread cookies<\/strong> are made from sweet, sticky molasses and ginger root. Fruitcake<\/strong> is a bread-like cake with candied, dried fruits. If you don\u2019t like fruitcakes, you might prefer a Christmas pudding<\/strong>, which is a creamy brown dessert that uses nuts, raisins and sometimes cherries.<\/p>\n

Candy canes<\/strong> are candy sticks curved on the end like a walking stick, and they usually have red and white stripes. These days candy canes come in many different flavors, but traditionally they taste like peppermint<\/strong>, a type of mint plant with a very fresh smell and taste.<\/p>\n

In the United Kingdom, another favorite Christmas treat is the mince pie<\/strong>, a small pie made from dried fruit, spices and sometimes cut up meat (“mince” means to cut up meat into very small pieces).<\/p>\n

Christmas has some special drinks too, like eggnog<\/strong>, which is made with egg and cream (you either love it or you hate it!). Another common drink is apple cider<\/strong>, a thick apple juice that\u2019s usually served warm with spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Both eggnog and apple cider can be mixed with alcohol for extra warmth.<\/p>\n

Spending time with the family<\/h3>\n

Of course, the best part of Christmas isn\u2019t the delicious food or the awesome presents\u2026it\u2019s spending time with your family and people you care about. Families come together on Christmas to enjoy the festivities <\/strong>together, meaning to celebrate the happy holiday.<\/p>\n

Some families go caroling<\/strong>, which is when you sing traditional Christmas songs (called “carols”) to other people to make everyone feel happier.<\/p>\n

Christmas sometimes lasts longer than just a night and a day, with the use of an advent calendar<\/strong>. This is a special religious calendar that can show 12 days or even as much as a month. Each day you open a tiny flap, which shows a special picture or activity.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the best time you can have, though, is sitting with the whole family in front of a fireplace<\/strong>, a special area in a house where you can have a fire indoors. Even if you don\u2019t have a fireplace, today you can watch the burning of a special Christmas yule log <\/strong>on TV or even online.<\/p>\n

Christmas in Different Cultures<\/h2>\n

People celebrate Christmas all over the world! Christmas celebrations are not all the same, though. Every culture and place has a different way of enjoying the holiday and different traditions<\/strong> (customs passed down from generation to generation).<\/p>\n

For people of the Christian faith, Christmas is a celebration of the nativity<\/strong>, the birth of Jesus Christ. They may go to church before or on Christmas day.<\/p>\n

In some cultures, the holiday is secular<\/strong> (something that is not religious).<\/p>\n

For instance, my own family is Jewish, but we\u2019re from Ukraine. We celebrate Christmas on New Year\u2019s Day or sometimes even on January 7\u2014because that\u2019s a Slavic tradition. My husband, however, is from Peru, so they greet the Christmas Day at midnight of Christmas Eve, and open presents that night. Between both of our holiday traditions, we have a Christmas tree up for almost a month!<\/p>\n

In Germany, people dressed as Saint Nicholas (the saint that Santa Claus is based on) visit schools, where children say a poem or sing a song to get small gifts or sweets. In Sweden,\u00a0almost half of the country watches the Donald Duck Christmas movie on Christmas Eve, since it’s played on TV at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

As you can see, Christmas celebrations are very different around the world!<\/p>\n

How to Memorize Christmas Vocabulary<\/h2>\n

There are a few ways you can memorize Christmas vocabulary in a fun and exciting way (even if it’s not Christmastime).<\/p>\n

My favorite resources are:<\/p>\n