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The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than by expanding your Christmas vocabulary? This reference includes a comprehensive Christmas words list, paired with pictures and examples to help you understand each term. Knowing these words will help you describe your holiday activities and share how Christmas is celebrated in your own country.
Christmas Vocabulary
There are a lot of Christmas vocabulary words can be used with or without the word ‘Christmas’… Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed most commonly on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.
Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world’s nations, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season. In several countries, celebrating Christmas Eve has the main focus rather than Christmas Day.
- Candy cane
- Bell
- Bauble/ Christmas ornament
- Candle
- Bow
- Holly
- Gift
- Poinsettia
- Wreath
- Garland
- Light
- Candy
- Stockings
- Gingerbread man
- Snow globe
- Christmas tree
- Christmas pudding
- Santa’s hat
- Fireplace
- Gingerbread house
- Santa Claus
- Elf
- Snowman
- Sleigh
- Reindeer
- Santa’s sack
- Christmas card
- Chimney
- Menorah (Hanukkah)
- Snowflake
Christmas Words with Pictures and Examples
Candy cane
- A candy cane is a traditional Christmas treat made of hard candy in the shape of a cane, often with red and white stripes.
- The children hung candy canes on the Christmas tree as decorations and enjoyed eating them as treats.
Bell
- A bell is a hollow metal object that produces a ringing sound when struck or shaken, often used as a decoration during Christmas.
- We hung bells on the Christmas tree and listened to their sweet ringing sound as we opened presents.
Bauble/ Christmas ornament
- A bauble is a small, decorative ball-shaped ornament that is often hung on Christmas trees.
- The Christmas tree was adorned with colorful baubles, tinsel, and lights.
Candle
- A candle is a cylindrical piece of wax with a wick in the center that is used for lighting and decoration, often used during Christmas.
- We lit candles on the dinner table to create a cozy and festive atmosphere for our Christmas meal.
Bow
- A bow is a decorative knot made of ribbon, often used to adorn Christmas presents or decorations.
- She tied a red bow around the gift to make it look festive for Christmas.
Holly
- Holly is a type of evergreen plant with dark green leaves and red berries, often used as a decoration during Christmas.
- We decorated the mantel with holly leaves and berries for a festive touch during the holiday season.
Gift
- A gift is a present given to someone during Christmas as a way of showing love and appreciation.
- We exchanged gifts on Christmas morning and watched as the children opened their presents with excitement.
Poinsettia
- A poinsettia is a plant with bright red and green leaves, often used as a decoration during Christmas.
- We placed a beautiful poinsettia plant on the windowsill to add a festive touch to the room for Christmas.
Wreath
- A wreath is a circular arrangement of flowers, leaves, or other materials, often used as a decoration during Christmas.
- We hung a wreath on the front door to welcome guests and add a festive touch to the house for Christmas.
Garland
- A garland is a long string of decorative materials such as leaves, flowers, or beads, often used as a decoration during Christmas.
- We draped a garland of pine needles and red berries around the fireplace for a cozy and festive touch during the holiday season.
Light
- A light is an electrical device that produces illumination, often used as a decoration during Christmas.
- We decorated the Christmas tree with colorful lights and watched as they twinkled and shone in the dark.
Candy
- Candy is a sweet food made from sugar or chocolate, often eaten as a treat or dessert.
- She enjoyed eating candy as a special treat after dinner.
Stockings
- Stockings are long, sock-like garments worn over the feet and legs, often hung by the fireplace as a Christmas decoration.
- We hung stockings on the mantel and filled them with small gifts and treats for Christmas morning.
Gingerbread man
- A gingerbread man is a cookie or cake in the shape of a person, usually made with ginger and decorated with icing or candy.
- The children decorated gingerbread men with colorful icing and candies for a fun Christmas activity.
Snow globe
- A snow globe is a glass or plastic dome-shaped object that contains water and glitter or snowflakes, which are shaken to create a snowing effect.
- She shook the snow globe and watched as the glittery snowflakes fell gently on the miniature Christmas scene inside.
Christmas tree
- A Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen tree, often used as a symbol of Christmas and a centerpiece of holiday decorations.
- We decorated the Christmas tree with ornaments, lights, and tinsel to create a festive atmosphere in the living room.
Christmas pudding
- Christmas pudding is a traditional dessert served during Christmas in the United Kingdom and other countries, made with dried fruits, spices, and suet.
- We enjoyed a delicious Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert after our holiday meal.
Santa’s hat
- Santa’s hat is a red and white hat with a pom-pom on the end, often worn by Santa Claus during Christmas.
- The children giggled as they saw Santa’s hat bobbing up and down as he arrived at the Christmas party.
Fireplace
- A fireplace is a structure made of brick, stone, or metal that is used to contain a fire and provide heat, often used during Christmas for decoration and warmth.
- We gathered around the fireplace and sipped hot cocoa on Christmas Eve while listening to holiday music.
Gingerbread house
- A gingerbread house is a miniature house made of gingerbread, often decorated with icing and candy, and used as a Christmas decoration or a holiday treat.
- The children decorated a gingerbread house with gumdrops and candy canes for a fun Christmas activity.
Santa Claus
- Santa Claus is a fictional character associated with Christmas, often depicted as a jolly old man in a red suit who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
- The children eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeer on Christmas Eve.
Elf
- An elf is a mythical creature often associated with Christmas, depicted as a small, mischievous creature with pointed ears and a hat, who helps Santa Claus make toys for children.
- The little girl believed in the magic of the elf on the shelf.
Snowman
- A snowman is a figure made of snow, usually consisting of three balls of snow stacked on top of each other and decorated with sticks, stones, and other materials.
- The children had fun building a snowman in the yard after a heavy snowfall.
Sleigh
- A sleigh is a vehicle designed for travel over snow, usually pulled by horses or reindeer, and often associated with Christmas.
- We went for a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh and enjoyed the beautiful winter scenery.
Reindeer
- A reindeer is a type of deer found in cold regions, often associated with Christmas and Santa Claus, who is said to have a team of flying reindeer to pull his sleigh.
- The children were excited to see a group of reindeer at the Christmas market, and they eagerly fed them carrots.
Santa’s sack
- Santa’s sack is a large bag used by Santa Claus to carry gifts for children on Christmas Eve.
- Santa’s sack was filled to the brim with presents for all the good boys and girls.
Christmas card
- A Christmas card is a greeting card sent to friends and family during the Christmas season, often featuring a festive design and a message of holiday cheer.
- She sent Christmas cards to all her loved ones, wishing them a happy holiday season and a joyful new year.
Chimney
- A chimney is a vertical pipe or flue used to vent smoke and gases from a fireplace or stove, often used by Santa Claus to enter and exit houses on Christmas Eve.
- The children listened for the sound of Santa Claus coming down the chimney to deliver their presents.
Menorah (Hanukkah)
- A menorah is a candelabrum with nine branches used in Jewish worship, often used during Hanukkah.
- The family gathered around the menorah and lit the candles to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah.
Snowflake
- A snowflake is a small, delicate, ice crystal that falls from the sky as snow, often associated with winter and Christmas.
- The children caught snowflakes on their tongues as they played in the snow on a cold winter day.
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