Popular Christmas Words From A-Z

The Christmas season is a special time of year for many people in the world. The holiday has so many traditions and symbols that aren’t limited to one day on the calendar. If you’re looking for the perfect way to describe this wonderful holiday, take a look at these popular Christmas words listed from A to Z.

Angels on the tree, cookies baking in the oven, chestnuts roasting — it must be Christmas! Whether you celebrate Christmas as a religious occasion, a secular holiday, or just part of the winter season, these Christmas words that start with “A,” “B,” and “C” appeal to all of your senses.

Word	Part of Speech	Definition
Advent	proper noun	a period that consists of the four weeks leading up to Christmas, commemorating the coming of Christ
Advent calendar	noun	a calendar that includes small colored flaps that are opened each day of Advent, typically revealing a treat, trinket, or picture
angel	noun	a spiritual being acting as an attendant or messenger of God; a person of immense virtue, beauty, or good
baking	verb (or gerund)	to cook food via dry heat without direct exposure to flame (particularly with sugar cookies and gingerbread this time of year); the process of cooking in this way
belief	noun	trust, faith, or confidence in something or someone; acceptance that something is true or existent
bells	noun	hollow instruments that are usually shaped like an inverted cup and make a clear musical note when struck
Bethlehem	proper noun	the biblical birthplace of Jesus located in the central West Bank of Palestine
birth	noun	the act or instance of being born
blessing	noun	a special favor, benefit, or mercy; a favor or gift bestowed by God
Blitzen	proper noun	one of Santa’s reindeer; from the Dutch word for lightning
boot	noun	a type of footwear that covers the entire foot, ankles, and sometimes the part of the leg just below the knee
bow	noun	a knot featuring two loops and two loose ends, particularly used when tying decorative ribbons
box	noun	a usually rectangular container with a lid or removable cover
Boxing Day	proper noun	(in Britain) the first weekday after Christmas Day
bûche de Noël	noun	a traditional Christmas cake that consists of sponge cake and frosting rolled and decorated to look like a log
candle	noun	a piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick that is burned for light
candlelight	noun	the light of a candle
candy cane	noun	a hard candy shaped with a hook or curve in one end, usually peppermint flavored with red and white stripes
card	noun	a piece of thin paper or cardboard with a message of sentiment or holiday greeting
carol	noun	a joyful song; a Christmas song or hymn
caroling	verb or gerund	to sing Christmas songs, especially as a group traveling house to house.
ceremonious	adjective	formally or elaborately polite
charity	noun	generous actions or donations to aid people in need
cheer	noun	cheerfulness, optimism; a shout of joy or encouragement
cheerful	adjective	openly happy and optimistic
chestnut	noun	a glossy brown nut that is typically roasted and eaten
chimney	noun	a vertical pipe or channel that transports smoke and other gases (or Santa!) from a fireplace out of the home
chocolate	noun	a (usually sweet) food made from roasted and ground cacao seeds
Christmas Eve	proper noun	December 24th, the day or evening before Christmas
Christmas Day	proper noun	December 25th
Christmas tree	noun	an evergreen tree decorated with ornaments and lights to celebrate Christmas
Christmastide	proper noun	the festival season from Christmas to after New Year’s Day; in England, the period from Christmas Eve to Epiphany
church	noun	a building for public worship in Christianity
cider	noun	juice pressed from fruit (usually apples) used for drinking
coal	noun	a black or dark brown rock mainly consisting of carbonized plant material, often burned as fuel
cookies	noun	small, sweet cakes that are usually flat and round in shape with a crispy or chewy texture
Comet	proper noun	the name of Santa’s fifth reindeer
cranberries	noun	small, red, acidic berries used in cooking

Festive Fact: If you’re wondering what bûche de Noël is, you’re in for a treat! It’s the French name for a yule log, which is a flourless chocolate cake in the shape of a log. Try it out this year if you’re looking for something new to serve at your next holiday party.

In December, many people exchange gifts and decorate with garland — but don’t forget the figgy pudding! See how many of these D-I words to describe Christmas should be on your list.

Word	Part of Speech	Definition
Dancer	proper noun	the name of Santa’s second reindeer
December	proper noun	the 12th month in the standard Gregorian calendar
decorations	noun	things serving as ornaments
Donner	proper noun	the name of Santa’s seventh reindeer
eggnog	noun	a Christmas drink made from beaten eggs, cream, spices, and often alcohol
elf	noun	a supernatural creature often represented as small with pointed ears and magic powers; Santa’s helpers at the North Pole
Emmanuel	proper noun	another name for Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew
epiphany	noun	the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi
evergreen	noun	any plant that maintains green leaves all year
exchange	noun	the act of giving one thing and receiving another
faith	noun	complete trust, confidence, or belief in something or someone
Father Christmas	proper noun	the traditional English name for a personification of Christmas; now synonymous with Santa Claus
festive	adjective	cheerful and happily celebratory
figgy pudding	noun	a traditional dessert made of flour, suet, and dried fruit
fir	noun	a type of evergreen tree featuring flat needle-shaped leaves and upright cones
fireplace	noun	a structure designed for fire, usually at the base of a chimney
frankincense	noun	an aromatic gum resin taken from an African tree and burned as incense
Frosty	proper noun	a snowman who comes to life with the help of a magic hat
fruitcake	noun	a cake containing fruit and nuts
garland	noun	a wreath of flowers and leaves hung as a decoration or worn on the head
generosity	noun	the quality of being kind and giving
gingerbread	noun	a cake made with molasses and ginger
gingerbread house	noun	a decorative miniature house made from gingerbread and other sweets
glad tidings	noun	good news
Gloria	noun	Latin for “glory”; shortened form of the hymn “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”
goodwill	noun	feelings or attitudes involving friendliness, help, or cooperation
grace	noun	courteous goodwill
greetings	noun	polite words, signs of recognition or welcome
Grinch	noun	a person who is mean-spirited, unfriendly
holiday	noun	a day of celebration or recreation where no work is done.
holly	noun	a shrub featuring red berries, white flowers, and dark green leaves
hot chocolate	noun	a warm beverage made with chocolate and milk or water
hymn	noun	a religious song or poem praising a god
ice skating	verb or gerund	the sport of skating on ice
icicle	noun	a hanging piece of ice that forms when dripping water freezes

Festive Fact: When someone wishes you a "Feliz Navidad," they’re wishing you "Merry Christmas" in Spanish. Don’t be a Grinch — wish it right back! It’s a great way to spread glad tidings to your fellow human.

It may be the little drummer boy in Jerusalem, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, or mistletoe hanging in the doorway. No matter what you love about Christmas, these words that start with “J,” “K,” “L,” “M,” “N,” and “O” will put you in the holiday mood.

Word	Part of Speech	Definition
Jack Frost	proper noun	the name for the personification of frost or winter
Jerusalem	proper noun	the capital of Israel and a holy city in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism
Jesus	proper noun	Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the source of Christian religion
jingle bells	noun	an alternate name for sleigh bells; (capitalized) title of the Christmas song “Jingle Bells”
jolly	adjective	happy and cheerful
King Wenceslas	proper noun	Duke of Bohemia, patron saint of the Czech state, and subject of the carol “Good King Wenceslas”
Krampus	proper noun	(in Alpine folklore) name of a horned, anthropomorphic creature who comes out during the Christmas season to scare and sometimes punish children who have misbehaved
Kris Kringle	proper noun	name synonymous with Christkind, a personification of baby Jesus and Santa Claus
Little Drummer Boy	proper noun	Christmas carol originally titled “Carol of the Drum,” written by Katherine Kennicott Davis
manger	noun	a long trough or open box for horses and cattle to feed
Mary	proper noun	the mother of Jesus
miracle	noun	an improbable or extraordinary event or accomplishment that brings welcome consequences
mistletoe	noun	a parasitic plant that bears white glutinous berries in the winter; tradition dictates that two lovers standing under mistletoe must kiss
mitten	noun	a glove with one section for the thumb and one section for the other four fingers
myrrh	noun	a fragrant resin obtained from trees and used in medicines, perfumes, and incense
Nativity	proper noun	the birth of Jesus Christ
naughty	adjective	disobedient or badly behaved
nice	adjective	pleasant, agreeable, or well behaved
Noel	proper noun	Christmas, often used in Christmas cards and carols
North Pole	proper noun	the northernmost point on Earth and the location of Santa’s home and workshop
nutcracker	noun	a device used for cracking open nuts
ornaments	noun	accessories or articles used to improve the physical appearance of something

Festive Fact: You may have heard of Kris Kringle, but have you heard of Krampus? According to folklore from Central Europe, Krampus is a horned creature who punishes children who have been naughty. Unlike Kris Kingle, Krampus doesn’t reward the nice list.

Season’s greetings! After you see Santa Claus in the Christmas parade, get that Christmas sweater and presents ready for the party. These Christmas words that start with P-S may make you want to create snow angels outside your door!

Word	Part of Speech	Definition
package	noun	an object wrapped in paper or packed in a box
pageant	noun	a public event celebrating Christmas, usually involving a parade, Nativity play, or performance
parade	noun	a public procession, usually in celebration of an event or special day
partridge	noun	a short-tailed game bird
peppermint	noun	the aromatic leaves from the plants of the mint family, used as a flavoring; candy flavored using peppermint oil
pine	noun	an evergreen tree featuring long, needle-shaped leaves
poinsettia	noun	a small shrub native to Mexico and Central America characterized by large red bracts surrounding small yellow flowers
popcorn	noun	any varietal of corn whose kernels pop open and puff out when exposed to dry heat
Prancer	proper noun	Santa’s third reindeer
proclaim	verb	to announce publicly or officially
receive	verb	to be paid, given, or presented with something
reindeer	noun	a deer indigenous to the tundra and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia, often domesticated and used for pulling sleds
rejoice	verb	to feel or show great joy or delight
ribbon	noun	a strip of fabric used for tying something or decorating
Rudolph	proper noun	Santa’s ninth reindeer with a characteristic red nose that glows
Saint Nicholas	proper noun	a 4th century bishop, patron saint of Russia, and precursor to Santa Claus
Santa Claus	proper noun	a benevolent, legendary figure who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve
savior	noun	a person who saves or rescues
Scrooge	proper noun	Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol; generally, a miserly person
Secret Santa	noun	a Western Christmas tradition wherein people within a group are randomly and secretly assigned a person to whom they give a gift
shepherd	noun	a person who takes care of sheep
sled	noun	a vehicle for conveying goods or people over ice and snow, usually pulled by dogs, horses, or a motor vehicle
sleigh bells	noun	tinkling bells attached to the harness of a horse pulling a sleigh
snow angel	noun	a snow design made by lying on your back and moving your arms up and down and your legs side to side, creating the shape of an angel
snowman	noun	a representation of a human made using compacted snow
stocking	noun	a long sock or similar receptacle hung by families on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill with gifts
sugarplum	noun	a round candy made from boiled sugar
sweater	noun	a knit top with long sleeves
symbol	noun	a mark or object used as a representation of a separate object

Festive Fact: Ebeneezer Scrooge, the main character from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, has become a symbol of hard-heartedness and frugality during the holiday season. Scrooge’s selfish ways are challenged when he discovers the true spirit of Christmas with journeys to the past, present, and future.

What’s your favorite Christmas tradition? Is it enjoying some wassail, hanging tinsel in the tree, or unwrapping all the toys? Even if your favorite part of the holiday season is being on vacation, these Christmas words from T-Z are sure to bring you tidings of joy.

Word	Part of Speech	Definition
Tannenbaum	noun	a Christmas tree
Three Kings Day	proper noun	January 6th, a holiday celebrating the biblical tale of the Three Wise Men visiting baby Jesus
tidings	noun	news or information
tinsel	noun	thin strips of shiny metal foil used as decoration
Tiny Tim	proper noun	Timothy “Tiny Tim” Cratchit, a character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol; appears as a disabled boy who leads Scrooge to change his ways
toys	noun	objects for kids to play with
tradition	noun	a custom or belief that has been passed on from generation to generation
trimming	verb	to decorate something
vacation	noun	an extended period of rest and leisure
Vixen	proper noun	Santa’s fourth reindeer
wassail	noun	a beverage of spiced ale or mulled wine
Winter Wonderland	song title	a song written by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith in 1934, often considered a Christmas song
wise men	noun	biblical Magi who are said to have visited baby Jesus, presenting gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts
worship	noun	an expression of reverence or adoration for a god
workshop	noun	a room or building where goods are manufactured or repaired
wrapping paper	noun	decorative paper used for wrapping packages or presents
wreath	noun	a combination of flowers, stems, and leaves arranged in a ring for decoration
Xmas	proper noun	shortened form of “Christmas”
yule log	noun	a large piece of wood burned in the fireplace on Christmas Eve; an alternate name for bûche de Noël
yuletide	noun	the Christmas season

Festive Fact: Three Kings Day, also known as El Dia del los Reyes or the Feast of the Epiphany, is celebrated in the Catholic faith in Spain and Latin America on January 6th. The holiday commemorates the Three Kings visiting baby Jesus and marks the last day of the Christmas season.

Along with the words above, Christmas phrases give you some great options for greeting others or writing out your next holiday card. Whether you go with Merry Christmas or Joyeux Noel, you’ll always have the right Christmas phrase for any occasion.

Phrase	Definition
Bah, humbug!	expression used when someone disapproves or does not enjoy something other people enjoy, like Christmas; popularized by Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
Eat, drink, and be merry	shortened form of “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die,” essentially encouraging enjoying life while you can
Feliz Navidad	Spanish for “Merry Christmas”
Frohe Weihnachten	German for “Merry Christmas”
Happy Christmas	popular greeting said during Christmas (more common in the U.K.)
Happy Holidays	general, nondenominational greeting for winter holidays
Ho ho ho!	Santa Claus’ main catchphrase, signifying his jolly laugh
Joyeux Noel	French for “Merry Christmas”
Merry Christmas	popular greeting said during Christmas
Season’s greetings	a general greeting for the winter holiday season
‘Tis the season	“it’s the season”; usually an exclamation to acknowledge that it’s the winter holiday season

There are so many great Christmas words, it's hard to choose a few to use. Download and print this fun list of over 20 Christmas words for the classroom or at home.

Christmas has many words to describe it, but there’s nothing like being in the Christmas season itself. After you’ve put up your decorations and wrapped the gifts, it’s time for some games and laughs!

Gather a group and play a game of Christmas charades using some of these vocabulary words.
Use only holiday words in a game of Scrabble.
Print and complete a few Christmas word scrambles.
Find your new favorite holiday jokes with these Christmas puns that will make you laugh your “elf” silly.
Enjoy the season with a list of timeless Christmas poems.
Learn the meanings of some old-fashioned words from Christmas carols.

Popular Christmas Words From A-Z

Christmas Words A-C

Christmas Words D-I

Christmas Words J-O

Christmas Words P-S

Christmas Words T-Z

Christmas Phrases for the Holiday Season

Printable Christmas Vocabulary Word List

Popular words christmas season

Get in the Christmas Spirit