Word list for christmas

Below, we have the big list of Christmas words — an a-to-z list of words that celebrate and relate to the holiday season.

Our list is categorized by letter; scroll past the list for a fun Christmas activity using the words listed here!

A

1. Angels
2. Advent
3. Antlers
4. Assemble:
   gather together
5. Away in a Manger
6. Announcement:
   angels announced the birth of Jesus
7. Aroma
8. Artificial:
   type of Christmas tree
9. Angelic
10. Advent calendar
11. Abominable Snowman:
    character from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
12. Apple cider:
    warm spiced apple beverage served at holiday parties
13. Andes mints:
    chocolate candy found at holiday parties
14. Appreciate
15. Aunt Clara:
    character from “A Christmas Carol”
16. Attend:
    attending church and Christmas parties
17. Acknowledge
18. All Is Calm, All Is Bright
19. Aspen:
    popular holiday destination in Colorado
20. Anticipation

B

1. Bethlehem
2. Believe
3. Bring:
   gifts, or good tidings of great joy
4. Bells
5. Boots:
   worn in snowy weather
6. Blessings
7. Boxing Day:
   the day after Christmas; celebrated as a public holiday in some countries (including the U.K. and Canada) and some U.S. states
8. Blitzen:
   one of Santa’s reindeer
9. Bows
10. Boxes:
    used for wrapping gifts
11. Belief
12. Baking
13. Bing Crosby:
    singer of many classic holiday songs, including “White Christmas”
14. Birth
15. Buche de Noel:
    French Christmas cake
16. Boughs
17. Balsam:
    type of Christmas tree
18. Beauty
19. Blizzard:
    heavy snow storm that brings a white Christmas
20. Born
21. Baubles:
    ball-shaped glass or plastic Christmas tree ornaments
22. Blessed
23. Best
24. Benjamin:
    the ghost of the future in “A Christmas Carol”
25. Beaming:
    Christmas happiness
26. Buying
27. Buddy:
    name of the main character in the movie “Elf”

C

1. Christ
2. Cherubs
3. Calling birds:
   fourth gift in The Twelve Days of Christmas
4. Cookies
5. Candy
6. Cake
7. Candles
8. Candy canes
9. Cards
10. Candlelit
11. Charles Dickens:
    author of “A Christmas Carol”
12. Cozy
13. Cheer
14. Chimney:
    where Santa Claus enters the house
15. Chestnuts
16. Creche:
    Church display featuring the stable where Jesus was born
17. Carve:
    what you do to the turkey
18. Clark Griswold:
    central character of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
19. Cranberry sauce
20. Carols
21. Clarence:
    guardian angel character in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”
22. Caroling
23. Carolers
24. Cousin Eddie:
    character in the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

See more in our full list of Christmas words that start with C.

D

1. December
2. Drinks:
   served at Christmas parties
3. Drummer boy
4. Dressing
5. Deer
6. Dasher:
   one of Santa’s reindeer
7. Dancer:
   one of Santa’s reindeer
8. Donner:
   one of Santa’s reindeer
9. Douglas Fir:
   type of tree used as a Christmas tree
10. Decorations
11. Dashing:
    moving through the snow
12. Decorated
13. Drosselmeyer:
    toy-maker character in “The Nutcracker”
14. Dickens:
    author of “A Christmas Carol”
15. Dressing
16. Deliver
17. Deck:
    decorating the halls

See more in our full list of Christmas words that start with D.

E

1. Epiphany:
   Three Kings Day; commemorates the kings visiting baby Jesus
2. Emmanuel:
   “God is with us;” the name given to Christ
3. Eggnog
4. Evergreen:
   type of tree
5. Ebeneezer Scrooge:
   character in “A Christmas Carol”
6. Elves
7. Entertain:
   hosting parties
8. Expectations
9. Elf:
   Santa’s helpers
10. Exchange:
    trading gifts
11. Eat
12. Ebullient:
    meaning “excitement”; describes the joy of the Christmas season
13. Excited
14. Elm:
    type of tree sometimes used as a Christmas tree
15. Eve:
    the day before Christmas
16. Events

F

1. Faith
2. Four:
   number of calling birds gifted in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
3. Fruitcake
4. Family
5. Frosty:
   from “Frosty the Snowman”
6. Friends
7. Father Christmas
8. Feast
9. Fireplace
10. Festive
11. Freezing
12. Festival
13. Fir:
    type of tree
14. Frankincense
15. French hens:
    third gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
16. Flock:
    decorating with imitation snow
17. Fun
18. Fellowship
19. Figgy pudding:
    spiced pudding mentioned in “We Wish You a merry Christmas”
20. Figurines
21. Forgiveness
22. Fireside
23. Folklore
24. Feelings

G

1. God
2. Gabriel:
   angel that tells Mary she will have a son, Jesus
3. Grace
4. Gifts
5. Greetings
6. Green
7. Goodies
8. Garland
9. Grinch
10. Guests
11. Gather
12. Gingerbread
13. Gratitude
14. Gold:
    color of the fifth gift, rings, in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
15. Goose:
    traditional Christmas dinner
16. Gourmet
17. Grace
18. Greenery
19. Gravy
20. Gift-wrapped
21. Gracious
22. Giving
23. Goodwill
24. Glad tidings
25. Gift exchange
26. Gloria
27. Give
28. Go:
    go to church, parties, and to visit Santa
29. Glory
30. Games
31. Glitter
32. Gloves
33. Glow:
    Christmas lights, fireplaces, and children’s faces
34. Geese a-laying:
    the sixth gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”

H

1. Holy
2. Hymns
3. Holiday
4. Hustle and bustle
5. Ham
6. Holly
7. Home
8. Hugs
9. Humility
10. Heavenly
11. Happy
12. Hark
13. Honor
14. Host
15. Hang
16. Ho Ho Ho:
    what Santa says before “Merry Christmas!”
17. Heritage
18. Harmony
19. Hot chocolate
20. Holiday
21. Hot cider
22. Holly jolly:
    as in “have a holly jolly Christmas”
23. Home cooking
24. Herald
25. Hospitality
26. Helping
27. Hope

I

1. Invitations
2. Ivy
3. In a pear tree:
   where the partridge is in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
4. Icicles
5. Innocence
6. Ice
7. Inn:
   no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph
8. Infant
9. Incarnate
10. Illumination
11. Indulgence
12. Ice castle
13. Ice skates

J

1. Jesus
2. Jerusalem
3. Joy
4. Jingle bells
5. Joseph:
   husband of Mary
6. Jack Frost
7. Journey:
   Mary and Joseph took one to Bethlehem
8. Jolly
9. Joy to the World
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Jubilation
12. Jessica:
    Mrs. Claus’ first name in the Christmas TV special “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”

K

1. Kris Kringle:
   Santa Claus in “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”
2. Kids
3. Kin
4. King
5. Kindness
6. Kiss:
   what you do under the mistletoe
7. Kevin McAllister:
   main character in “Home Alone”

L

1. Lamb of God
2. Love
3. Lights
4. Little Drummer Boy
5. Lords a-leaping:
   10th gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
6. Laughter
7. Lavish
8. Letter to Santa
9. Lists:
   Santa’s record of “naughty” and “nice”
10. Lump:
    coal left in a stocking
11. Leave:
    setting out milk and cookies for Santa
12. Let It Snow
13. Ladies dancing:
    the ninth gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
14. Libation:
    holiday drinks
15. Logs
16. Loved ones
17. Luminosity:
    Christmas lights

M

1. Manger
2. Mary
3. Magi:
   wise men; three kings
4. Mail
5. Maids a-milking:
   eighth gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
6. Myrrh
7. Music
8. Mrs. Claus
9. Mittens
10. Merry and bright
11. Mistletoe
12. Miracles
13. Minister
14. Midnight:
    time of Christmas mass at many churches
15. Mincemeat
16. Majesty
17. Magical
18. Mom
19. Meaningful
20. Merry
21. Miraculous
22. Mirthful
23. Make a toast
24. Making spirits bright
25. Max:
    dog in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
26. Meal
27. Memories
28. Meaning
29. Mercy
30. Milk:
    left out with cookies for Santa
31. Mood

N

1. Nativity
2. Newborn
3. Noel
4. North Pole
5. Nutcracker
6. Nutmeg
7. Nostalgia
8. Night Before Christmas
9. Newly fallen snow
10. Nap
11. Nuts
12. Naughty
13. Night
14. Neighborly
15. Nice

O

1. Ornaments
2. O Holy Night
3. Oven
4. Observance:
   celebrating the holiday
5. O Come, All Ye Faithful
6. Occasion
7. Open:
   what you do with gifts
8. O Little Town of Bethlehem
9. Olive:
   the “other reindeer”
10. Ox
11. Objects

See more in our full list of Christmas words that start with O.

P

1. Peace
2. Praise
3. Popcorn string
4. Packages
5. Partridge:
   the first gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
6. Poinsettia
7. Pie
8. Prayer
9. Prancer:
   one of Santa’s reindeer
10. Peppermint
11. Parade
12. Plum pudding
13. Post Office:
    where you mail letters and gifts to family and friends
14. Pageant
15. Proclaim
16. Punch:
    drink served at Christmas parties
17. Peace dove
18. Pine
19. Prophecy
20. Presents
21. Pumpkin pie
22. Purity
23. Philanthropy
24. Pickles:
    traditional Christmas ornament
25. Potatoes
26. Preparation
27. Pinecone:
    used for decoration
28. Polar Express
29. Pipers piping:
    11th gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
30. Plenty
31. Pear Tree
32. Phone calls

Q

1. Quail
2. Quality
3. Quaint:
   charmingly old-fashioned
4. Quince pie:
   traditional Christmas dessert
5. Quantity:
   lots of food and presents at Christmas

R

1. Rudolph:
   Santa’s red-nosed reindeer
2. Ribbon
3. Red
4. Reconciliation
5. Reflection
6. Reverence
7. Reindeer
8. Religious
9. Rooftop
10. Rejoice
11. Reflect
12. Roasted nuts
13. Relationships
14. Reunions
15. Rituals
16. Reception
17. Reciprocity
18. Relish
19. Respect
20. Regalia:
    traditional garb worn by the Pope during Christmas Mass; distinctive clothes and ornaments
21. Ralphie:
    main character in “A Christmas Story”

S

1. Stuffing
2. Sleigh
3. Sacred
4. Scrooge
5. Sales
6. Season
7. Spirit
8. St. Nick:
   Santa Claus
9. Snowball
10. Snowbound
11. Star
12. Serve
13. Share
14. Santa Claus
15. Shop
16. Shortbread:
    type of cookie
17. Sing
18. Snooze
19. Snow
20. Surprise
21. Symbols
22. Sugarplums
23. Sweets
24. Silver bells
25. Snacks
26. Snowflake
27. Snowfall
28. Snow angel
29. Sleigh bells
30. Snowman
31. Star
32. Stockings
33. Stocking stuffer
34. Sack
35. Scents
36. Spices
37. Stable
38. Stress
39. Seconds:
    another serving at Christmas dinner
40. Swans a-swimming:
    seventh gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
41. Sleep
42. Skate
43. Santa
44. Santa’s helpers
45. Santa’s Workshop
46. Secret Santa:
    anonymous gift swap
47. Snow globe
48. Sparkle
49. Songs
50. Snug:
    cozy in bed
51. Shepherd
52. Shine
53. Sentiment

T

1. Three kings
2. Tinsel
3. Tradition
4. Turkey
5. Triumphant
6. Toys
7. Tree
8. Tree skirt
9. Tree stand
10. Trimmings
11. Trumpets
12. Thanks
13. Trim the tree
14. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
15. Trips:
    visiting family
16. Togetherness
17. Traffic
18. Tiny Tim:
    character in “A Christmas Carol”
19. Toboggan
20. Tranquility
21. Twinkling
22. TV:
    where you watch Christmas specials and movies
23. Turtle doves:
    second gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
24. Trinkets
25. Toyland
26. Tin soldier
27. Thoughtfulness
28. Tannenbaum:
    fir Christmas tree
29. Tolerance

U

1. Unity
2. Understanding
3. Unique
4. Unwrap
5. Ugly sweater
6. Unbox
7. Up on the Rooftop
8. Under the mistletoe
9. Unselfish
10. Universality

V

1. Vixen:
   one of Santa’s reindeer
2. Vacation
3. Vanilla
4. Values
5. Virgin:
   Mary, mother of Jesus
6. Virtue
7. Vocalists
8. Volunteers
9. Visions:
   of sugarplums
10. Visits

W

1. Wreath
2. Worship
3. Wrapping paper
4. Winter
5. Wine
6. Walnuts
7. Waiting
8. White
9. Warm
10. Wintry
11. Wondrous
12. Wise men
13. Wrapping
14. Wreath
15. Wenceslas:
    character in the traditional carol “Good King Wenceslas”
16. Whimsy
17. Wassail:
    hot mulled cider
18. Whoville:
    town in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
19. Welcome

X

1. Xmas

Y

1. Yule
2. Youth
3. Yuletide
4. Yule log

Z

1. Zest:
   citrus shavings added to Christmas recipes
2. Zealous:
   enthusiastic for Christmastime

Activity: Christmas Mad Lib

For a fun and interactive way to use our list of Christmas words, we’ve created a Mad Lib story below!

With a group of friends or family, choose words from our list or off the top of your heads to add to the blank spaces.

You can choose the words at random or by looking for certain word types, like nouns.

One person should write the words into the blank spaces without showing the story to those choosing the words.

Once you’ve filled in every blank space, read the sentimental (but nonsensical) story out loud!

Little Timmy’s _____ Christmas

Timmy lived on a _____ street in the countryside of _____. Though his parents shared his home, it was the _____ that really raised little Timmy.

As the Christmas holiday approached, he couldn’t wait to give (Timmy’s guardian) the gift he’d made by hand: a _______.

Timmy took the (gift) with him everywhere — on the bus, to school, and to the corner market where he always liked to buy ____ in the evening.

Two days before Christmas, little Timmy was walking the neighborhood with a friend when he was struck by a craving for (item he buys from corner market).

“Hey ____,” he exclaimed, using his friend’s nickname. “Let’s stop here for a moment!”

Inside the store, Timmy couldn’t help clearing the shelf of (item he buys from the corner market).

He couldn’t just get one for himself — he needed one for (friend’s name), one for each of his parents, three for ____, and he couldn’t forget (Timmy’s guardian).

As he placed the items on the counter, the cashier said, “That’ll be $50.”

Shocked, Timmy dug through his backpack, hoping to find a few spare bills. Alas, all he had was his handmade (gift).

“Did you make that? My wife would love it!,” the cashier said excitedly. “Are you willing to trade?”

Timmy shook his head and said, “I know Christmas isn’t about gifts, but this (gift) is for someone very special.”

The cashier understood, and in the Christmas spirit, gave Timmy the hoard of treats and let him keep his (gift).

Christmas and Winter Holiday Vocabulary 100 Word List

Use these words to design puzzles, worksheets, and activities

Updated on November 16, 2019

This comprehensive Christmas and winter holiday vocabulary word list can be used in the classroom in so many ways. Use it to inspire word walls, word searches, puzzles, Hangman and Bingo games, crafts, worksheets, story starters, creative writing word banks, and a variety of elementary lesson plans in almost any subject.

Customize the vocabulary you choose based on the policies of your school. Some public and private schools may only allow secular references to winter holidays, while some faith-based schools may prefer not to include secular or popular mythological references to Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, or other secular holiday characters. 

Types of Word List Activities

There are many ways to use this list of Christmas and winter vocabulary in your classroom, including:

Word walls: Build vocabulary by designating one wall or part of a wall to post large print words that all students can read from their desks. 

Word search puzzles: Create your own word search puzzles using one of several online puzzle generators. This allows you to customize them as appropriate for your class and school policies. For example, some schools may only allow secular references to the winter holidays.

Sight word flashcards: Make flashcards to improve vocabulary for early elementary students and for those with learning disabilities. Building holiday vocabulary will help your students with seasonal reading. Holiday words may also be more fun for them to learn and spark interest.

Hangman: This is an easy way to use Christmas words, and playing this game in the classroom can be a fun, interactive break between lessons.

Poem or story written-word exercise: Have students draw three or more of the words to incorporate into a poem or story. You can assign these to be turned in or shared with the class. Poems may be rhyming or not or in the form of a limerick or haiku. You can ask for a minimum word count for written story assignments.

Impromptu speech exercise: Have students draw one to five words to incorporate into an impromptu speech to give to the class. Have them draw words and immediately begin a speech, or give them a few minutes to prepare.

Christmas and Winter Holiday 100 Word List

This list is alphabetized to make it easier for you to find the words you want to use for your activities.

1. Advent
2. Angels
3. Announcement
4. Bells
5. Bethlehem
6. Blitzen
7. Candles
8. Candy
9. Candy canes
10. Cards
11. Cedar
12. Celebrate
13. Ceremonies
14. Chimney
15. Christmas cookies
16. Christmas tree
17. Cold
18. Comet
19. Cranberry sauce
20. Crowds
21. Cupid
22. Dancer
23. Dasher
24. December
25. Decorations
26. Dolls
27. Donner
28. Dressing
29. Eggnog
30. Elves
31. Family reunion
32. Festival
33. Fir
34. Frosty
35. Fruitcake
36. Gift boxes
37. Gifts
38. Goodwill
39. Greetings
40. Ham
41. Happy
42. Holiday
43. Holly
44. Holy
45. Icicles
46. Jolly
47. Lights
48. Lists
49. Merry
50. Miracle
51. Mistletoe
52. New Year
53. Noel
54. North Pole
55. Pageant
56. Parades
57. Party
58. Pie
59. Pine
60. Plum pudding
61. Poinsettia
62. Prancer
63. Presents
64. Pumpkin pie
65. Punch
66. Red/green
67. Reindeer
68. Ribbon
69. Rudolph
70. Sacred
71. Sales
72. Sauce
73. Scrooge
74. Season
75. Sled
76. Sleighbells
77. Snowflakes
78. Spirit
79. St. Nick
80. Stand
81. Star
82. Stickers
83. Stocking stuffers
84. Sweet potato
85. Tidings
86. Tinsel
87. Togetherness
88. Toys
89. Tradition
90. Traffic
91. Trips
92. Turkey
93. Vacation
94. Vixen
95. Winter
96. Worship
97. Wrapping paper
98. Wreath
99. Yule
100. Yuletide