Ahhh Christmas, the season of love, generosity, and family. This time of year never fails to bring us nostalgic vibes, making us remember our childhoods and the blessing of family.
Whether you want to brush up on your Christmas vocabulary, or if you’re learning English and you want to learn about our traditions in English-speaking countries, this article will serve you perfectly.
It’s an honor to introduce you to the holiday that is engraved on the hearts of many. The time of year when we are all a little bit more generous in giving, and less generous on the road (seriously, people are crazy behind the wheel in December).
Let’s jump into this article, and learn or relearn everything that we need to know to celebrate this wonderful holiday in English. Let’s start!
Trees & Decorations🎄
In The USA, where I’m from, there are decorations covering people’s houses for Halloween and Easter, but… There’s nothing like a good old Christmas season which makes more people climb on their roofs to decorate their homes.
It’s everywhere you look, Christmas lights, trees, etc. In this section, we’ll go over all of the vocabulary needed to talk about Christmas decorations. Let’s get started!
Christmas Tree Decorations:
Christmas tree
Ornaments
Tinsel
Lights
Tree topper (Usually a star that goes on top of a tree)
Tree skirt
Candy canes (A hook-shaped candy that sits on tree branches)
Outdoor Decorations:
Christmas lights (for the house exterior)
Inflatable decorations
Wreaths
Yard ornaments (Such as the infamous nativity scene which depicts Jesus as a baby)
Indoor Decorations: 🎁
Stockings
Candles
Wrapped presents
Snowflakes
Bells
Ribbons
Pinecones
Nutcrackers
Santa Claus figurines
Reindeer figurines
Traditional Christmas Colors:
Red ❤️
Green 💚
White 🤍
Gold 💛
Silver 🩶
Specialty Decorations: 🗓
Advent calendars (Calendar that hold tiny treats that you get daily when you open them)
Christmas countdowns (Counter starting the first day of December, and counting down to Christmas)
Nativity sets
Snow globes (Little glass balls with snowy scenes in them)
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Words You Need To Know When Spending Christmas In The USA
In this section, I’ll give you all of the other vocabulary words that you should know - especially if you are going to be in The United States of America for this Christmas!
Christmas Vocab (Word) | Meaning |
Bethlehem | The town where Yeshua was born |
Christ | English term used to refer to Yeshua or “Jesus” |
Christmas carols | Songs sung at the front door by groups of Christians |
Eggnog | A traditional Christmas drink |
Christmas Eve | The day before Christmas |
Sledding | A winter hobby where sleds are ridden down hills of snow |
Xmas | Shortened way of saying Christmas |
Elf | One of “Santa's” helpers |
Reindeer | The animals that pull “Santa’s” slay |
Snowman | A character created from snow |
Hot chocolate | A drink made from milk and cocoa |
Movies That You Need To Know If You’re In The USA For Christmas 📽
If you want to get the full "USA Christmas experience," there are some movies that you need to watch during this month of December! Below is a list of (some) of the most popular movies that people watch every Christmas season. Let's jump into it with #1 (which you may know), Home Alone.
Home Alone (1990):
Directed by Chris Columbus, this family comedy follows a young boy named Kevin McCallister who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation for Christmas. Kevin must defend his home from burglars using clever traps.
Elf (2003):
Starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, this modern Christmas comedy tells the story of a human raised by elves at the North Pole who discovers he is not an elf and travels to New York City to find his real father.
A Christmas Story (1983):
Directed by Bob Clark, this film is based on the semi-autobiographical stories of Jean Shepherd. It follows young Ralphie Parker's quest to receive a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas.
The Polar Express (2004):
Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, this animated film follows a young boy's magical train journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000):
Directed by Ron Howard, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is a whimsical adaptation of Dr. Seuss's beloved classic. Set in the fantastical town of Whoville, the film revolves around an angry Grinch, brilliantly portrayed by Jim Carrey, who despises the festive cheer of the holiday season.
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What Does Christmas Look Like For An Average Family In The USA?
Personally, I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I had the luck of seeing snow on Christmas. So in my opinion, it was even more magical. At the beginning of the month, the energy in the air seems to change. People become happier, but also worse at driving.
You begin to see lights on restaurants, stores, and city streets, revealing everybody’s love for this season. Normally, at least once during December it snows a lot in Pennsylvania, so parents will take their kids out of the house to find a hill to sled on.
I remember the hill where my friends and I used to sled was dangerous because at the bottom rested a creek (usually covered in ice). So it was always a game of “Stop yourself at the end of the hill or you’ll be launched into the freezing-cold creek” - which was always fun and exhilarating.
The Christmas trees would go up, and at any time of the day the question “Can I have a cup of hot chocolate” was appropriate. We drank hot chocolate by the fireplace, and thought about what gifts we would get on Christmas day.
We would even stay up the night before Christmas to hear “Santa bringing gifts.” Once we woke up, we rushed downstairs and shook the gifts, wondering what would be in each of them.
Later, once our parents woke up, we could open the gifts and celebrate the day of giving. Afterward, we would eat a big meal, usually consisting of ham, sweet mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. This was, and will always be… the best Christmas tradition.
Conclusion: Master English Christmas Vocabulary
While the Christmas holiday is super complex in that, there are a ton of different traditions and decorations used that weren’t mentioned in this article, these are the most common ones.
I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas this year and that you and your family grow closer amidst the jolly and giving energy that inhabits every street during this month.
Thanks for stopping by Acquire The Language, best regards,
~ Ben.
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