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
- Angels
- Advent
- Antlers
- Assemble:
gather together - Away in a Manger
- Announcement:
angels announced the birth of Jesus - Aroma
- Artificial:
type of Christmas tree - Angelic
- Advent calendar
- Abominable Snowman:
character from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” - Apple cider:
warm spiced apple beverage served at holiday parties - Andes mints:
chocolate candy found at holiday parties - Appreciate
- Aunt Clara:
character from “A Christmas Carol” - Attend:
attending church and Christmas parties - Acknowledge
- All Is Calm, All Is Bright
- Aspen:
popular holiday destination in Colorado - Anticipation
B
- Bethlehem
- Believe
- Bring:
gifts, or good tidings of great joy - Bells
- Boots:
worn in snowy weather - Blessings
- 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 - Blitzen:
one of Santa’s reindeer - Bows
- Boxes:
used for wrapping gifts - Belief
- Baking
- Bing Crosby:
singer of many classic holiday songs, including “White Christmas” - Birth
- Buche de Noel:
French Christmas cake - Boughs
- Balsam:
type of Christmas tree - Beauty
- Blizzard:
heavy snow storm that brings a white Christmas - Born
- Baubles:
ball-shaped glass or plastic Christmas tree ornaments - Blessed
- Best
- Benjamin:
the ghost of the future in “A Christmas Carol” - Beaming:
Christmas happiness - Buying
- Buddy:
name of the main character in the movie “Elf”
C
- Christ
- Cherubs
- Calling birds:
fourth gift in The Twelve Days of Christmas - Cookies
- Candy
- Cake
- Candles
- Candy canes
- Cards
- Candlelit
- Charles Dickens:
author of “A Christmas Carol” - Cozy
- Cheer
- Chimney:
where Santa Claus enters the house - Chestnuts
- Creche:
Church display featuring the stable where Jesus was born - Carve:
what you do to the turkey - Clark Griswold:
central character of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” - Cranberry sauce
- Carols
- Clarence:
guardian angel character in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” - Caroling
- Carolers
- 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
- December
- Drinks:
served at Christmas parties - Drummer boy
- Dressing
- Deer
- Dasher:
one of Santa’s reindeer - Dancer:
one of Santa’s reindeer - Donner:
one of Santa’s reindeer - Douglas Fir:
type of tree used as a Christmas tree - Decorations
- Dashing:
moving through the snow - Decorated
- Drosselmeyer:
toy-maker character in “The Nutcracker” - Dickens:
author of “A Christmas Carol” - Dressing
- Deliver
- Deck:
decorating the halls
See more in our full list of Christmas words that start with D.
E
- Epiphany:
Three Kings Day; commemorates the kings visiting baby Jesus - Emmanuel:
“God is with us;” the name given to Christ - Eggnog
- Evergreen:
type of tree - Ebeneezer Scrooge:
character in “A Christmas Carol” - Elves
- Entertain:
hosting parties - Expectations
- Elf:
Santa’s helpers - Exchange:
trading gifts - Eat
- Ebullient:
meaning “excitement”; describes the joy of the Christmas season - Excited
- Elm:
type of tree sometimes used as a Christmas tree - Eve:
the day before Christmas - Events
F
- Faith
- Four:
number of calling birds gifted in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Fruitcake
- Family
- Frosty:
from “Frosty the Snowman” - Friends
- Father Christmas
- Feast
- Fireplace
- Festive
- Freezing
- Festival
- Fir:
type of tree - Frankincense
- French hens:
third gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Flock:
decorating with imitation snow - Fun
- Fellowship
- Figgy pudding:
spiced pudding mentioned in “We Wish You a merry Christmas” - Figurines
- Forgiveness
- Fireside
- Folklore
- Feelings
G
- God
- Gabriel:
angel that tells Mary she will have a son, Jesus - Grace
- Gifts
- Greetings
- Green
- Goodies
- Garland
- Grinch
- Guests
- Gather
- Gingerbread
- Gratitude
- Gold:
color of the fifth gift, rings, in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Goose:
traditional Christmas dinner - Gourmet
- Grace
- Greenery
- Gravy
- Gift-wrapped
- Gracious
- Giving
- Goodwill
- Glad tidings
- Gift exchange
- Gloria
- Give
- Go:
go to church, parties, and to visit Santa - Glory
- Games
- Glitter
- Gloves
- Glow:
Christmas lights, fireplaces, and children’s faces - Geese a-laying:
the sixth gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
H
- Holy
- Hymns
- Holiday
- Hustle and bustle
- Ham
- Holly
- Home
- Hugs
- Humility
- Heavenly
- Happy
- Hark
- Honor
- Host
- Hang
- Ho Ho Ho:
what Santa says before “Merry Christmas!” - Heritage
- Harmony
- Hot chocolate
- Holiday
- Hot cider
- Holly jolly:
as in “have a holly jolly Christmas” - Home cooking
- Herald
- Hospitality
- Helping
- Hope
I
- Invitations
- Ivy
- In a pear tree:
where the partridge is in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Icicles
- Innocence
- Ice
- Inn:
no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph - Infant
- Incarnate
- Illumination
- Indulgence
- Ice castle
- Ice skates
J
- Jesus
- Jerusalem
- Joy
- Jingle bells
- Joseph:
husband of Mary - Jack Frost
- Journey:
Mary and Joseph took one to Bethlehem - Jolly
- Joy to the World
- Jingle Bell Rock
- Jubilation
- Jessica:
Mrs. Claus’ first name in the Christmas TV special “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”
K
- Kris Kringle:
Santa Claus in “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” - Kids
- Kin
- King
- Kindness
- Kiss:
what you do under the mistletoe - Kevin McAllister:
main character in “Home Alone”
L
- Lamb of God
- Love
- Lights
- Little Drummer Boy
- Lords a-leaping:
10th gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Laughter
- Lavish
- Letter to Santa
- Lists:
Santa’s record of “naughty” and “nice” - Lump:
coal left in a stocking - Leave:
setting out milk and cookies for Santa - Let It Snow
- Ladies dancing:
the ninth gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Libation:
holiday drinks - Logs
- Loved ones
- Luminosity:
Christmas lights
M
- Manger
- Mary
- Magi:
wise men; three kings - Maids a-milking:
eighth gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Myrrh
- Music
- Mrs. Claus
- Mittens
- Merry and bright
- Mistletoe
- Miracles
- Minister
- Midnight:
time of Christmas mass at many churches - Mincemeat
- Majesty
- Magical
- Mom
- Meaningful
- Merry
- Miraculous
- Mirthful
- Make a toast
- Making spirits bright
- Max:
dog in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” - Meal
- Memories
- Meaning
- Mercy
- Milk:
left out with cookies for Santa - Mood
N
- Nativity
- Newborn
- Noel
- North Pole
- Nutcracker
- Nutmeg
- Nostalgia
- Night Before Christmas
- Newly fallen snow
- Nap
- Nuts
- Naughty
- Night
- Neighborly
- Nice
O
- Ornaments
- O Holy Night
- Oven
- Observance:
celebrating the holiday - O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Occasion
- Open:
what you do with gifts - O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Olive:
the “other reindeer” - Ox
- Objects
See more in our full list of Christmas words that start with O.
P
- Peace
- Praise
- Popcorn string
- Packages
- Partridge:
the first gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Poinsettia
- Pie
- Prayer
- Prancer:
one of Santa’s reindeer - Peppermint
- Parade
- Plum pudding
- Post Office:
where you mail letters and gifts to family and friends - Pageant
- Proclaim
- Punch:
drink served at Christmas parties - Peace dove
- Pine
- Prophecy
- Presents
- Pumpkin pie
- Purity
- Philanthropy
- Pickles:
traditional Christmas ornament - Potatoes
- Preparation
- Pinecone:
used for decoration - Polar Express
- Pipers piping:
11th gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Plenty
- Pear Tree
- Phone calls
Q
- Quail
- Quality
- Quaint:
charmingly old-fashioned - Quince pie:
traditional Christmas dessert - Quantity:
lots of food and presents at Christmas
R
- Rudolph:
Santa’s red-nosed reindeer - Ribbon
- Red
- Reconciliation
- Reflection
- Reverence
- Reindeer
- Religious
- Rooftop
- Rejoice
- Reflect
- Roasted nuts
- Relationships
- Reunions
- Rituals
- Reception
- Reciprocity
- Relish
- Respect
- Regalia:
traditional garb worn by the Pope during Christmas Mass; distinctive clothes and ornaments - Ralphie:
main character in “A Christmas Story”
S
- Stuffing
- Sleigh
- Sacred
- Scrooge
- Sales
- Season
- Spirit
- St. Nick:
Santa Claus - Snowball
- Snowbound
- Star
- Serve
- Share
- Santa Claus
- Shop
- Shortbread:
type of cookie - Sing
- Snooze
- Snow
- Surprise
- Symbols
- Sugarplums
- Sweets
- Silver bells
- Snacks
- Snowflake
- Snowfall
- Snow angel
- Sleigh bells
- Snowman
- Star
- Stockings
- Stocking stuffer
- Sack
- Scents
- Spices
- Stable
- Stress
- Seconds:
another serving at Christmas dinner - Swans a-swimming:
seventh gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Sleep
- Skate
- Santa
- Santa’s helpers
- Santa’s Workshop
- Secret Santa:
anonymous gift swap - Snow globe
- Sparkle
- Songs
- Snug:
cozy in bed - Shepherd
- Shine
- Sentiment
T
- Three kings
- Tinsel
- Tradition
- Turkey
- Triumphant
- Toys
- Tree
- Tree skirt
- Tree stand
- Trimmings
- Trumpets
- Thanks
- Trim the tree
- ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
- Trips:
visiting family - Togetherness
- Traffic
- Tiny Tim:
character in “A Christmas Carol” - Toboggan
- Tranquility
- Twinkling
- TV:
where you watch Christmas specials and movies - Turtle doves:
second gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” - Trinkets
- Toyland
- Tin soldier
- Thoughtfulness
- Tannenbaum:
fir Christmas tree - Tolerance
U
- Unity
- Understanding
- Unique
- Unwrap
- Ugly sweater
- Unbox
- Up on the Rooftop
- Under the mistletoe
- Unselfish
- Universality
V
- Vixen:
one of Santa’s reindeer - Vacation
- Vanilla
- Values
- Virgin:
Mary, mother of Jesus - Virtue
- Vocalists
- Volunteers
- Visions:
of sugarplums - Visits
W
- Wreath
- Worship
- Wrapping paper
- Winter
- Wine
- Walnuts
- Waiting
- White
- Warm
- Wintry
- Wondrous
- Wise men
- Wrapping
- Wreath
- Wenceslas:
character in the traditional carol “Good King Wenceslas” - Whimsy
- Wassail:
hot mulled cider - Whoville:
town in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” - Welcome
X
- Xmas
Y
- Yule
- Youth
- Yuletide
- Yule log
Z
- Zest:
citrus shavings added to Christmas recipes - 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).