481 Christmas Words & Phrases That Start With Each Letter (A to Z)

Cathy Desmet
Updated 12/24/2022
Close-up of wrapped Christmas presents beneath a tree

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).

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