🎅 34 Essential Christmas Vocabulary Words for Kids

Christmas is more than just a celebration—it's a season filled with warmth, joy, and meaningful traditions. As families come together to enjoy festive activities, it's also a wonderful opportunity to help children build their English vocabulary. From "Santa Claus" to "mistletoe," the holiday season is packed with unique and useful English words that children can learn and use. In this blog post, we’ve compiled 34 popular Christmas vocabulary words for kids—perfect for young learners, ESL students, and parents looking to make learning fun during the holidays. Let’s unwrap the magic of language this Christmas!

Christmas Vocabulary

🎄 Essential Christmas Vocabulary for Kids

1. White Christmas – A Christmas when there is snow on the ground or when it is snowing.

2. Berry – Small round fruit, often depicted as snowy décor like holly berries.

3. Bethlehem – A small town close to Jerusalem, where Jesus is said to have been born. 

4. Candy cane – Red-and-white striped cane-shaped sweet commonly hung on Christmas trees.

5. Chimney – The flue through which Santa Claus traditionally enters a home. 

6. Christmas carol – Joyful hymn or song, such as "Silent Night" or "Jingle Bells."

7. Christmas Eve – The day before Christmas, December 24. 

8. Christmas tree – A fir tree, or an artificial tree that looks like a fir tree, which people put in their houses at Christmas and decorate with coloured lights and ornaments.

9. Elf – Magical helper of Santa, typically small in folklore stories. 

10. Fireplace – Often decorated with stockings; Santa may leave gifts nearby. 

11. Frankincense – Aromatic resin used in religious ceremonies; part of biblical gifts. 

12. Gingerbread man – Cookie shaped like a person, often made with spices and icing.

13. Holly – Evergreen plant with red berries and prickly leaves, used in Christmas wreaths. 

14. Jesus – Central figure of Christianity; his birth is commemorated at Christmas. 

15. Joseph – The husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus according to the Gospel accounts. 

16. Kris Kringle – Alternative name for Santa Claus, especially in North American lore. 

17. Magi – The three wise men in biblical tradition who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. 

18. Mary – The mother of Jesus. 

19. Mistletoe – Plant hung in doorways; people kiss beneath it at holiday parties. 

20. Myrrh – Fragrant resin, also a gift from the Magi in the nativity narrative. 

21. Nativity play – A dramatization of the birth of Jesus, often acted by children. 

22. North Pole – Santa Claus’s mythical home, often shown with elves and toy workshops. 

23. Ornament – Decorative item hung on a Christmas tree—balls, stars, figurines. 

24. Reindeer – Santa’s sleigh is traditionally pulled by these Arctic animals. 

25. Santa Claus – Mythical gift-giver; depicted as jolly, bearded and dressed in red. 

26. Shepherd – Person who looks after sheep; present at the nativity scene. 

27. Sleigh – Snow vehicle pulled by animals (magically flying in Santa’s case). 

28. Stocking – Long sock hung on Christmas Eve to be filled with gifts. 

29. The Nativity – Depiction or celebration of Jesus’s birth. 

30. The Star of Bethlehem – Guiding star for the Magi toward Jesus’ birthplace. 

31. Wreath – Circular decoration made of evergreen branches, hung on doors. 

32. Xmas – Informal contraction of "Christmas" (X representing chi, the first Greek letter in Χριστός). 

33. Yule – Old English word referring to the Christmas season. 

34. Yuletide – The festive period around Christmas, synonymous with holiday cheer. 

Christmas Vocabulary

📚 Vocabulary in Context: Teaching & Learning Tips

1. Use in Sentences & Stories

• “On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings by the fireplace.”

• “The reindeer pulled the sleigh through the snowy night sky.”

2. Visual & Interactive Learning

• Show pictures of holly, wreaths, gingerbread men, Christmas trees, and mistletoe.

• Role‑play a Nativity play using simple costumes and props.

3. Seasonal Conversations & Projects

• Discuss traditions: How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

• Ask learners: What gifts did the Magi bring in the Bible? (Frankincense, myrrh, gold.)

4. Word Games & Activities

• Create flashcards, matching games, or word searches using keywords like Santa, elf, sleigh and candy cane.

• Vocabulary charades: act out words like reindeer or carol for classmates to guess.

📌 Example Usage: Vocabulary + Teaching Notes

🎁 Final Thoughts