Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ: Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world.
   • The period surrounding this holiday: Christmas can also refer to the festive season, traditionally extending from Christmas Eve (December 24) to Epiphany (January 6), characterized by special customs, decorations, and gatherings.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • We celebrate Christmas with a big family dinner.
  • Christmas is my favorite time of year because of the festive spirit.
  • Many people exchange gifts on Christmas Day.

Advanced Usage

• "Christmas comes but once a year": A proverb suggesting that because the holiday is rare, one should be generous or enjoy it fully.
• "Like turkeys voting for Christmas": An idiom describing a situation where a group of people are foolishly supporting a policy or action that is clearly against their own interests.

Variants and Related Words

• Christmassy (adjective): Having the qualities or atmosphere associated with Christmas.
  • The town looks very Christmassy with all the lights.
• Christmas Day (noun): The specific day of December 25.
• Christmas Eve (noun): The evening or day before Christmas Day, December 24.
• Christmas time / Christmastime (noun): The period during which Christmas is celebrated.

Synonyms

• Yule (archaic): An old term for the Christmas festival.
• Nativity: Refers specifically to the birth of Christ, often used in a religious context (e.g., the Nativity story).

Related Phrases

• "Merry Christmas!": The traditional greeting used to wish someone a happy Christmas holiday.
• "White Christmas": A Christmas during which there is snow on the ground.
• "Christmas spirit": The feelings of goodwill, generosity, and joy associated with the season.

Idioms

• "The Christmas spirit": A feeling of kindness, generosity, and goodwill associated with the Christmas season.
  • Volunteering at the shelter really got me into the Christmas spirit.
• "Cancel someone's Christmas" (slang, aggressive): To kill someone or ruin their plans utterly.
  • He threatened to cancel the informant's Christmas. (Note: This is a violent, non-literal idiom.)

Noun

1. a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
2. period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6