christmas

/'krisməs/ Cách viết khác : (Xmas) /'krisməs/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

A family decorates a Christmas tree together.

Definition

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.)

A family decorates a Christmas tree together.

Noun

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

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