30 Fun Christmas Slang Terms and Their Meanings

 

The holiday season is here, and with it comes an explosion of festive terms and slang that add some extra cheer to our celebrations. 

Whether you're decking the halls or cozied up by the fire, these Christmas slang terms bring a fun twist to everything from decorations to festive activities. 

But what do they mean? And how can you use them?

In this post, I’ll take you through 30 popular (and some less known) Christmas slang terms, breaking down their meanings with a simple explanation and one example for each. 

By the end, you’ll be armed with all the festive lingo you need to sprinkle some holiday spirit into your conversations!. 

Xmas slang terms

Key Takeaways

1. Christmas Slang Brings Extra Cheer: Using fun and festive slang terms like "Xmas," "Chrimbo," or "Holly Jolly" can make your holiday conversations more lively and light-hearted.

2. Each Term Has Its Own Vibe: Whether it’s the classic "Santa" or the quirky "Crimbo Limbo," each term adds a unique flair to how we celebrate the season, reflecting different traditions, cultures, and personal preferences.

3. Slang Adds Fun to Holiday Traditions: From "Secret Santa" gift exchanges to the excitement of "Reindeer Games," these slang terms help capture the playful and joyful spirit of Christmas, making the season even more special.

4. Share the Love and Joy: Using these slang terms in your greetings, messages, or even holiday cards is an easy way to spread joy and connect with others over the festive season.

30 Fun Christmas Slang Terms and Their Meanings

1-15 Christmas slang words 

1. Xmas

Meaning: A popular shorthand for Christmas. "X" is derived from the Greek letter chi, which represents Christ. Example: "Merry Xmas to you and your family!"

2. Chrimbo

Meaning: A casual, playful British slang term for Christmas. Example: "Are you excited for Chrimbo this year? I’ve already started the shopping!"

3. Noel

Meaning: A French term for Christmas, often used in Christmas carols or decorations. Example: "The Christmas tree is decorated with shiny ornaments and a big 'Noel' banner."

4. Yule

Meaning: Referring to the ancient winter festival that influenced modern Christmas celebrations, often used to describe the season. Example: "Let’s have a Yule feast with all our favorite holiday treats!"

5. Merry Xmas

Meaning: A variation of "Merry Christmas," commonly used as a quicker greeting. Example: "I hope you have a Merry Xmas filled with love and laughter."

6. Holly Jolly

Meaning: A cheerful phrase expressing a happy, festive spirit. Example: "It’s a holly jolly Christmas in our house this year!"

7. Feliz Navidad

Meaning: Spanish for "Merry Christmas," often heard in festive songs. Example: "We sang ‘Feliz Navidad’ at the family party last night."

8. Santa

Meaning: The jolly, gift-giving figure of Christmas, also known as St. Nicholas. Example: "I can’t wait for Santa to come down the chimney with all the presents!"

9. Jingle

Meaning: Refers to the sound of bells, commonly associated with Christmas music and sleigh bells. Example: "I love the sound of jingle bells as we drive through the neighborhood."

10. Elfing

Meaning: The act of helping with Christmas preparations, often in a fun, lighthearted way. Example: "I spent the afternoon elfing around the house, wrapping presents and baking cookies."

11. Sleigh Bells

Meaning: Bells that are associated with Santa’s sleigh, often used in holiday music. Example: "We could hear the sound of sleigh bells in the distance as we walked through the snowy streets."

12. Crimbo Limbo

Meaning: The strange in-between time after Christmas and before the New Year, where days blur together. Example: "What should we do with our time in Crimbo Limbo? I’m still recovering from all the holiday food!"

13. Boxing Day

Meaning: A holiday celebrated the day after Christmas in some countries, traditionally for giving gifts to the less fortunate. Example: "We always spend Boxing Day with my extended family, enjoying leftovers and playing board games."

14. Panto

Meaning: Short for "pantomime," a type of Christmas theater performance popular in the UK. Example: "We’re going to see a panto this weekend, can’t wait for the Christmas fun!"

15. Turkey Twizzlers

Meaning: A nostalgic, somewhat humorous term for the turkey treats often eaten during the holiday season. Example: "I don’t care what anyone says, I love those Turkey Twizzlers on Christmas dinner!"

16 - 30 Christmas slangs 

16. Mince Pies

Meaning: A traditional British Christmas pastry filled with mincemeat (fruit, spices, and sometimes alcohol). Example: "I can’t wait to bake some mince pies for the Christmas party!"

17. Tinsel Town

Meaning: Refers to the flashy, glittery decorations and lights that define Christmas decor. Example: "Our house is practically Tinsel Town with all the sparkly lights and ornaments!"

18. Secret Santa

Meaning: A gift exchange tradition where people anonymously give gifts to one another, usually in a group. Example: "I have the perfect Secret Santa gift for Emily, I can’t wait for the exchange tomorrow!"

19. Bah Humbug

Meaning: A phrase used to express disdain or lack of enthusiasm for Christmas, famously associated with Ebenezer Scrooge. Example: "I know it’s Christmas, but I’m feeling a bit ‘Bah Humbug’ this year with all the shopping stress."

20. Reindeer Games

Meaning: Referring to playful, festive activities or games, sometimes used humorously to describe holiday competitions. Example: "Let’s get the family together for some reindeer games after dinner, maybe a trivia contest!"

21. Chrissy

Meaning: An Australian slang term for Christmas, often used informally. Example: "I’m heading to my cousin’s place for Chrissy dinner, can’t wait for the barbie!"

22. Snowed In

Meaning: Describes being trapped at home due to heavy snow, often resulting in cozy, snowed-in holiday fun. Example: "We got snowed in last Christmas, so we just huddled up with hot cocoa and watched holiday movies."

23. Giftmas

Meaning: A playful twist on Christmas, focusing on the tradition of gift-giving. Example: "I can’t believe it’s already Giftmas! I haven’t finished shopping yet!"

24. Winter Wonderland

Meaning: A picturesque scene of snow, ice, and festive decorations, often idealized in songs and movies. Example: "We’re hoping for a real winter wonderland this year, with snow on Christmas Eve!"

25. Nutcracking

Meaning: A cheeky term for the busy, sometimes stressful process of preparing for Christmas. Example: "The holiday season is here, and it’s full of nutcracking, shopping, cooking, and organizing everything!"

26. Santa’s Little Helper

Meaning: Refers to anyone assisting with Christmas preparations, sometimes in a lighthearted way. Example: "I’m playing Santa’s little helper today, wrapping all the gifts for the family."

27. Candy Cane Lane

Meaning: A festive street or neighborhood adorned with Christmas lights, often seen in suburban areas. Example: "We drove through Candy Cane Lane to see all the amazing light displays."

28. The Big Guy

Meaning: A casual nickname for Santa Claus. Example: "We’re leaving cookies out for the Big Guy tonight, hope he likes them!"

29. Ho Ho Hype

Meaning: The buzz and excitement that leads up to Christmas, especially among kids. Example: "The Ho Ho Hype is real this year, everyone can’t wait to see what’s under the tree!"

30. Frostmas

Meaning: A wintery spin on Christmas, focusing on the cold and snowy aspects of the holiday season. Example: "This Frostmas, we’ll be bundling up in blankets by the fire, sipping hot cider."

Conclusion

And there you have it, 30 fun and festive Christmas slang terms to help you celebrate the season! 

Whether you're making new traditions, getting into the holiday spirit, or just having some fun with your friends and family, these terms are sure to spice up your conversations and bring even more cheer to the festivities.

The holiday season is about joy, love, and togetherness, so why not add some fun phrases to your vocabulary to match the mood? 

Use them in greetings, in songs, or just when chatting about the Christmas season. Whatever way you choose, they’ll bring some extra sparkle to your celebrations.

Merry Christmas, or should I say, Merry Xmas, and here’s hoping your holidays are filled with holly jolly moments, delicious mince pies, and lots of Reindeer Games!