Christmas Vocabulary

Christmas, Xmas, Noel, Yuletide Christmas: originally, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ Xmas: abbreviation for Christmas – “X” is a Greek letter, first letter in the word “Christ” Noel: from Old French, meaning “birth” Yule, Yuletide: pre-Christian European festival at the end of the year Christmas: has both religious and secular (世俗,非宗教的) meanings in the West

Advent, Nativity Advent: “coming” or “arrival”, the month before Christmas in the Christian religious calendar The Nativity (诞生): “birth”, birth of Jesus Christ Nativity Play (诞生戏剧): a play which tells the story of Jesus’ birth, performed at Christmas Religious significance: Jesus’ birth represents God coming to human beings to bring peace, reconciliation (和好) and harmony (和谐)

Nativity Play Nativity Set

Brainstorm: Spring Festival (春节) What words, meanings or activities do you associate with Spring Festival? (discuss with a partner)

Christmas Dinner Traditional family gathering, usually features roast turkey, roast beef or ham Opening of presents may take place after or before dinner, or on Christmas Eve (the night before)

Christmas Cards Greeting cards that people send to relatives and friends to wish them a good year. Common greetings are “Merry Christmas” (for Christians) or “Season’s Greetings” (for non-Christians)

Christmas Carolers Carols: religious or popular songs sung at Christmas. Carolers: groups of people going from house to house, singing carols outside.

Christmas Lights Used to decorate trees or houses Possibly symbolize hope (light) in darkness Christians believe Jesus is the “Light of the World”

Christmas Trees Real or artificial, evergreen tree (coniferous), popular symbol of Christmas. decorated with ornaments and lights, usually with an angel or star on the top 11

Ornaments made from glass, wood, or plastic; sometimes homemade have hooks on top, are hung from the branches of Christmas trees. Wreaths 花圈 Made from evergreen branches, hung on doors or above fireplaces. 12

Poinsettias 圣诞红 Plant used for decoration at Christmas; Poinsettias can be red, pink, or white, but red is the most popular color. 13

Candy Canes 拐杖糖 red and white striped candy sticks, are shaped like a cane or a shepherd’s (牧羊人) staff. 14

Gingerbread Houses 姜饼屋 Gingerbread is a kind of biscuit or cookie flavoured with ginger 15

Father Christmas, Saint (St.) Nicholas, Santa Claus 圣诞老人 Santa Claus delivers presents to good children, and lumps of coal to bad children. He climbs down the chimneys (烟囱) while they are asleep. Based on a real person, St. Nicholas, who helped the poor and gave gifts to children

ChristmasStocking filled with small gifts for children, hung by the fireplace (壁炉) 17

Reindeer 驯鹿, Sleigh 雪橇 A deer with large antlers (鹿角), pulls Santa‘s sleigh (雪橇). 18

Christmas Shopping and Consumerism Stores and shopping malls are very busy at Christmas. Many stores begin promoting Christmas shopping the day after Halloween (October 31). Consumerism: a lifestyle that emphasizes buying goods and services as the way to happiness 20

Buy Nothing Day: Reaction against consumerism

Christmas and Commercialism The use of Christmas symbols to promote consumption, excessive emphasis on profit-making 24