# Christmas

Pronunciation: say "KRIS-muhs" /ˈkɹɪsməs/

## Proper noun

1. A festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, blending Christian, older pagan, and secular customs, observed on December 25 across most of Western Christianity.
   - Simple: A holiday on December 25 that celebrates the birth of Jesus, with many fun customs.
   - _Cities across Europe fill their squares with festive markets in the weeks leading up to Christmas._
   - _Many families who never attend church still celebrate Christmas with a tree and gifts._
2. Ellipsis of Christmas season. — Ellipsis of Christmas season (“the period of time before and after Christmas Day, during which people prepare for and celebrate Christmas”); Christmastime.
   - Simple: Short for Christmas season. It means the busy weeks around Christmas Day.
   - _The store hires extra staff for Christmas to handle the long lines of shoppers._
   - _Online sales tend to peak well before Christmas, then taper off into January._

## Verb

3. To observe and take part in the celebration of Christmas. *(US)*
   - Simple: To take part in the things people do to celebrate Christmas Day.
   - _Most of our relatives Christmas together at the old farmhouse._
   - _We prefer to Christmas quietly, away from crowds and noise._
4. To spend Christmas or the Christmas season in a particular place. *(US)*
   - Simple: To spend the Christmas holiday in a certain place.
   - _The couple likes to Christmas abroad, usually somewhere warm and sunny._
   - _Grandparents who Christmas with us always bring stories from their travels._
8. To decorate a place with holly, evergreens, or other Christmas decorations. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: To put up holly, evergreens, or other decorations in a place for Christmas.
   - _Every December they Christmas the office to lift everyone's mood._
   - _She had already Christmased the porch before the first snow fell._
9. To subject someone or something to Christmas celebrations. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: To make someone take part in Christmas celebrations.
   - _Each December the staff cheerfully Christmas every visitor who comes through the door._
   - _By noon they had thoroughly Christmased the new intern._

## Adjective

5. Colored in a combination of red and green. *(US)*
   - Simple: Having the colors red and green together.
   - _The team's Christmas uniform pairs a red jersey with bright green socks._
   - _He painted the fence in Christmas tones, alternating red slats with green._
6. Of a dish: served with a sauce made from both red ripe and green unripe chili peppers. *(US)*
   - Simple: Describes food served with both red and green chili sauce.
   - _At the diner she always asks for her huevos rancheros Christmas._
   - _Locals order their enchiladas Christmas to get both the red and the green._

## Noun

7. Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as festive decorations, or seasonal decorations generally. *(dialectal, British)*
   - Simple: Holly, evergreen branches, or other plants put up to decorate a home for Christmas.
   - _By Twelfth Night the Christmas must come down, or so the old saying goes._
   - _He pinned fresh Christmas above the hearth, sprigs of holly bright with berries._

## Interjection

10. Uttered to express annoyance or surprise, as a milder stand-in for "Christ." *(US)*
   - Simple: A word people say when they are annoyed or surprised.
   - _Christmas! Would you look at the size of that bill._
   - _Aw, Christmas, not another flat tire on the highway._

## Verb

11. To fill a person with the cheer and goodwill of Christmas. *(obsolete, US)*
   - Simple: To fill someone with the good feelings of Christmas.
   - _He vowed to Christmas every child in the parish that cold December._
   - _The squire Christmased the whole village with a great feast._

## Other meanings

- (proper noun) A surname.
- (proper noun) An uninhabited mining community in Gila County, Arizona.
- (proper noun) A census-designated place in Orange County, Florida.
- (proper noun) An unincorporated community in Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan.
- (proper noun) An unincorporated community in Bolivar County, Mississippi.

## Origin

The word comes from Middle English Cristemasse, from Old English Cristes mæsse, literally "Christ's mass," combining Crist ("Christ") with mæsse ("a mass, a celebration of the Eucharist"). It is related to Dutch Kerstmis and West Frisian Krystmis.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/christmas (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).