Category Archives: New Year and Christmas

Christmas Idioms and Proverbs

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Christmas idioms
10 Holiday Idioms and Phrases

1. White Christmas

The prettiest holiday, according to most, is one where it has snowed. This wish for white was celebrated many years ago in a popular song, and the title of this carol is now a traditional holiday phrase.

2. There’s no Place like Home for the Holidays

Another favorite carol came out of the sentiment that the best place to celebrate the holidays is with the family. College students return to their parents’ home, and extended families descend on a pre-planned relative for festive celebration and gift-giving.

3. Xmas Comes but Once a Year

Recently, this has become an excuse for gorging on holiday cookies or spending too much on presents, but this proverb quietly states that people need to be kind to each other year-round rather than just during the holidays.

4. ‘Tis the Season

“‘Tis” is an old method of contracting “it” and “is.” Today, it is rarely used in anything but traditional song or poetry, such as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” or “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. This usage is abbreviated from a line in a holiday carol: “‘Tis the season to be jolly.” The word “jolly” is also old and simply means “happy.”

5. Deck the Halls

“Decking” or decorating the halls with branches from a holly tree is an old tradition, and the popular carol began as a Welsh tune from the 1700s. These days, merry-makers deck their halls with blinking lights, pine branches, popcorn strung on strands of thread, and glittery garland.

6. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

European mistletoe is a shrub with yellow flowers and white, poisonous berries. The tradition of kissing under a hanging sprig of this plant began in 16th century England, but it was not connected to holiday tradition until the 18th century. In 1820, American author Washington Irving wrote, “–the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases.”

7. The Stockings were Hung by the Chimney

The actual origin is uncertain, but hundreds of years ago, children dried damp socks by hanging them overnight from the fireplace mantle. At some point, a benevolent stranger, saint, or parent slipped some gifts into these stockings, and it is now an inseparable tradition. Holiday stockings are filled with small presents and fruit, such as apples and oranges, though naughty children may receive only a chunk of coal.

8. Ho Ho Ho!

The tradition involves a fat, bearded man in a red suit slipping through chimneys to leave presents for the children, and “ho ho ho” is an imitation of the old fellow’s laughter. One must hold his belly with both hands while imitating, and jolliness is mandatory.

9. Bah, Humbug!

On the other hand, “Bah, humbug!” is the derisive, holiday-hating rant of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.” Today, folks will often shout this at each other, jokingly (or bitterly), when confronted with holiday well-wishers.

10. Trim the Tree

This is an old reference to decorating a pine tree with ornaments, lights, and whatever glittery bits strike a family’s fancy.

Santa Claus

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santa-claus-fancy-dress

Santa Claus is also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or just Santa. Santa is a jolly man with a long white beard. He wears a red coat and red hat with a white fur trim.

We know that from at least 1820’s Santa Claus has been living at the North Pole with a large number of elves and nine flying reindeer. The names of the reindeer are; Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. This team pulls Santa’s sleigh of toys round the world with Rudolph guiding the way with his bright, shiny red nose.

During the year Santa and his elves prepare lots of toys for girls and boys who have been good. He delivers the gifts on his sleigh to sleeping children on December 24th which is Christmas Eve. Of course you need to let Santa know what you would like, so you can write to him.

Remember to hang up a stocking or pillow case where he can leave gifts for you. If you have a Christmas tree he will probably leave presents underneath. It is always a good idea to leave a glass of milk for Santa and we know he loves mince pies. It would also be kind if you leave a carrot for Rudolph, or the other reindeer, as it is such a busy night for them too.