How do Americans celebrate Christmas?

Start feeling excited or festive about Christmas and its traditions.

Tone and use: Warm and common seasonal language. Describe activities that help you feel festive, such as decorating or listening to holiday music.

May not fit: For a neutral description of a date or schedule, simply say it is Christmas time.

Go see, explore, or examine something that seems interesting.

Tone and use: Informal and enthusiastic. Invite someone to look at a shop, decoration, or attraction.

May not fit: For formal recommendations, visit or take a look at may sound more polished.

Put small gifts or treats into Christmas stockings, traditionally hung up for Santa to fill.

Tone and use: Seasonal cultural reference; stocking here means a large decorative sock, not ordinary clothing. Talk about a Christmas tradition or small gifts placed in a stocking.

May not fit: Outside the Christmas context, stocking usually means clothing worn on the foot or leg.

Decorative paper used to cover a present; it can also be a verb meaning to wrap a gift.

Tone and use: Neutral shopping and holiday vocabulary. Ask for wrapping paper or a gift-wrapping service.

May not fit: For a bag or box used to package something, say gift bag or gift box.

Place ribbon around a gift and tie it as decoration.

Tone and use: Practical craft and gift-wrapping language. Explain how you are decorating a wrapped present.

May not fit: If the ribbon is being used to secure a package rather than decorate it, describe that purpose clearly.

A small house-shaped holiday decoration or treat made from gingerbread pieces and icing, often decorated with candy.

Tone and use: Seasonal custom, especially popular in the United States around Christmas. Talk about making or decorating a holiday treat with family.

May not fit: Do not assume every household celebrates Christmas or makes one.

A playful holiday gathering where guests wear deliberately gaudy, funny, or over-the-top Christmas sweaters.

Tone and use: Informal and humorous; “ugly sweater party” is a common shortened form. Recognize an invitation to a themed holiday party.

May not fit: The sweaters are intentionally tacky, not necessarily genuinely ugly or offensive.

Go get or collect a Christmas tree, often after buying or arranging to take it home.

Tone and use: Everyday errand language; pick up can have other meanings. Say you will collect an item from a shop or location.

May not fit: If you only mean purchase it, buy is more precise; if you mean lift it, the context should make that clear.

Absorb the water; soak up can also mean absorb information or enjoy an experience.

Tone and use: Neutral, context-dependent phrasal verb. Describe a tree, sponge, or other material absorbing liquid.

May not fit: For water simply flowing through a pipe, use drain or carry away instead.

Used again in each year rather than replaced after a single use.

Tone and use: Neutral and practical comparison language. Talk about reusable decorations, equipment, or seasonal items.

May not fit: For an item that is repaired or repurposed rather than used again in the same way, say repurpose or repair.

A playful reference to the Christmas story that Santa rewards children who have behaved well.

Tone and use: Joking and child-oriented; not a literal list. Make a lighthearted Christmas joke.

May not fit: Do not use it seriously to judge someone’s character or behavior.

Explore or inspect a place without necessarily having one specific item in mind.

Tone and use: Neutral and common while shopping or visiting a place. Browse stores, markets, or an unfamiliar area.

May not fit: If you need a particular product, say what you’re looking for instead.

A polite question asking someone for their suggestion or professional opinion.

Tone and use: Friendly and useful in shops, restaurants, and service encounters. Ask an employee or knowledgeable person to suggest an option.

May not fit: If you have a specific requirement, mention it so the recommendation fits your needs.

A gift exchange where participants are secretly assigned one person to buy a present for.

Tone and use: Common workplace, school, and friend-group tradition in some English-speaking communities. Understand invitations to a group holiday gift exchange.

May not fit: Participation and spending limits vary; check the group’s rules rather than assuming.

Choose a person’s name from a group, often randomly; in Secret Santa, that person is the recipient of your gift.

Tone and use: Neutral; the method may be a draw, a list, or a digital tool. Explain how people are assigned recipients for a group exchange.

May not fit: Say draw or randomly select if the selection method matters.

Wear a costume so that you look like Santa; dress up as introduces the character or role.

Tone and use: Common party and costume language. Describe wearing a costume for a holiday event.

May not fit: Dress up can also mean wear formal clothes; as clarifies that it is a costume.

Visit several bars in succession, usually as part of a social evening.

Tone and use: Informal nightlife language; can imply drinking alcohol. Understand the activity described at an adult social event such as SantaCon.

May not fit: Do not assume it is appropriate for children, non-drinkers, or every event attendee.

Be together with relatives and share time or activities.

Tone and use: Warm and common when describing holidays or personal priorities. Talk about family gatherings or what you value during a holiday.

May not fit: If you mean a specific event, name the activity or relatives for clarity.

Food that remains after a meal and can be eaten later.

Tone and use: Everyday food vocabulary; often plural. Talk about saving or reheating food after a large meal.

May not fit: For untouched food set aside before serving, say extra food or saved portions.

Having two or more of something; here, the family has separate holiday dinners with both sides of the family.

Tone and use: Informal and context-dependent. Describe doing or receiving something twice, such as attending two family meals.

May not fit: Double up can also mean double a dose or amount; specify the object and context.

A party game in which people bring wrapped gifts, select or steal them according to the rules, and usually aim for funny or surprising presents.

Tone and use: Playful group tradition; rules and spending limits vary. Understand an invitation to a white-elephant gift exchange.

May not fit: It is not the same as Secret Santa, where each person is secretly assigned one recipient.

Says the result is unpredictable or could be a surprise.

Tone and use: Conversational and often playful. Talk about an uncertain outcome, especially a surprise gift or experience.

May not fit: For a predictable or guaranteed result, state what will happen directly.

A prepaid card that lets the recipient choose goods or services from a particular shop or provider.

Tone and use: Neutral retail vocabulary; sometimes called a gift voucher in other varieties of English. Give someone flexible spending at a particular store or service.

May not fit: Check the card’s expiry date, restrictions, and where it can be used.