christmas holidays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Christmas holidays" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the holiday season that typically starts the day after Thanksgiving in the United States and culminates on Christmas day. For example: "We can't wait to spend time with family during the Christmas holidays this year!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But here's the reality check, people: THAT WAS OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

TechCrunch

Its population increases greatly during Christmas holidays.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even the Christmas holidays were a setup.

The New Yorker

State after the Christmas holidays.

The New Yorker

One of the best Christmas holidays ever.

The Guardian - Travel

The House adjourned on Thursday for the Christmas holidays.

The New York Times

My Christmas holidays, it has to be the same.

Independent

For students, the Christmas holidays are an important time.

The Guardian

El Chele promised he would go after the Christmas holidays.

The Guardian

Twenty-eight people, many of them teachers going home for the Christmas holidays, were killed.

The Economist

Getting back into the flow of things after the Christmas holidays is never easy.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the plural "holidays" when referring to the entire stretch of time and "holiday" when referring specifically to December 25.

Common error

Avoid using "Christmas holidays" as a catch-all for winter breaks in international business communication unless you are certain the recipient observes the holiday. Using "year-end break" is often more professional in global contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "christmas holidays" functions as a compound noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or the direct object within a sentence to denote a specific timeframe. According to Ludwig AI, it is a stable and standard grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "christmas holidays" is a robust and universally recognized term in English. Data from Ludwig AI confirms that it is used extensively across highly authoritative sources, ranging from prestigious newspapers like The New Yorker to specialized scientific publications. It serves as a standard way to refer to the festive period and is grammatically correct in both singular and plural forms. While more secular alternatives like "winter break" exist, "christmas holidays" remains a dominant choice for its clarity and cultural specificity. It is a reliable phrase for any writer looking to describe the year-end vacation period with precision and proper tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Christmas break

More common in educational contexts to describe the gap between semesters.

Christmas period

Emphasizes the duration of time rather than the vacation aspect.

festive season

Highlights the atmosphere and celebrations rather than the calendar dates.

holiday season

A more inclusive term often used in North America to include Hanukkah and New Year's.

winter holidays

Refers to the season without religious connotation in the Northern Hemisphere.

end-of-year holidays

Focuses on the chronological conclusion of the calendar year.

Yuletide break

Uses archaic or traditional terminology for a literary or festive feel.

December vacation

Specifically refers to time taken off work during the last month of the year.

mid-winter break

Often used in academic calendars to avoid specific religious references.

Xmas break

An informal and abbreviated version suitable for casual digital communication.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "christmas holidays"?

You can use synonyms like "festive season", "winter break", or "the yuletide" depending on the desired tone.

Is it "Christmas holidays" or "Christmas holiday"?

Both are correct. Use "Christmas holidays" to refer to the entire multi-day period and "Christmas holiday" when referring to the specific day or a single vacation event.

Should "holidays" be capitalized in "Christmas holidays"?

No, you should not capitalize "holidays" unless it is part of a formal title or the beginning of a sentence. Only "Christmas" must be capitalized.

What is the difference between "Christmas holidays" and "holiday season"?

While "Christmas holidays" focuses on the specific Christian holiday, "the holiday season" is a broader, more inclusive term covering various celebrations from late November to early January.