1. Three words about Christmas

Transcript item

David (UK/Romania): Friends, cold, hot drinks.

Chris (France): Festive, merry and fun.

Sally (Spain): Fun, festive and full after Christmas dinner.

George (Korea): Family, games, food.

Ruth (Spain): Family, cosy ... laughter? Laughing?

Tamara (Ukraine): Snow, Christmas lights and Glühwein.

Kerstin (Portugal): Markets, goose, Christmas trees.

Kate (France): The first word is preparation because you've got to put the time into preparing your presents and especially your food. The second one is conviviality, and the third one is food.

Emilia (Poland): Family, Christmas tree, singing carols.

Tina (UK): Family, friends, food.

Susy (Colombia): Joy, love and family.

 

Christmas Day is celebrated on 25 December, and for many people it's a very important festival. In this video, our British Council colleagues from around the world say what Christmas means to them – but using just three words! Here are some of the most common things mentioned in the video.

Family

Christmas is a time when people get back together with their families, sometimes travelling long distances to do so. For many people, it's reuniting with loved ones that really makes Christmas special.

Festive

Festive is an adjective which means enjoyable or celebratory, and it's often used to talk about Christmas. For example, we talk about the festive season (the period around Christmas), a festive atmosphere or being in a festive mood.

Full

Christmas also makes a lot of people think of delicious Christmas food, and often we eat a bit too much and feel really full! You'll learn more about some of the special things people eat in the next step.

Now it's your turn

  • What three words describe Christmas for you?
  • Can you describe your favourite celebration or event, using just three words?

Write or record a comment. If you want to practise speaking, you can record your response using SpeakPipe voice recorder and post a link to the recording in your comment. 

Go to SpeakPipe voice recorder

* Recordings are kept on a SpeakPipe server. Please don't include any music in your recording.

 

Average: 4.3 (9 votes)

Submitted by nicoleta.colesnic on Tue, 17/12/2024 - 17:58

Permalink

Hello,

For me three words that would describe Christmas are:

  1. Kindness. I feel how the world becomes a safer and warmer place when Christmas is coming. People are kinder and help each other more than the rest of the year.
  2. Joy. There is a mixture of feelings (happiness, excitement, overwhelmingness) that I feel at each part of the  Christmas season: decorating the Christmas Tree, buying the presents, decorating the house, window shopping, visiting the Christmas markets etc.
  3. Magic. For me this is the time when every wish could come true.

Hi Nicoleta❣

I love your three words and explanations you have given. Thank you jor sharing them with us!

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team

Hi noelialib,
Thanks for sharing your voice message. Gifts, family, chocolate ...  a perfect Christmas combination ;-)

Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish team)

Submitted by PresidentKS on Mon, 09/12/2024 - 17:12

Permalink

to me, in three words i would say FAMILY, LIVE TOGETHER, JOY

 

Submitted by teacher01 on Mon, 09/12/2024 - 11:21

Permalink

Hi everyone,

As for me the most "Christmas" words are family, christmas tree and snow.

Submitted by DasterFWR on Sat, 07/12/2024 - 08:25

Permalink

Family, food, joy.

Submitted by hoangnambozz on Fri, 05/01/2024 - 02:50

Permalink

I think a wonderful Chrismast is music , family or best friend , celebration

Submitted by weepdemn on Fri, 29/12/2023 - 20:38

Permalink

hi guys
my worlds are gifts love and snow

Hi Weepdemn!

Thank you for sharing your three words with us. Do you get snow where you live at this time of year? I'm so jealous! 

~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team

Submitted by clebsonsilva on Sun, 22/01/2023 - 22:00

Permalink

1.Family, Jesus Christ and Food

Submitted by sprouse.steve on Sun, 22/01/2023 - 20:44

Permalink

Even though, Christmas is a special time in every where, around the world and over seas; I do think that Christmas has its own meaning in every country andI would like to stay in other for christmas... Christmas is conviviality and the time to rethink about your own projects and/or dreams, acomplishements and so on. For example, In my country Chistmas is full of folklore and cultural roots,no snowmans and giant christmas trees...

Submitted by backslash001 on Mon, 09/01/2023 - 06:12

Permalink

1. Family. 2. Love. 3. Peace.

Submitted by laleman on Sat, 07/01/2023 - 16:25

Permalink

Hi everybody
The most important words about Christmas are:
- friendship
- helping others
- hugs to my loved ones
Happiness for all
Thanks

Submitted by Vazelakis on Sat, 07/01/2023 - 05:14

Permalink

Hi everyone
The three words that describe Christmas for me are :
Review
Self-criticism and
Spare time

Submitted by walaadahsh on Thu, 05/01/2023 - 10:45

Permalink

familly . love . danc

Submitted by 00Alex00 on Wed, 04/01/2023 - 20:26

Permalink

In my case I think the words that describe Christmas the best are: Family, gifts and food

Submitted by Cherry Aye Mya… on Wed, 04/01/2023 - 05:09

Permalink

I am other religious. But I am still happy at Christmas time.
Holiday - We have long holiday during that time
Santa - The gift pack that Santa brings makes me happy
Songs - I love to listen Christmas songs.

Submitted by Karla_ on Tue, 03/01/2023 - 11:20

Permalink

Family
Food
Feelings
I always remember when my parents give me my first new bicycle because the previous one belonged to my older sister.

Submitted by keleszeynep on Mon, 02/01/2023 - 18:04

Permalink

a lot of lights, cozy, exciting

Submitted by samnguyen on Sun, 01/01/2023 - 14:44

Permalink

Food, my lovers, take a rest

Submitted by aysegonendi on Fri, 30/12/2022 - 23:15

Permalink

family, joy, food

christmas tree, christmas lights, christmas time

Submitted by giova13 on Fri, 30/12/2022 - 21:23

Permalink

Hello. My three words are: Love, trip and family.

Submitted by Onlyharoldxu on Thu, 29/12/2022 - 01:24

Permalink

Snow, Christmas tree, Santa

Profile picture for user clatesiq

Submitted by clatesiq on Wed, 28/12/2022 - 20:42

Permalink

Hope, family, summer vacation

Submitted by EmilyOo on Wed, 28/12/2022 - 15:25

Permalink

Christmas tree
Snow
Joy

Submitted by Fanny Cecilia on Wed, 28/12/2022 - 06:09

Permalink

Family
Share
Christmas music

Do you have a favourite Christmas song @Fanny Cecilia? We always have Christmas songs playing over the festive period, one of my favourite songs is 'Last Christmas' by Wham. An oldie but a good one!

~ Tinaツ

LearnEnglish team

Submitted by lucaba7 on Mon, 26/12/2022 - 21:09

Permalink

Family
Peace
Amiability

Profile picture for user MARCOASMELO

Submitted by MARCOASMELO on Mon, 26/12/2022 - 12:37

Permalink

Christmas for me is:
Family, Peace and Blue in Europe and England. Because it's cold here. In my homeland it is summer at this time and you can enjoy family and friends. In my neighborhood people go to visit their friends on the same night and share a few moments together. They share Christmas dinner and drink a glass of champagne together. Really, it's a long and charismatic evening with friends and family. The next day you enjoy a meal with the family closest to you.

Submitted by busragundogdu on Mon, 26/12/2022 - 10:47

Permalink

lighting designs, Christmas tree, special food with family

Profile picture for user Mokhlef

Submitted by Mokhlef on Sat, 24/12/2022 - 19:26

Permalink

Family ,christmas lights ,santa clause

Submitted by eglalyousof on Sat, 24/12/2022 - 16:55

Permalink

Food
Family
Fun

Submitted by RoseFlower on Fri, 23/12/2022 - 18:17

Permalink

We celebrate EID here in Pakistan . Food ,family and fun.  Everyone is in a good mood and enjoys themselves.

Submitted by Servis29 on Fri, 23/12/2022 - 14:47

Permalink

relax, shopping, food

Submitted by Soyamol on Thu, 22/12/2022 - 13:48

Permalink

Merry CAROL STARS GIFTS

Profile picture for user Jo Budden

Submitted by Jo Budden on Wed, 21/12/2022 - 13:49

Permalink

Wow! It's so nice to read all your Christmas words! Thanks for sharing with us all! 

Best wishes, Jo
LearnEnglish team

 

Submitted by Fa dy on Wed, 21/12/2022 - 10:02

Permalink

1- family 2- full 3- friends 4- festive

Submitted by silaatt on Wed, 21/12/2022 - 09:46

Permalink

In the Turkey we say PJ, slipper and television. but my three words about christmas is love, enjoy and feeling new

Hi @silaatt,

We have a PJ day on the 26th December (Boxing Day) and tend to wear slippers, watch heaps of TV or our favourite movies again, and general slob about on the sofas! I love it ... and so does the family. Oh, and we eat 'leftovers'.

Have a lovely Christmas 
~ Tina
LearnEnglish team

Submitted by Yesicalmp on Wed, 21/12/2022 - 01:12

Permalink

Family, food, christmas tree.
Christmas is my favourite celebration

Submitted by samarareis on Tue, 20/12/2022 - 22:13

Permalink

Food, family and Christmas tree