Holidays in English cover a wide range of vocabulary for talking about celebrations, traditions, and special days. This includes words for different types of holidays, common activities, and important terms to help you describe your plans and experiences.
Common Holiday Types
This section covers the most common types of holidays and celebrations in English, from birthdays to national holidays.
English Holiday Type | English Example | English Example (Plural) | English Example (Sentence) | English Example (Example Sentence) | English Example (Example Sentence) |
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Birthday | Birthday | Birthdays | We celebrate my sister's birthday. | I received many gifts on my birthday. | Birthdays are usually very fun! |
Christmas | Christmas | Christmases | Christmas is in December. | We decorate the tree at Christmas. | Christmas is a time for giving. |
New Year's | New Year | New Years | We make resolutions for New Year's. | The New Year's party was amazing. | Fireworks light up the sky on New Year's. |
Easter | Easter | Easters | Easter is in spring. | We hunt for eggs at Easter. | Easter symbolizes new life. |
Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving | Thanksgivings | Thanksgiving is in November. | We eat turkey on Thanksgiving. | Families gather for Thanksgiving dinner. |
Halloween | Halloween | Halloweens | Halloween is on October 31st. | Kids dress up on Halloween. | We carve pumpkins at Halloween. |
Wedding | Wedding | Weddings | They had a beautiful wedding. | Weddings are happy celebrations. | I wore a suit to the wedding. |
Vacation | Vacation | Vacations | We're going on vacation next week. | Vacations are a time to relax. | I love beach vacations the most. |
National Holiday | National Holiday | National Holidays | July 4th is a national holiday in the U.S. | Many people travel on national holidays. | National holidays often include parades. |
Festival | Festival | Festivals | The music festival was loud and fun. | Festivals celebrate culture and tradition. | We ate great food at the festival. |
Holiday Activities
This section includes common activities people do during holidays, from traveling to gift-giving.
English Activity | English Example | English Example (Plural) | English Example (Sentence) | English Example (Example Sentence) | English Example (Example Sentence) |
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Travel | Travel | Travels | We plan to travel in the summer. | Traveling broadens your horizons. | Many people travel during holidays. |
Gift-giving | Gift | Gifts | I bought a gift for my friend. | Gift-giving is common at Christmas. | She wrapped the gift beautifully. |
Decorating | Decoration | Decorations | We hang decorations for the party. | Decorating the house is fun. | There are colorful decorations everywhere. |
Cooking | Cooking | Cookings | Cooking a big meal takes time. | My mom loves cooking for holidays. | We cooked turkey and pies. |
Party | Party | Parties | We're having a party on Friday. | Holiday parties are full of joy. | The party lasted until midnight. |
Rest | Rest | Rests | I need rest after a long trip. | Holidays are a time for rest. | Rest helps you feel refreshed. |
Visiting | Visit | Visits | We visit our grandparents on holidays. | Visiting friends is common during festivals. | She visits museums when she travels. |
Photography | Photography | Photographies | Photography captures special moments. | I took photos at the wedding. | Photography is a popular hobby. |
Shopping | Shopping | Shoppings | Holiday shopping can be stressful. | I love shopping for gifts. | Shopping centers are very busy. |
Singing | Singing | Singings | Singing carols is a Christmas tradition. | She enjoys singing at parties. | Singing brings people together. |
Holiday Vocabulary
This section includes important nouns, verbs, adjectives, and phrases commonly used when talking about holidays.
English Word | English Example | English Example (Plural) | English Example (Sentence) | English Example (Example Sentence) | English Example (Example Sentence) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Celebration | Celebration | Celebrations | The celebration lasted all night. | We joined the street celebrations. | Every country has unique celebrations. |
Tradition | Tradition | Traditions | It's a tradition to exchange gifts. | Family traditions are special. | Some traditions go back centuries. |
Festival | Festival | Festivals | The festival draws thousands of visitors. | Festivals often include music and dance. | We enjoyed the food festival. |
Parade | Parade | Parades | The parade was colorful and lively. | Children watched the parade happily. | Parades are common on national holidays. |
Fireworks | Firework | Fireworks | Fireworks light up the night sky. | We watched fireworks on New Year's Eve. | Fireworks are very loud and bright. |
Gift | Gift | Gifts | I wrapped the gift carefully. | Gifts are exchanged on Christmas. | She received many gifts for her birthday. |
Feast | Feast | Feasts | The Thanksgiving feast was delicious. | We prepared a feast for the festival. | Feasts bring families together. |
Costume | Costume | Costumes | The kids wore scary costumes. | Costumes are popular on Halloween. | She made her own costume. |
Greeting | Greeting | Greetings | We sent holiday greetings to friends. | Simple greetings can brighten someone's day. | Holiday greetings are often written in cards. |
Relaxation | Relaxation | Relaxations | I enjoy relaxation by the beach. | Holidays are a time for relaxation. | Relaxation helps reduce stress. |
Holidays vocabulary helps you describe your plans, traditions, and experiences with confidence. Use these words and examples to talk about celebrations in English.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- English Holiday Type: Birthday
- English Example: Birthday
- English Example (Plural): Birthdays
- English Example (Sentence): We celebrate my sister's birthday.
- English Example (Example Sentence): Birthdays are usually very fun!
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025