christmastide

christmastide — noun

1. the stretch of days running from Christmas Eve through to early January (in some

1.nounC1
Definition

the stretch of days running from Christmas Eve through to early January (in some British traditions, up to Epiphany on 6 January), often spoken of as one continuous celebration rather than just the 25th.

Example

At christmastide the villagers in Defne's hometown light candles in every window each evening.

at christmastide for the season as a whole

The cathedral choir sings carols every Sunday during christmastide, from 24 December to 6 January.

during christmastide spanning Christmas Eve to Epiphany

Common collocations
  • at christmastide
  • during christmastide
  • throughout christmastide
  • the spirit of christmastide
  • a quiet christmastide
Synonyms
  • Christmas season

    everyday neutral phrase; far more common in speech

  • Yuletide

    similarly literary/old-fashioned; emphasises old midwinter customs

  • festive season

    neutral and inclusive; covers Christmas plus New Year without religious framing

  • the holidays

    American everyday usage; broader, also covers Thanksgiving in some contexts

Grammar Patterns

at/during christmastide

Usage Note

Formal or literary. In everyday Taiwan-facing English, learners are far more likely to hear 'the Christmas season', 'the festive season', or 'the holidays'; christmastide appears mainly in church bulletins, carols, and older literature.

Common Mistakes

On christmastide Day we opened gifts.
On Christmas Day we opened gifts.
christmastide is the whole season, not a single date; pair it with 'at/during/throughout', not 'on'.
Many christmastides have passed since then.
Many Christmases have passed since then.
christmastide is rarely pluralised; use 'Christmases' for counting individual years.

Word family

  • Christmas
    nounA1
  • christmassy
    adjectiveC1
  • Yuletide
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five terms point to the days around 25 December, but they differ sharply in register and warmth. Christmastide is the most formal and old-fashioned — a learner is most likely to meet it in carols, church readings, or older novels, not in everyday speech. Yuletide is similarly literary, but leans pre-Christian and evokes log fires, candles, and midwinter customs more than the nativity. Christmas season is the plain, neutral phrase used in news and conversation, while festive season is preferred when a speaker wants to include Hanukkah, New Year, or a non-religious audience. The holidays is the everyday American choice, broader still, often stretching from Thanksgiving to New Year. In Taiwan, learners will hear Christmas season and the holidays in films and ads; christmastide and Yuletide they will mostly read on a Christmas card.

christmastide ↗Christmas seasonYuletidefestive seasonthe holidays

Common collocations

Nouns

  • christmastide carols
  • christmastide service
  • christmastide spirit

Phrases

  • the joy of christmastide
  • a peaceful christmastide

Prepositions

  • at christmastide
  • during christmastide
  • throughout christmastide

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed in late Middle English by joining 'Christmas' (literally 'Christ's Mass', the church service held on 25 December) with the old noun 'tide', which once meant a fixed season or appointed time rather than the sea-water sense most modern readers know. The same '-tide' element survives in Yuletide, Eastertide, and Whitsuntide, all of which name extended church seasons rather than single days.