Christmas for Hangman 🎄

Clues for every answer

A one-line clue for every answer, easy to hard. They're the same clues the game's 💡 Hint shows, so you can read them out when you run your own game.

Santa

Jolly white-bearded man in a red coat who is said to bring gifts on Christmas Eve.

Elf

Little helper with large pointy ears, often said to make toys in Santa's workshop at the North Pole.

Snow

Ice crystals that usually form in clouds, then fall and build up on the ground.

Star

In the Nativity story it led the wise men to Bethlehem; one may be put on top of the tree.

Gift

Something given to someone freely, without charge; at Christmas they are often swapped on Christmas Day.

Bell

Percussion instrument, usually a hollow cup that rings when struck; 'Jingle ...s' is a much-loved Christmas song.

Holly

Evergreen shrub whose glossy, prickly leaves and red berries (on female plants) decorate wreaths.

Angel

Heavenly messenger often shown with wings; in the Nativity story, they tell shepherds of Jesus's birth.

Sleigh

Usually open vehicle on runners that glides over snow; Santa's is said to be pulled by flying reindeer.

Carol

Song or hymn on a Christmas theme, traditionally sung at Christmas; sometimes called a noel.

Robin

Small bird whose adults have an orange-red breast; a star of Christmas cards since the mid-1800s.

Candle

Wick set in wax that gives light; some people burn a marked one a little each day before Christmas.

Snowman

Wintry sculpture of two or three big rolled-up balls, often with a carrot nose and coal or stone eyes.

Present

Another word for a gift, especially one given for a birthday, a wedding or at Christmas.

Reindeer

Arctic animal in which even females may grow antlers; in legend, they pull Santa's sleigh.

Turkey

Large farm fowl that is the traditional main course of Christmas dinner in much of the English-speaking world.

Cookie

Sweet biscuit high in sugar and fat; half-eaten ones beside an empty milk glass hint that Santa called.

Eggnog

Rich, creamy, chilled drink of milk, cream and sugar, enjoyed at Christmas in Canada and the US.

Lantern

Light, often portable, with a protective case that stops a candle flame being blown out by wind or rain.

Festive

Full of the atmosphere or decorations of a holiday or celebration, or in the mood to celebrate.

Stocking

Sock-shaped bag hung up on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill with small toys, sweets and fruit.

Mistletoe

Plant that lives on a host tree, drawing water from it; there is a Christmas custom of kissing beneath it.

Cracker

Paper-wrapped cardboard tube pulled apart by two people with a snap, usually holding a small gift, a paper hat and a joke.

Tinsel

Thin strips of sparkly material on a thread that mimic ice, used especially to decorate Christmas trees.

Wreath

Ring of flowers, leaves or twigs, most often hung up at home as an Advent or Christmas decoration.

Chimney

Structure that carries smoke up and away from a fireplace; in a famous Christmas poem, Santa bounds down it.

Rudolph

Youngest of Santa's reindeer in the story, whose glowing red nose guides the sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Snowflake

An ice crystal, or a clump of them, big enough to fall through the air; they tend to look very different from one another.

Gingerbread

Spiced baked treat, typically with cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, traditionally made into little men.

Nativity

The birth of Jesus as told in the Gospels; many Christians display small manger scenes of it at Christmas.

Garland

Decorative braid of flowers, leaves or other material, hung up to decorate, especially around holidays.

Advent

Christian season of waiting and getting ready for Christmas, starting on the fourth Sunday before it.

Satsuma

Small, usually seedless mandarin with loose skin that peels very easily; named after a former Japanese province.

Pudding

Very dark steamed dessert of dried fruit served at Christmas dinner, sometimes set alight with warm brandy.

Baubles

Christmas tree decorations, which may be ball-shaped and blown from glass or plastic.

Marzipan

Sweet paste of sugar and ground almonds that can be rolled into thin sheets to cover cakes, such as Christmas cakes.

Carolling

Groups of singers going from house to house at Christmas, often given mince pies; money collected now usually goes to charity.

Shepherd

Person who looks after a flock of sheep; in the Nativity story, angels tell them Jesus has been born.

Partridge

Plump game bird of the pheasant family; in a famous carol, a true love sends one in a pear tree.

Pigs In Blankets

Small sausages, usually chipolatas, wrapped up with bacon; a popular side dish with the Christmas turkey.

Frankincense

Fragrant resin from Boswellia trees; in the Nativity story, a gift from the Magi along with gold and myrrh.

Poinsettia

Plant from Mexico and Central America whose red bracts look like petals but are really leaves.

Nutcracker

Tool for breaking open hard shells; a doll version features in Tchaikovsky's ballet set on Christmas Eve.

Pantomime

Family musical comedy of a fairy tale, popular at Christmas, where the audience shouts 'He's behind you!'

Decorations

Ornaments put up at Christmas, traditionally red, green and gold, and taken down on Twelfth Night.

Candlelight

The glow given off by a burning wick set in wax; Australia holds outdoor 'Carols by ...' concerts.

Festivities

Celebrations, or the merriment and good cheer that go with them.

Evergreen

Plant that keeps working leaves all year round, like holly and most conifers, unlike deciduous ones.

Scrooge

Miser in Dickens's A Christmas Carol who hates Christmas until ghosts visit him; famous for 'Bah! Humbug!'

Myrrh

Fragrant gum-resin from small thorny trees; in the Nativity story, one of the Magi's gifts with gold and frankincense.

Wassailing

Old custom, traditionally on Twelfth Night, of going door to door offering a drink from a shared bowl for gifts.

Yuletide

Another name for Christmas or the Christmas season, from an old Germanic winter festival.

Mince Pie

Sweet English pastry filled with fruits, nuts and spices, traditionally served in the Christmas season.

Christmas Tree

Decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as a spruce, pine or fir, sometimes topped with a star or an angel.

Bethlehem

City the New Testament names as the birthplace of Jesus; a carol calls it 'O little town of ...'

Christingle

An orange holding a candle, often trimmed with a red ribbon and sweets, used at many Advent services.

Figgy Pudding

Old Christmas dish of honey, fruits and nuts; singers ask for some in 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'.

Twelfth Night

Evening of 5 or 6 January that ends Christmastide; superstition says leaving decorations up after it is unlucky.

Boar's Head

Dish served at a feast of the Christmas season, as sung about in a 15th-century English carol.

Epiphany

Christian feast, traditionally on 6 January; in the West it mainly marks the Magi's visit to baby Jesus.