Ripped from the Headlines: December 2025: December Vocabulary Words

While both are winter-weight coats with hoods, anoraks are distinct from parkas in that they're usually pullovers and long enough to cover the hips. Anorak comes from the Inuit language, specifically the version spoken in Greenland.

The low winter sun can alter wind and weather patterns, bringing chilly arctic air down into lower latitudes and causing deep freezes. Arcticus is a Latin word that comes from the Greek arktikos, meaning "of the bear," since the constellation Ursa Major — the Great Bear — occupies the sky over the North Pole.

The first carols were ancient pagan songs, sung during winter solstice celebrations throughout Europe thousands of years ago. This tradition was absorbed into Christianity as it spread throughout the region, replacing paganism. Carol likely originated in the Greek chorus, and first referred to people singing and dancing in a circle while holding hands.

The dreidel game was invented in the second century BCE as a way to teach young people Hebrew in secret after the Greek King Antiochus outlawed Judaism. Players spin a four-sided top, which has a different Hebrew letter on each side, and win or lose tokens depending on which way it lands. Dreidel is a Yiddish word, likely made from trendel, German for "spinning top," and dreyen, meaning "to turn."

Colder weather enhances the festive mood of the season, making the glow of candles, lights, and fireplaces even more appealing. Festive comes from the Latin festum, meaning "feast," since holidays and other special events are often observed with celebratory meals.

Prolonged exposure to harsh winter cold can cause frostbite, which actually kills skin tissue and can result in the amputation of fingers or limbs in serious cases. It's uncommon, and most often suffered by mountaineers and arctic explorers.

Many people like to gather with family and friends for holiday events. The word gather comes from the Old English gaderian, which is also the root of together. So the phrase "gather together" is technically redundant.

Groundhogs and other animals hibernate during the winter, sleeping deeply for long periods to slow their metabolisms down and conserve energy during a time when there isn't enough food to sustain them. Hibernate comes from the Latin hibernus, meaning "wintry."

Latkes are grated potato pancakes, similar to hash browns, that are traditionally made during Hanukkah. They are frequently served with applesauce, sour cream, or both. Purists maintain that they're best when fried in duck or goose fat. Latke is a Yiddish word that originated in the Slavonic ladka, which means "fried pancake" in Russian and Ukrainian.

Menorahs are modeled on ancient lamps of the sort that the Hanukkah holiday commemorates: a central light surrounded by six or eight others. In the second century BCE, a Jewish army called the Maccabees rebelled against the Greek rulers of Jerusalem, occupying the temple and relighting the lamp on the altar. There was only enough oil to last a day, and yet it lasted for eight: this miracle is the reason for the holiday.

Nativity scenes are a common sight during the Christmas season, whether miniatures displayed on mantels or life-size arrangements of statues depicting Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Nativitas is Latin for "birth."

People decorate their Christmas trees with all manner of ornaments, some contemporary — like baby Yodas or tiny iPads that say "Merry Christmas" — and some heirlooms that have been handed down from parents and grandparents. The word ornament comes from the Latin ornare, meaning "to decorate," which is also the root of ornate and adorn.

As families and friends are often spread out across the country or even the world, many holiday gatherings will be virtual, taking place via cell phones and video chats. Such technologies still afford the opportunity to connect, catch up, and reminisce about "the good old days" when it was easier to gather in the same physical place.

While Easter is the most sacred holiday on the Christian calendar, marking the date on which Jesus is believed to have been resurrected, Christmas has become much more important to society as a whole. Sacred comes from the Latin sacrare, which is also the root of sacrifice and consecrate.

Many people perform acts of service during the holiday season, volunteering at homeless shelters or soup kitchens or doing other good deeds to help the less fortunate members of society.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun rises to its lowest point in the sky. Solstice means "sun stands still" in Latin.

The line "tidings of comfort and joy" comes from the classic carol "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." The line expresses a hope for good luck and happy news during the season. Tídan is an Old English verb meaning "to happen" or "to befall."

In 17th-century Europe, the very first tinsel was made from thin strips of silver, so only the wealthiest families could afford it for decorating their Christmas trees. Other metals were used later, but when World War I cut off the supply of copper and aluminum, lead was used as a substitute until the FDA banned it in 1972. Now tinsel is made from PVC, polyvinyl chloride, the same plastic used in plumbing. The word comes from the French word étincelle, meaning "sparkle."

Toboggans are popular choices for sledding because they allow multiple people to ride together down a hill. The added weight creates more momentum, making for longer rides. Toboggan comes from the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy tapakon, possibly with the influence of the Micmac tapaqn. It appears to have entered American English via the North American French spoken in Canada.