English Vocabulary for Holidays

Learn National Holidays in English

This is a lesson to help you learn some of the common yearly holidays and celebrations in English. There are eight learning methods for you to work through, including five different games and three different types of flashcard. At the end, there are three example sentences for each word.

Vocabulary Games for

The games and flashcards are currently set to test the following [wait...] words:

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Match-the-Pairs Game

Memory Game

Basic Flash Cards

Spell-the-Word Game

Spell the word represented by the picture.

Learn with Hangman!

Hangman is a classic word game. In this version, the hidden word is one of the words from the "holidays" category. Choose your first letter to start. Show Instructions

Create Your Own Version of This Game

"Sentence" Flash Cards

Click on the box to see the word in a sentence.

"Missing Word" Flash Cards

Click on the box to see the missing word in a sentence.

Example Sentences

Here are 3 sentences for each of the following words from the "holidays" category:

• New Year's Eve, Saint Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, April Fool's Day, Bonfire Night, Christmas, Easter, Eid, Father's Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Mother's Day

• New Year's Eve is celebrated on the night of December 31st, marking the end of one year and the beginning of the next.
• Many people gather with friends and family to watch fireworks and count down the seconds until the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.
• It's a time for reflection on the past year and making resolutions or goals for the year ahead.

• Saint Patrick's Day is an Irish holiday celebrated on March 17th, honoring Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
• People often wear green clothing and accessories on Saint Patrick's Day, and parades featuring Irish music and dance are common.
• Some traditions include eating Irish food like corned beef and cabbage and searching for four-leaf clovers for good luck.

• Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on different dates in other countries.
• On Thanksgiving, people gather with loved ones to give thanks for the year's blessings and enjoy a special meal, often including turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
• It's a time to express gratitude for family, friends, and the abundance in one's life.

• Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th as a day to express love and affection to romantic partners and loved ones.
• People often exchange cards, flowers, and chocolates as tokens of affection on Valentine's Day.
• It's a day to celebrate love and friendship, and many couples go out for romantic dinners or exchange heartfelt messages.

• April Fool's Day is observed on April 1st and is known for playful pranks and jokes played on friends and family.
• On this day, people try to trick others with harmless hoaxes and humorous tricks, often followed by a shout of "April Fools!"
• It's all in good fun, and laughter is the main goal of April Fool's Day.

• Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is celebrated on November 5th in the United Kingdom.
• It commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the British Parliament.
• People celebrate with bonfires, fireworks, and by burning effigies of Guy Fawkes.

• Christmas is celebrated on December 25th to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and is a time of joy, giving, and festivities.
• People decorate Christmas trees, exchange gifts, and enjoy special meals with family and friends on Christmas.
• It's a holiday filled with traditions, such as singing carols, hanging stockings, and lighting Advent candles.

• Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is observed on various dates in the spring.
• Many traditions associated with Easter include decorating eggs, participating in egg hunts, and attending church services.
• The Easter Bunny is a popular symbol, and children often receive Easter baskets filled with treats.

• Eid is an important Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer.
• There are two main Eid celebrations: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, each with its own customs and traditions.
• During Eid, Muslims gather for special prayers, share festive meals, and exchange gifts with family and friends.

• Father's Day is a day to honor fathers and father figures, celebrated on different dates worldwide.
• On Father's Day, children often give cards, gifts, or spend quality time with their dads to show appreciation for their love and support.
• It's a time to express gratitude and celebrate the role of fathers in families.

• The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is celebrated in the United States on July 4th to commemorate the country's independence from British rule.
• It's a day of patriotism and national pride, marked by fireworks, parades, and outdoor gatherings.
• Many people display the American flag and enjoy barbecues and picnics on Fourth of July.

• Halloween is celebrated on October 31st and is known for costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky decorations.
• Children and adults dress up in costumes as ghosts, witches, and other characters, going door-to-door to collect candy.
• Many people also decorate their homes with jack-o'-lanterns and haunted themes for Halloween.

• Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight nights and days.
• It commemorates the miracle of the menorah in the Second Temple of Jerusalem and involves lighting the menorah, playing dreidel games, and enjoying special foods like latkes.
• Gift-giving is also a tradition during Hanukkah.

• Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday celebrated by African Americans from December 26th to January 1st.
• It emphasizes principles such as unity, self-determination, and cooperative economics and involves lighting the Kinara (candleholder).
• During Kwanzaa, families gather, exchange gifts, and reflect on their heritage and values.

• Mother's Day is a day to honor and appreciate mothers and mother figures, celebrated on various dates worldwide.
• On Mother's Day, children often give cards, flowers, or gifts to their moms as a gesture of love and gratitude.
• It's a special day to recognize the nurturing and caring role of mothers in families.