Word Nerd: 5 Exciting Words You Must Know This December

30 Nov

Word Nerd
Image via GIPHY

Whether you’re thinking of writing Christmas wishes or just keen to learn more about the most festive season of this year – we’ve got you covered with this exciting list. From Christmas monsters to spongey desserts, this list has it all (and none of them is Santa’s famous laugh).

1. Krampus: Well, you know Christmas, but do you know about Krampus?

A Krampus is a half-demon, half-goat character from Alpine folklore. Krampus assists St. Nicholas. On Christmas eve, he visits the misbehaving children with birch rods while St. Nick doles out candy. After becoming a regular feature of American horror films, Krampus now has become a part of American pop culture.

2. Menorah: A large 9-branched candlestick used in Jewish worship during Hanukkah. It has a central socket and 4 branches on either side. This is one of the most widely recognized symbols of the eight-day festival.

3. Myrrh: This fragrant resin was one of the three gifts to the baby Jesus in the manger, along with gold and frankincense. Myrrh is still a sacred fragrance in many religions. It is used as incense, anointing oil, and fumigation.

4. Wassail: Traditionally, this meant spiced wine that was drunk during Christmas celebrations. It also referred to the hot, spiced cider served to poor carolers. As a verb, it means having a rowdy time after a few drinks and also to go singing carols from one house to another. While the word is archaic – we think this Christmas could be a good time to bring it back.

5. Yule: Today we might know Yule as synonymous with Christmas, but it started as a Germanic celebration. A log was thrown into the hearth as sacrifice and its ashes were spread across the house to guard against evil spirits. Today a yule log is a delicious dessert often made of sponge cake and ganache.

Are there any other exciting festive words for this season that you would like to share? Email us or drop a comment below.

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