Looking for Christmas words that start with J? This collection includes festive terms, winter vocabulary, food words, and everyday words you can use in Christmas sentences. Each entry has a meaning and an example to help with cards, stories, classroom tasks, or word games.
Here’s a list of Christmas words that start with the letter J, including their meanings:
Choosing Words for Your Activity
For a quick starting set, try Jesus, Joseph, Jingle, Jingling, Jolly, Joy, Joyful. For a strict Christmas-only challenge, choose names, objects, or traditions directly connected with the holiday. For creative writing, the broader descriptive and food words can help you tell a richer seasonal story.
The example sentences illustrate possible uses; they do not mean that every family follows the same custom. Names, slang, phrases, and inflected forms may be treated differently in a game, so agree on the rules first.
Jack
A first name, such as Jack Frost, or the name of a toy (Jack-in-the-Box) with a figure attached to a spring that pops up when the lid on the box is opened.
Example: It was so cold out Christmas morning we knew Jack Frost came for a visit along with Santa Claus.
Jerusalem
A holy city in Eastern Asia and home to many Christmas festivities.
Example: Some Christians believe visiting Jerusalem for Christmas is one of the most exciting and special times of year to travel there.
Jessica
The first name of Mrs. Claus in the Christmas television special that everyone loves, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.”
Example: Jessica was ready for Christmas, and she became even more excited when she watched Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and learned she had the same first name as Mrs. Claus.
Jesus
The central figure of Christianity, whose birth Christmas commemorates.
Example: Christians celebrate Christmas because of the ultimate gift God gave humanity – Jesus.
Jiminy
The first name of Jiminy Cricket, a Disney character, and also a term used in place of Jesus Christ.
Example: Tommy wanted to remain on Santa’s nice list, so he would often say “Fudge” and “Jiminy Crickets” when he was made so he would not say anything wrong.
Jingle
A light ringing sound made by small bells or metal objects.
Example: The jingle of the bells at church let everyone know Midnight Mass was about to begin.
Jingling
Making a light, repeated ringing sound.
Example: Suddenly, we heard jingling from the sky and knew Santa and his reindeer were nearby.
Jingly
Something that has a series of high-pitched ringing sounds, such as coins in a pocket being bounced around together or a string of bells.
Example: All of the bells on the Christmas tree were ringing simultaneously; it created a jingly sound that ran throughout the house.
Jolly
Cheerful and good-humored.
Example: I love how everyone is so jolly during the Christmas season.
Joseph
Mary's husband in the Christian Nativity accounts.
Example: Joseph was by Mary’s side during the birth of Jesus.
Journey
Travel from one place to another.
Example: Every Christmas is an adventure as we take a road trip and journey to visit my grandparents.
Jovial
Friendly and cheerful.
Example: Everyone at the party was jovial, especially after their boss handed out their annual Christmas bonus.
Jovially
Something or someone characterized by being full of cheerfulness and jolliness, such as Santa Claus.
Example: The elves jovially went to work every day before Christmas to ensure enough toys were made for all the good girls and boys.
Joviality
The state of being jovial and in a good mood or pleasant situation.
Example: When we started decorating for Christmas, a sudden air of joviality filled the room from all the excitement.
Joy
A feeling of great happiness.
Example: The kids cheered with joy when Santa walked into the room with a sack full of Christmas presents.
Joyful
Full of happiness.
Example: The joyful Christmas celebration downtown was the perfect place for sipping hot cocoa, seeing holiday lights, shopping from local vendors, and enjoying time with friends and family.
Joyfully
With great pleasure and happiness.
Example: After several years without snow on Christmas Day, I joyfully welcome the cold weather and the potential for snow this year.
Joyfulness
The act of experiencing, showing, or causing joy.
Example: The joyfulness of the crowd could only mean Santa had arrived on his sleigh, but that also meant the Christmas parade was about to end.
Joyous
Expressing great happiness.
Example: Our Christmas party was a joyous event that we look forward to hosting every year.
Joyeux
Being merry, cheerful, or laughingly lively, such as Joyeux Noel.
Example: Jimmy said he was “Joyeux that Santa was coming.” We had no idea he knew the French word for happy.
Jubilance
Showing great joy, rejoicing, or satisfaction, such as the jubilance cheers of the elves.
Example: The jubilance of the children made it challenging to get them to go to bed on Christmas Eve.
Jubilant
Showing great delight or celebration.
Example: The jubilant crowd cheered the moment the Christmas tree was lit.
Jubilantly
The act of feeling or expressing great happiness.
Example: We jubilantly danced in the town’s square as Christmas carols played and the tree lights were turned on.
Jubilation
A feeling or expression of great happiness.
Example: There was jubilation in the crowd as the snow started to fall the same evening the town lit its Christmas tree.
Jubilee
A celebration of an event, often occurring on the 25th and 50th anniversary of something.
Example: This year’s Christmas jubilee will be celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, with each area of the celebration themed around one of the gifts featured in the song.
Julefrokost
A Danish Christmas lunch or festive meal.
Example: Mom decided she didn’t want to host a traditional Christmas dinner; this year, we hosted a Julefrokost.
Jacket
An outer garment worn on the upper body.
Example: The weather on Christmas Day was warm enough that we didn’t need to wear our jackets, but it was chilly enough that we were still required to wear a sweater
Jaw
The lower formation of the mouth that is a bony structure offering support for the gums and teeth.
Example: The kids were so in awe when they went downstairs and saw all the Christmas presents Santa left, their jaws dropped to the ground.
Jealous
Having a feeling of envy toward another person based on their achievements and advantages.
Example: Mom was jealous that dad was taking the kids out sledding Christmas morning while she stayed home to start preparing for company.
Jealously
Acting in a way that shows an envious resentment of someone based on their achievements and advantages.
Example: Jack acted jealously when he saw the Lego set his brother got for Christmas, but that quickly ended when he opened up the Lego set he wanted.
Jeopardize
To be put in a situation that could pose a danger, loss, or harm.
Example: We tried to get my brother to sleep because we were afraid if he stayed away in the living room, he would jeopardize the chance of Santa delivering Christmas presents.
Justify
To show or prove to be right about something, or to declare and make righteous in the sight of God.
Example: The kids were so worried they would not get a visit from Santa they felt they had to justify what happened that caused the vase in the dining room to break.
Justifiably
The act of doing something with a good reason.
Example: The local community was justifiably concerned that the new Christmas festival would attract too much traffic, but they knew it would be a fun event and worth the added traffic.
Jittery
The act of being nervous or having the inability to relax.
Example: The kids started getting extremely jittery after eating all the Christmas candy and goodies.
Journal
A newspaper or magazine dealing with a particular activity or a daily record of news and events, such as a diary.
Example: Celia kept a journal of how good she was all year long so she could prove to Santa she deserved presents under the tree Christmas morning.
Journaling
The act of writing in a journal or diary regularly, almost daily.
Example: Aunt Maggie was so into journaling that we bought her a gift basket filled with colorful pens, stickers, and hardcovered journals for Christmas.
Jewelry
Decorative items worn on the body, sometimes given as presents.
Example: Dad got mom the same thing he always gets her for Christmas; matching jewelry, including earrings and a necklace.
Jewels
A precarious stone, often a single crystal, can be a group of stones cut into flat facets, smoothed and polished, and used as an ornament or within jewelry designs.
Example: Grandma loved dressing up with her precious jewelry for Midnight Mass and for our annual family Christmas party.
Jitterbugs
A nervous group of people or a dance performed to Swing music in the 1940s.
Example: The elves were so excited for Santa to return from his Christmas Eve run they were all acting like jitterbugs waiting to hear how it went.
Juicy
A food item that is full of juice or interesting and scandalous gossip.
Example: The turkey at Christmas dinner may have been a bit overcooked and dried out, but the ham was very juicy, making it the food of choice among our party guests.
Jump
To push oneself off of a surface into the air using the muscles in the legs.
Example: The kids came downstairs and saw all the presents left by Santa; they jumped for joy.
Jewellike
Something or someone with characteristics resembling a jewel.
Example: The Christmas lights around town twinkled and appeared jewellike among the falling snow.
Jamboree
A large celebration or party that is typically planned as a boisterous or lavish event.
Example: This year, our Christmas party will be a huge jamboree, with all our friends and family coming over for dinner, gift-giving, and caroling.
Joystick
A control lever that can be moved in all directions to control the movement of a character or object in a video game.
Example: Dad is so old, and every Christmas, he talks about how he was a master of his Atari joystick, yet he cannot grasp using one for my Playstation.
Jokester
Someone who enjoys creating fun situations or telling jokes.
Example: My cousin was such a jokester, and we knew we would get some type of gag gift every Christmas, but this year he surprised us all and gave us ornaments.
Joyride
A drive in a vehicle that is meant for enjoyment with no particular destination or travel itinerary in mind.
Example: When dad gave mom the keys to her new car for Christmas, she immediately hopped in and went for a quick joyride around the neighborhood.
Jumpers
Collarless and sleeveless dresses are usually worn over a blouse.
Example: My aunt wore the cutest Christmas jumper to dinner. It was covered in penguins and reindeer.
Juicer
Something with more juice or fluids in it than another item can mean very interesting gossip or scandalous story compared to other tales.
Example: My sister learned a little more about cooking since last Christmas because her turkey was much juicier than the one she made last year.
Jinxed
Something or someone that brings bad luck, or to have an evil spell cast upon someone or something.
Example: I always worried that if my brothers were on Santa’s naughty list, they jinxed Christmas, and I would be left without presents from Santa. But luckily enough, he always came.
Jig
A lively, fun dance with a lot of leaps or a device to hold something with guides to help when using tools for cutting or designing.
Example: The elves had many jigs lying around the workshop and were often used when making Christmas toys.
Christmas Words From A-Z
Here’s each list of Christmas words from the letters A to Z:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Christmas Word Activities
- Write five chosen words on cards, then match each word with a drawing or definition.
- Use three words in a Christmas card message or a short story. Include one object, one action, and one feeling.
- Play a sentence-building game: each player adds a sentence using a different word.
- For younger children, read the examples together and explain unfamiliar words before asking them to write.
You can make the activity easier by allowing phrases and proper names, or harder by using only words with a direct Christmas connection. Keep a separate list of general winter words so children can see the difference.
52 Christmas Words That Start With I (List With Meanings)
