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BMO · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705

At Christmas and on Christmas, what is the difference?

Thanks a lot.

bmo

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

BMO, I really don't know if this is correct or not, but here are my thoughts:

"On Christmas" literally means on Christmas Day. Sometimes it is shorthand to mean a duration of a few days. Christmas is usually one of those days - or at least Christmas Eve is.

Ex. All of my brothers and sisters and I were together on Christmas. --- This means we were all together on Christmas Day (or at least on Christmas Eve), and possibly for more days. A listener who knew we lived far apart would assume that we probably spent several days together.

I don't hear "at Christmas" very often, if at all. "At Christmas time" is used, though, and it includes any day leading up to Christmas (maybe up to a week before) or following it. Maybe some people say "at Christmas" as a shortcut to "at Christmas time," but that's only a guess.

Ex. My sister saw her old college roommate at Christmas time. They hadn't seen each other for twenty years. --- Most likely, they did not meet on Christmas Day, but a few (or several) days before or after.

Brian Boyd · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 176 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Hi Bud and BMO

There must be a difference between US Enlgish and British English.

In the UK, we only really use on + Christmas when we're talking about a specific day.

I was excited on Christmas Eve.
I ate too much on Christmas day.
I fought with my family on Boxing day.

We use 'at' a lot, and it generally refers to the whole Christmas season, or certainly to the time you have no school or work.

I went home at Christmas.
I ate too much at Christmas.
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shame (from the song - 'Feed the World').

Brian

ps - Merry Christmas!

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

That's sort of what my brain was trying to get to. It just didn't do as well at it as yours!

There's no diiference in any of your examples between the Brits and Yanks... I could say that I ate too much on Christmas if I mean on Christmas Day. I could also say that I ate too much at Christmas if I'm talking about the season.

Thank you for the clear response!

Merry Christmas to you, too, and to all who hang out in here! Have a happy and healthy 2006!

BMO · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705

Thank you all, and merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Now another question, can you say merry Christmas after the Christmas day, Dec. 25th?

bmo

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

Yeah, a day or two or three after, it still makes sense to say that to people you haven't seen since before Christmas.

Merry Christmas, BMO!

clonc · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 45 Location: UK

Dear BMO,

You might be interested to know that in the UK we often say over Christmas.

What are you doing over Christmas?

It means what are are you doing over the Christmas period, or over the Christmas holidays.

You could also say, "I ate too much over Christmas!" (which I did)

BMO · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705

I think over Christmas is also spoken in the U.S.
Now, Happy Lunar New Year (1/29)

Thanks a lot.