Merry Christmas, dear readers, and thank you for checking out this article! It means you’re in a festive holiday mood—just like we are. So, let’s make the most of it and boost our vocabulary in a truly festive way by learning words for various Christmas tree decorations. As always, an exercise to practice will follow!

Ornaments vs. Decorations

The terms ornaments and decorations are often used interchangeably, especially around holidays like Christmas, but they do have subtle differences. Decorations are a broader category that encompasses all items used to enhance the look of a space for a holiday, event, or celebration. For example: 1) Halloween decorations hung from every corner. 2) Floral decorations adorned the church. 3) We made our own table decorations. Ornaments are usually smaller, often intricate items specifically used to adorn a tree, wreath, or other focal point. They are typically made of glass, plastic, wood, metal, or other materials, and they often hang or dangle from a surface. For example: 1) There were a few china ornaments on the shelf above the fireplace. 2) The shop has an array of ball ornaments to suit your style. 3) She has decorated her home with a few personalized ornaments.

❗While ornaments are a type of decoration, decorations are not limited to what is placed on a tree. They can be used for a variety of purposes to create festive or thematic atmospheres in homes, stores, or public spaces. So, while all ornaments are decorations, not all decorations are ornaments!

Let’s put this knowledge to the test with a fun exercise! Click the link here to match the pictures to the correct category: “Ornaments” or “Decorations.” Remember, all ornaments are decorations, but only place items in the “Decoration” category that can’t be considered ornaments. Happy sorting!

❗Back to where we started: the terms “ornaments” and “decorations” are often used interchangeably, especially during holidays like Christmas. So, keep in mind that it’s perfectly acceptable to say both “Christmas decorations” and “Christmas ornaments” when referring to anything designed to make your Christmas more beautiful and festive.

Popular Christmas Tree Ornaments/Decorations

Picture	Word
	baubles /ˈbɔːblz/ (British English) / ornaments (American English)
	tinsel /ˈtɪnsl/
	lights
	tree topper (star)
	garland /ˈɡɑːrlənd/
	candy canes
	ribbons
	angel hair
	nutcracker
	bows /bəʊz/
	figurines /ˌfɪɡjəˈriːnz/
	dried orange slices
	cinnamon sticks (tied with twine)
	pinecones
	snowflakes
	icicles

That’s about it, though when it comes to Christmas tree decorations, the possibilities seem endless! What do you usually put on your Christmas tree? 🎄