Christmas and Holiday Emojis: Every Festive EmojiEmoji
A Japanese word (絵文字) meaning 'picture character' — small graphical symbols used in digital communication to express ideas, emotions, and objects. for the Season
The winter holiday season is one of the most emoji-rich times of year. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, and the general "cozy winter" aesthetic all have their own emoji vocabularies that combine, overlap, and amplify the festive spirit in digital communication.
This complete guide covers every holiday and Christmas emoji — from 🎄 to 🕎 to 🥂 — organized by theme so you can find the perfect combination for any holiday message.
Christmas Tree and Decorations
🎄 Christmas Tree — The most iconic Christmas emoji. A decorated green tree with colored lights and ornaments. Used from December 1st (and increasingly from late November) through the holiday season. "Putting up the tree! 🎄"
🎁 Gift — A wrapped present with a ribbon bow. Gifts, giving, and the anticipation of Christmas morning. "Wrapped all the presents! 🎁✅"
🎀 Ribbon — A decorative bow. Gift wrapping and festive decoration.
🎊 Confetti Ball — Celebration and parties, used for Christmas and New Year's alike.
🎉 Party Popper — The classic party celebration emoji. New Year's and holiday parties.
🎇 Sparkler — Fireworks sparklers. New Year's Eve and celebration evenings.
🎆 Fireworks — Fireworks displays for New Year's Eve and holiday events.
✨ Sparkles — Holiday magic, glitter, and festive sparkle.
⭐ Star — The star atop the Christmas tree and a general symbol of celebration.
🌟 Glowing Star — A brighter, more radiant star. Christmas star symbolism.
💫 Dizzy — Twinkling and shooting stars for holiday magic.
🕯️ Candle — Advent candles, Hanukkah candles, and winter candlelight atmosphere.
🪔 Diya Lamp — Also used for Diwali, which often falls near the holiday season.
Santa Claus and Christmas Characters
🎅 Santa Claus — The man himself. Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and the jolly gift-giver. Used throughout December for Christmas content, gift anticipation, and "Santa is watching" humor. Available in all six skin tones.
🤶 Mrs. Claus — Santa's partner, depicted with red clothing and white hair. Representation of the feminine presence in Christmas lore.
🧑🎄 Mx. Claus — A gender-neutral Santa/Mrs. Claus emoji added to include non-binary representation in holiday imagery.
🦌 Deer — Reindeer! Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, and the whole gang. The deer emoji doubles as a reindeer in holiday contexts. "Rudolph with his red nose 🦌❤️"
🛷 Sled — Santa's sleigh, sledding down hills, and winter transportation.
⛄ Snowman — A built snowman with a carrot nose. Winter fun and Christmas imagery.
☃️ Snowman (with Snow) — The snowman emoji with snowflakes around it.
Hanukkah Emojis
🕎 Menorah — The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabra. The primary Hanukkah emoji. Used during the eight nights of Hanukkah to wish "Chag Sameach" (Happy Hanukkah). "First night of Hanukkah! 🕎✨"
⭐ Star — The Star of David in spiritual contexts (more accurately rendered as ✡️ in some keyboards).
✡️ Star of David — The Jewish Star of David symbol. Used for Hanukkah and Jewish cultural expression throughout the year.
🪔 Diya Lamp — Candle and flame imagery that works for Hanukkah lighting themes.
🎁 Gift — Hanukkah gelt and gifts exchanged during the eight nights.
Kwanzaa Emojis
🕯️ Candle — The kinara candles of Kwanzaa. Seven candles representing the seven principles (Nguzo Saba).
🌿 Herb — Green plants and harvest, representing the agricultural roots of Kwanzaa.
❤️ Red Heart / 🖤 Black Heart / 💚 Green Heart — The colors of Kwanzaa (red, black, and green representing blood, people, and the land).
✊ Raised Fist — Unity and community strength, core to Kwanzaa's themes.
New Year's Eve and New Year Emojis
🥂 Clinking Glasses — The champagne toast at midnight. Toasting the new year, celebrations, and "cheers." One of the most used emojis in the final hours of December.
🍾 Bottle with Popping Cork — Champagne popping! The celebratory bottle emoji for New Year's and major achievements.
🎊 Confetti Ball — Confetti falling at the stroke of midnight.
🎉 Party Popper — Party time! A streamer popping from a cone.
🎆 Fireworks — Fireworks at midnight, the universal New Year's visual.
🎇 Sparkler — Handheld sparklers at holiday parties.
🕛 Twelve O'Clock — Midnight. The exact moment of the new year.
🌟⭐ — Stars of the midnight sky.
🎈 Balloon — Party decorations and celebration.
Winter and Snow Emojis
The Christmas season and winter are inseparable, so winter emojis are essential holiday emojis.
❄️ Snowflake — Snow, winter cold, and the "let it snow" sentiment. No two snowflakes alike — used for uniqueness.
⛄ Snowman — Building snowmen and the playful side of winter.
☃️ Snowman (with Snow) — A more detailed snowman in a snowy environment.
🌨️ Cloud with Snow — Snowing weather. "White Christmas incoming 🌨️"
🏔️ Snow-Capped Mountain — Winter mountain scenery.
⛷️ Skier — Skiing holidays and winter sports vacations.
🛷 Sled — Holiday sledding and sleigh rides.
🧤 Gloves — Winter warmth. "Time to break out the 🧤 and ☕"
🧣 Scarf — Cozy winter accessories.
🧥 Coat — Winter coats and bundling up.
👒 Winter Hat — Cold weather headwear (context-dependent).
🥾 Hiking Boot — Winter boots for snowy conditions.
Holiday Food and Drinks
🍪 Cookie — Christmas cookies! Sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and holiday baking.
🎂 Birthday Cake — Holiday celebration cakes.
🍰 Shortcake — Holiday cake and desserts.
🍩 Doughnut — Holiday treats.
☕ Hot Beverage — Hot chocolate, mulled wine, eggnog, and the cozy winter drink. Essential holiday emoji.
🍵 Teacup without Handle — Tea on cold winter days.
🫖 Teapot — Hot tea for the holidays.
🥛 Glass of Milk — Milk left out for Santa! "Cookies and milk for Santa 🍪🥛"
🍷 Wine Glass — Holiday wine and celebratory drinks.
🥂 Clinking Glasses — Toasting and celebration.
🍾 Champagne — New Year's bubbly.
🦃 Turkey — Christmas dinner in the UK and Australian tradition (and Thanksgiving in the US, which falls shortly before Christmas).
🍖 Meat on Bone — Holiday roast and feast.
🥧 Pie — Christmas mince pies, pumpkin pie, and holiday baking.
🍬 Candy — Holiday candy and candy canes.
🍭 Lollipop — Candy cane shaped treats.
Religious Christmas Symbols
⛪ Church — Church services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Midnight mass and caroling.
🙏 Folded Hands — Prayer and religious observance during the holidays.
✝️ Latin Cross — Christian symbolism central to Christmas.
👼 Baby Angel — The angelic imagery of Christmas. Baby Jesus and the nativity.
⭐ Star — The Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi.
Holiday Greeting Combinations
Merry Christmas: 🎄🎅❄️✨🎁
Happy Hanukkah: 🕎✨🌟🎁
Happy New Year: 🥂🎆🎊🕛✨
Happy Holidays (inclusive): 🎄🕎🎊❄️✨
Holiday warmth: ☕❄️🕯️🧣🏠
Santa is coming: 🎅🛷🦌❄️🏠
Gift giving: 🎁🎀🎊❤️
Christmas morning: 🎄🎁☕🌅
Holiday Season Timeline in Emojis
The winter holiday season has its own emoji rhythm:
Late November: 🦃🍁 (Thanksgiving in the US) transitions to 🎄 December 1: 🎄❄️ "Christmas season officially begins" Hanukkah (dates vary): 🕎✨🕯️ December 24: 🎅🛷🦌🌙 December 25: 🎄🎁❤️ December 26 – Jan 1: 🕯️✊ (Kwanzaa) December 31: 🥂🎆🕛 January 1: 🎊✨🌟 "New Year!"
Explore More on EmojiFYI
- Copy any holiday emoji instantly with the Emoji Keyboard
- Convert your holiday messages into emojis at /tools/text-to-emoji/
- See how Christmas emojis look on Apple, Google, and Samsung at /tools/compare/
- Browse all holiday and celebration emojis at /category/
- Search for any specific holiday emoji at /search/