At Christmas? On Christmas? For Christmas? During Christmas? Over Christmas?

Hey everyone, the holiday season is coming up so I thought I'd revisit prepositions and their slight variations in meaning. 

during Christmas

This isn't used so often in North American English but the expression is talking about during Christmas vacation or during the Christmas holidays/season. Actually, it is rare to hear during Christmas being used on it's own it will usually be followed by another word such as season/holidays/vacation and is usually preceeded by THE.

I love the all the decorations during the Christmas season.

Where did you go during (the) Christmas vacation?

He's always in a good mood during the Christmas holidays.

A similar expression is over Christmas which is used with holidays or vacation.

What did you do over the Christmas holidays?

I stayed home & relaxed over (the) Christmas vacation?

for Christmas

For is used to indicate a PURPOSE, GOAL or REASON. It's not used to talk about time.

This is for you.

I got this for my birthday.

So for Christmas is talking about the reason you did something.

Dan: What are you doing for Christmas?

Alice: Well, I have to work so we'll have a special dinner on December 22nd. How about you?

Dan: For Christmas I'm putting up a ton of decorations & lights before going skiing in Switzerland!

On Christmas

On is used to indicate a specific DAY so if someone says "on Christmas" they're talking about December 25th only.

On Christmas, I always eat a big dinner.

I loved opening presents on Christmas morning when I was a kid.

At Christmas

At is used to indicate a specific time(noon, midnight, 1PM, etc.), in this case it is a time of year. It has a similar meaning to during the Christmas season.

People tend to tip more at Christmas.

I love it when it's snowy at Christmas.

At Christmas time, I always try & drink Christmas beer or eggnog!

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Phil

In? On? At? Which should I use???

Hope you had a good weekend, today we will quickly review when to use the prepositions in, on and at.

in + area/long periods of time

I live in Japan.(area)

I work in northern Kyoto.(area)

The milk is in the fridge.(area)

I went to Turkey in August. (period of time)

I like to go swimming in the summer. (period of time)

It is really simple you use in with areas and long periods of time.

on + days/streets/floors

I go to the gym on Wednesdays. (days)

I will meet you on Friday night. (days)

I went to my parent's house on Christmas. (days)

Fuji Daimaru is on Shijo Street. (streets)

Oh, the post office is on First Avenue. (streets)

My office is on the fourth floor. (floors)

So you need to use on with days(including Christmas, New Year's, Halloween, etc.) , street names and floors of buildings.

at + specific place/specific times

I will meet you at 5pm on Friday. (specific time)

At Halloween I like to decorate my house in a scary way. (specific time of year)

A: Where's the meeting?
B: It's at Isetan on the 4th floor.
(specific place) A: When is it?
B: It's at 3pm. (specific time)



The party's at Tom's house at 9pm. (specific time & place)

So at is used with specific things! BUT be careful by switching prepositions you can change the meaning of the phrase:

I visit my parents at Christmas. (time - maybe NOT on Christmas Day, anytime around Christmas)

I visit my parents on Christmas. (DAY, NOT before or after-on December 25th)

Any questions?

Phil