Yuletide

n.joyful, kindliterary

What it means

The festive season surrounding Christmas and midwinter.

Reach for it when creating a traditional seasonal atmosphere rather than naming a single date

Yuletide filled the square with choirs and glowing windows.

everyday
Christmas season
when the familiar Christian period is meant
not when The phrase is plainer and may exclude non-Christian Yule observance.
everyday
holidays
when inclusive conversational shorthand works
not when Holidays is vague and can refer to vacations at any time of year.
warm
festive season
when several holidays and public celebrations are included
not when This umbrella phrase can include celebrations unrelated to Christmas.
professional
midwinter
when the point in the seasonal cycle is factual
not when Midwinter is climatic and contains no celebration by itself.
formal
Christmastide
when the liturgical or historical season is exact
not when Christmastide carries church meaning that commercial Yuletide language may not.
literary
Noel
when poetic Christian imagery is wanted
not when Noel commonly names Christmas itself rather than the whole surrounding season.

during Yuletide
During Yuletide, the hall stayed open for meals and quiet company.
Yuletide celebration
The Yuletide celebration paired old carols with newly written songs.
Yuletide cheer
Yuletide cheer should never require someone to hide grief.

Yuletide usually evokes Christmas in English. Use a community's own name for a different midwinter observance.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.