{"id":961,"date":"2025-04-17T13:32:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/?p=961"},"modified":"2025-04-17T13:32:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:32:31","slug":"grammar-101-why-do-we-say-tis-the-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/grammar-101-why-do-we-say-tis-the-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Grammar 101 \u2014 Why Do We Say \u2019Tis the Season?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the phrase \u2019Tis the season<\/em> pop up a lot during the holidays \u2014 on Christmas cards, in festive ads, and definitely in holiday songs. But what does it really mean, and where did it come from?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s break it down and explore why \u2019Tis the season<\/em> is such a cherished part of English-speaking festive culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does \u2019Tis the Season Mean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The phrase \u2019Tis the season<\/em> is a shortened, poetic way of saying \u201cIt is the season.\u201d<\/strong> But the season for what, exactly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the season<\/em> refers to the festive period that begins in late November (around Thanksgiving in the U.S.) and runs through early January<\/strong>, covering celebrations like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year\u2019s Eve. It\u2019s a time full of cheer, giving, family gatherings, and joyful traditions \u2014 hence, the season to be jolly!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2019Tis vs. T\u2019is: Which Is Correct?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s often some confusion about spelling, so let\u2019s clear it up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Correct<\/strong>: \u2019Tis the season<\/em> (apostrophe replaces the missing \u201ci\u201d in \u201cit is\u201d)
Incorrect<\/strong>: T\u2019is the season<\/em> (the apostrophe is misplaced)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of contraction is a bit old-fashioned, but still used in poetic or festive language. You may have seen similar ones like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • \u2019Twas<\/em> = It was<\/em> (\u201c\u2019Twas the night before Christmas\u2026\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Where Did \u2019Tis the Season Come From?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The phrase gained popularity thanks to the classic Christmas carol \u201cDeck the Halls,\u201d<\/strong> originally based on a 16th-century Welsh melody titled Nos Galan.<\/em> The English version of the song, which we know today, includes the line:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    \u201c\u2019Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Over time, this line became iconic and is now deeply associated with holiday spirit, cheer, and togetherness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Use \u2019Tis the Season in Conversation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Even though \u2019tis<\/em> is rarely used outside of this specific phrase, you\u2019ll still find it popping up in festive chats. Here are some sentence examples you can use (yes \u2014 even on your IELTS Speaking test!):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • \u201c\u2019Tis the season to relax and spend time with family.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u201cI love all the lights and decorations \u2014 \u2019tis the season after all!\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u201cPeople are just more generous during this time of year. \u2019Tis the season!\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Fun Facts: Deck the Halls and More!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      1. Strange Words in the Lyrics?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Ever wondered what these lyrics actually mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • \u201cBoughs of holly\u201d<\/strong> = Large tree branches from a holly plant (which has pointy leaves and red berries)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • \u201cDon we now our gay apparel\u201d<\/strong> = Let\u2019s put on our festive or fancy clothes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • \u201cTroll the ancient Yuletide carol\u201d<\/strong> = Sing the old holiday songs loudly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • \u201cHail the new, ye lads and lasses\u201d<\/strong> = Welcome the New Year, young men and women<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        2. Original Lyrics Were Boozy?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        Yes! One early version of Deck the Halls<\/em> said: \u201cFill the mead cup, drain the barrel.\u201d<\/em> That line was later changed to the more family-friendly: \u201cDon we now our gay apparel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        3. A Not-So-Fun Fact About Holly Berries<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        Holly berries may look festive, but they\u2019re mildly toxic if eaten \u2014 especially for kids and pets. Stick to admiring them, not munching on them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        4. The Harry Potter Connection<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        Harry Potter\u2019s wand is made of holly wood. So in a magical way, decking the halls with boughs of holly<\/em> connects you with the wizarding world too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        FAQ: \u2019Tis the Season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Q: Can I say \u2019Tis the season in formal writing?<\/strong>
        A: Not usually. This phrase is considered informal and poetic. It’s perfect for holiday cards or festive blog posts, but avoid it in academic or professional emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Q: Is \u2019Tis the season only for Christmas?<\/strong>
        A: While it’s commonly associated with Christmas, the phrase can refer to the broader holiday season \u2014 including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year\u2019s celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Q: Do people still use contractions like \u2019tis in everyday English?<\/strong>
        A: Not anymore! \u2019Tis<\/em> and \u2019twas<\/em> are considered archaic. They’re mostly found in songs, poems, or historical writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Q: Can I say \u201cT\u2019is\u201d instead of \u201c\u2019Tis\u201d?<\/strong>
        A: No \u2014 \u201cT\u2019is\u201d is incorrect. The apostrophe must go before the t<\/em> to correctly show the missing letter in it is.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        You\u2019ve probably heard the phrase \u2019Tis the season pop up a lot during the holidays \u2014 on Christmas cards, in festive ads, and definitely in holiday songs. But what does it really mean, and where did it come from? Let\u2019s break it down and explore why \u2019Tis the season is such a cherished part of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-preparation","category-ielts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=961"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1012,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/961\/revisions\/1012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kampus-group.com\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}