Holidays & Seasonal

What to Write in a Christmas Card: 40+ Messages and a Formula

40+ original Christmas card messages plus a three-line formula — what to write for family, friends, colleagues, people you have lost touch with, and a difficult year.

By Funtastic E Cards Editorial Team 5 min read

Kraft-wrapped holiday gifts with red baubles and greenery
Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash

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The Christmas card pile is the annual reminder that nobody taught us how to do this. The good news: there is a three-line structure that works for every card in the stack, from your mother to the man who fixed your boiler. Here are 40+ original messages plus that structure.

Running late? A free holiday ecard has no postal deadline.

The Christmas card formula

  1. Greeting. “Merry Christmas” or “Season’s greetings” — match it to what you know of them.
  2. One personal line. Their year, your last meeting, or a plan to see them. This is the entire difference between a kept card and a recycled one.
  3. A wish for the new year, then your name. “Here is to a good one” does the job.

Merry Christmas, Aunt Sue! It was so good to see you at the wedding in June — you have not changed a bit. Wishing you a restful Christmas and a very good year. Love, Sam

Simple Christmas card messages

  1. Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!
  2. Wishing you a Christmas full of good food and better company.
  3. Merry Christmas! Hope it is a restful one.
  4. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas.
  5. Merry Christmas and all the best for the year ahead.
  6. Season’s greetings and warmest wishes.
  7. Wishing you peace, joy, and a very merry Christmas.
  8. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
  9. Warmest wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
  10. Merry Christmas! Enjoy every minute.

What to write by relationship

Close family

  1. Merry Christmas! The best part of the year is all of us in one room.
  2. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas — cannot wait to see you.
  3. Merry Christmas! Grateful for this family, today especially.
  4. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a very good year to follow.

Friends

  1. Merry Christmas! Another year of your friendship and I am still the lucky one.
  2. Wishing you a brilliant Christmas — drinks in the new year, non-negotiable.
  3. Merry Christmas! Hope it is as relaxed as you want it to be.
  4. Happy Christmas! Let us see each other more than twice next year.

Colleagues and clients

  1. Merry Christmas and best wishes for a successful new year.
  2. Wishing you a restful Christmas and a great year ahead.
  3. Season’s greetings — thank you for a good year.
  4. Happy holidays! A pleasure working with you this year.

Neighbours and people you barely know

  1. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year.
  2. Wishing you a lovely Christmas!
  3. Season’s greetings from number 42.
  4. Happy Christmas — all the best for the year ahead.

№ 01Wordsmith

Message Generator

Tell us a few things — get short, warm, funny, and polished options.

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Messages are crafted from templates. We never generate hateful, harassing, deceptive, explicit, or impersonation content.

For a card going to many people

When you are writing thirty cards, use one warm base line and vary a single detail:

  1. Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful one — see you in the new year.
  2. Wishing you a happy Christmas and a very good year ahead.
  3. Merry Christmas from all of us here!
  4. Season’s greetings — wishing you a restful break.
  5. Merry Christmas! Thinking of you at this time of year.
  6. Wishing you and yours a lovely Christmas.

When you have not been in touch

  1. Merry Christmas! It has been far too long — I would love to catch up in the new year.
  2. Happy Christmas! Thinking of you and hoping this year has been kind.
  3. Merry Christmas! No excuse for the silence, only affection.
  4. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas. Let us fix the not-speaking thing in January.
  5. Merry Christmas! Still think of you often, even when I am terrible at saying so.
  6. Happy Christmas! Hoping the year has treated you well.

For a difficult year

  1. Thinking of you this Christmas. I know it will not be an easy one.
  2. Wishing you a gentle Christmas — no pressure to enjoy it.
  3. Sending love this Christmas. Take it at whatever pace you need.
  4. Thinking of you and remembering him this Christmas.
  5. Wishing you quiet and comfort this year.
  6. Thinking of you. There is no right way to do this one.

Sign-offs

  • Family: With love, · Love always, · Lots of love from us all,
  • Friends: Love, · Cheers, · See you soon,
  • Work: Best wishes, · Warm regards, · Season’s greetings,

What to avoid

  • The printed year-in-review. One good line beats a newsletter about the extension.
  • Assuming what they celebrate. “Season’s greetings” covers everyone when unsure.
  • Forced cheer for someone grieving. Acknowledge instead — see the section above.
  • Leaving it unsigned. Every year somebody receives a mystery card. Do not be that person.

Send it — and beat the post

Posting deadlines arrive earlier than anyone remembers. A free holiday ecard has none:

Pair this with a gift

Ideas that suit the occasion, each linked to one product we picked. Prices and availability are set by Amazon and can change.

Holiday Gift Basket

Our pick: Burt's Bees Classics gift set in a tin

Best for: Office gifts, host gifts, family bundles

Occasion: Holidays

Festive treats that ship gift-ready during peak season.

  • Saves wrapping time
  • Great for groups
  • Order early — holidays sell out
View on Amazon

Festive Treats Hamper

Our pick: Holiday chocolate, nuts and fruit basket

Best for: Households, hosts and family gatherings

Occasion: Holidays

Food and drink to share — works for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Eid, Diwali or any gathering.

  • Shared rather than personal
  • Suits a whole household
  • Scales to any budget
  • Check dietary requirements first
View on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, FuntasticECards earns from qualifying purchases. How this works

Christmas card FAQ

What should I write in a Christmas card?

Greeting, one personal line about them or their year, and a new year wish. That three-part structure works for every card in the pile.

What do you write when you do not know someone well?

“Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year.” Nothing more is needed or expected.

How do you write a Christmas card to a whole family?

Address it to them collectively and mention one thing about their year: “Merry Christmas to all four of you — congratulations again on the new house.”

Is “Happy Holidays” better than “Merry Christmas”?

Use whichever matches the recipient. “Season’s greetings” is the neutral option when you genuinely do not know.

How much should I write?

Two or three lines. The pressure to fill the card is imaginary — a short specific message beats a long generic one.

What if I have left it too late to post?

Send an ecard on the day and a physical card in January with a light note about the delay. See Christmas card messages for more wording.

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