Season’s Greetings: What to Write in a Christmas Card

By Hallmark Writer on November 15, 2023

‘Tis the season to sit down and write a little festive something to the people who’ve added to your joy all year long! Of course, it’s much more fun if you’re armed with lots of great ideas about what you want write in all those Christmas cards.

And that’s where this handy little guide comes in. Filled with tips and inspiration from Hallmark writers, whether you’re sending out 3 cards or 63, we’ve got all kinds of suggestions to get you started and you can adapt all of these ideas to work for a traditional Christmas card, festive family newsletter, custom photo card or any other seasonal greeting you like.

So, you can either jump straight to the specific category you’re interested in, using the links below, or read through the whole guide and mix and match our suggestions to create the perfect Christmas wish for each person on your list. May your mood be merry and may your words be warm and bright!

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmarkuki.

• Get Ready to Write
• For Friends
• For Family
• For The One You Love
• For Those Who Are Far Away
• To Say Thank You
• For Tricky Times
• Religious and Spiritual Messages
• For Professional Relationships
• Festive Fun
• Sweet Sign Offs

Get Ready to Write  

Before you get started, we’ve got a few tips to help you add some extra cheer to the task of writing your season’s greetings:

• Stock up: Before you start, make sure you have all the stamps, cards, envelopes and working pens that you need. You don’t want to run out when you’re on a roll!
• Go through that address book: Keep a running list of addresses to use each year and check in with anyone you remember seeing has recently moved or got married, to make sure you still have their correct address information.
• Set your soundtrack: Get yourself in the right mood by putting on some of your favorite festive music. Make it part of your card-signing tradition.
• The more, the merrier: Enlist the help of the rest of the family if possible to lighten your load. Even very young children can sign their own names or add a cute drawing. Older kids may enjoy adding personal messages of their own to cards. If there are festive treats involved, they might even help address envelopes.
• Keep it short and sweet: You can express Christmas joy and caring without saying a lot, and the more cards you have to write the more important this tip can become! 

For Friends  

For a lot of your cards a simple sign off may be all that you need, but for closer friends you might want to add something a bit more personal or meaningful to your season’s greetings.

Examples

• Wishing so much joy to you and yours this Christmas season.
• Wishing you a very merry Christmas and an even brighter new year!
• Thinking of you all and wishing the whole family an extra measure of comfort and joy this Christmas.
• Hope it’ll be your best Christmas ever!
• Merry Christmas with lots of love and wishes for a fantastic new year ahead.
• Hoping you’ll have the lovely, relaxing Christmas you deserve!
• I hope your festive season is filled with all the good things you’re wishing for.
• Here’s to a wonderful Christmas filled with moments you’ll always remember.
• May your season be merry, your presents be fabulous and your celebrations be magical!
• So grateful to have a friend like you at Christmas and all year long.

Writing tip: If you do feel that the card has already said it all, or you’ve just got a whole lot of cards to write, and you want to keep things short and sweet, a straightforward “Merry Christmas” or “Have a Great Time” message might be just what Santa ordered.

For Family  

Whether they’re for family members you see every day or for those you see once every few years, Christmas cards are a great way to celebrate your relationships and let loved ones know how much they mean all year through.

Examples

• Merry Christmas with love and thanks for all you do all year long,
• Parents like you are the very best gifts there could be, at Christmas and always.
• At Christmas and always you’re thought of with so much love.
• Looking forward to food, fun and festive family madness this Christmas.
• So glad we’re family…and so grateful for all the fantastic Christmas memories we share.
• For me, Christmas only really starts when we get together. Looking forward to talking and catching up soon!
• Merry Christmas to someone who makes our whole family so proud.
• We may not see each other so often these days but you’re always in my thoughts, especially at Christmas time.
• Christmas is a great reminder of how much I love being a part of this crazy family.
• Thinking of you with lots of love at Christmas and remembering all the happy family times we’ve shared.
• Thinking back on all the happiest moments this year and your wedding day stands out as one of the brightest. Hope the two of you enjoy a wonderful first Christmas together.

Writing tip: When family or friends are celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, in a new house, with a new baby or any other exciting festive firsts, mention it in your personal message to them. It’s a big deal!

For The One You Love  

Let the one you love know how much they mean to you this Christmas with a few thoughtful words reflecting on the love, laughter and life you share. You don’t have to say a lot, and you can make it as sweet or as silly as you like, but we guarantee it will make their Christmas!

Examples

• My favorite thing about Christmas is spending it with you.
• There’s no one else I’d rather make Christmas memories with.
• Nobody does Christmas like us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
• You are still the nicest gift I’ve ever been given. Love you so much.
• Merry Christmas! Now, where’s that mistletoe?
• I fa-la-la-la love you.
• You make my heart go pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.
• Sharing life with you has made all my Christmas wishes come true.
• You’re on my nice list. (But feel free to try for the naughty list if you want.)
• Another Christmas, and still nothing warms my heart like you.
• Here’s to another year of making memories, creating new traditions, and enjoying all the best parts of Christmas time with you.

Writing tip: Personalised or Photo Upload cards can be a great choice for your significant other at Christmas time giving you the chance to create the perfect card just for them that’s a unique celebration of your relationship and all you’ve shared throughout the year.

For Those Who Are Far Away  

If your card is for someone you won’t get to see at Christmas, or perhaps don’t get to see very often at all, let them know that you miss them and will be thinking of them. A Christmas card, whether a specific Across the Miles design or a simple boxed card, is a great way to maintain connections and remind people that they are loved and cherished even when circumstances keep you apart.

Examples

• Thinking of you at Christmas and sending love across the miles.
• It might be a while since we’ve been together in person, but I hope you know you are always close to my heart.
• Missing you even more than usual at this merry time of year.
• Really, really wish you were here, but hope you’re having lots of fun over there!
• We may not get to see each other this Christmas, but you’ll be in my mind and in my heart. You always are.
• I’m sorry I won’t be there for Christmas this year. Eat a few extra mince pies for me, OK?
• Wish we could be together this festive season, but since we can’t, I’m sending all the good wishes your way.
• I can’t believe it has been so long since we’ve seen each other. Way TOO long!

Writing tip: Miss-you message not compulsory! If not being together for Christmas is the norm for you, or is a sore subject, just focus your message on love, gratitude or a warm festive wish instead.

To Say Thank You  

There are lots of people whose jobs are focused on helping us and making our lives better in countless ways—teachers, care workers, coaches, hairstylists, nurses, posties, and so many more. These people make a genuine difference every day, and Christmas is the perfect time to let them know how much you appreciate them.

Examples

• We couldn’t let Christmas pass without thanking you for everything you do.
• Just want you to know how much you’re appreciated, by us and so many others.
• Feeling especially grateful for you this Christmas. Thanks for everything you do.
• Don’t know what I (or my hair) would do without you! Hope you have a merry Christmas.
• So thankful for all the care you put into what you do all year long. Merry Christmas.
• A little Christmas thank you for all of your hard work and for the caring way you do it all year round.
• You’re so great at what you do, and we’re so grateful for you.
• You are appreciated! Just wanted to remind you of that this Christmas.
• You deserve all the happiness Christmas can bring. So glad you’re in my life.

For Tricky Times

Christmas can bring mixed emotions for anyone facing illness, job loss, bereavement or other challenging circumstances. Here are some ideas for letting people know you’re thinking warmly of them during what might be an especially difficult time of year.

Examples

• I know this isn’t going to be your best Christmas ever. I hope it helps a little to be reminded how much we love you and wish you a brighter new year.
• You’ve had more than your share of challenges this year. Wishing you peace and hope at Christmas and a new year full of better days.
• I hope the festive season is extra gentle and kind to you this year and brings you lots of reasons to smile and lots of time to rest.
• Hoping that the new year brings you new possibilities.
• Our hearts are with you and your family. All our love,
• It’s tough when Christmas falls during a difficult time. Just want you to know I’m thinking of you and sending you love.
• Sending you all the hugs this Christmas. Take care of yourself.

Writing tip: If you’re planning on using boxed cards to send out your Christmas wishes, maybe just have a think about which designs feel most appropriate for the people you know who are facing a difficult time. If there isn’t anything in the pack that feels right, then you might want to choose a different card for them—something with softer more supportive language and design, with more focus on peace and hope, as opposed to “Festive Fun!” or “Merry Christmas” wishes.

Religious and Spiritual Messages  

For Christians, Christmas is a time of great spiritual meaning as they commemorate the birth of Jesus. So, if you’re writing a Christmas card for someone who celebrates the season in this way, incorporating religious elements into your message can make it feel more meaningful and personal. As previously mentioned, a more spiritual message focusing on peace and hope can also be a gentler way of sending wishes to those who may be struggling.

Examples

• Blessings to you this Christmas season.
• Celebrating the good news of Christmas and the blessing of knowing good people like you.
• Wishing you all the blessings of a wonderful Christmas time.
• Hope your Christmas is blessed with peace and happiness.
• Wishing joy to your world and peace to your heart this Christmas.
• Hope you feel all the blessings and love sent down from heaven on that first Christmas.
• Wishing worlds of joy and love to you and yours this Christmas.
• Wishing you a joy-filled Christmas season.
• Wishing you hope, peace, joy and love as you celebrate this Christmas.

For Professional Relationships  

Use your common sense when writing a Christmas card for someone you know in a professional context. If it’s a colleague you’re close to, you can be as casual in your message as you would with any other friend. If it’s a supervisor, a client or someone with whom you have a relationship that’s more formal, then keep your message more formal too.

Examples

• Season’s greetings and all the best to you in the year ahead.
• It’s a pleasure to work with you and even more to wish you a merry Christmas!
• Christmas is the perfect time to remind you how much we appreciate your business and wish you continued success in the year ahead.
• Hope you enjoy a festive season filled with the people and traditions you enjoy the most.
• You make work a lot less like work and more like a really fun place to be. Merry Christmas, and thanks for all you do!
• At Christmas time and all the time, I really appreciate all the great work you do.
• Wishing you some well-deserved rest and relaxation over the festive season. You’ve earned it!
• Wishing you all the comfort, joy and relaxation the Christmas holidays can bring.
• Hoping that the new year brings even more opportunities and possibilities for you.
• Warmest wishes for a wonderful festive season.

Writing tip: If you know that you and your colleague share similar religious views, feel free to incorporate that into your message. If they don’t (or if you don’t know), just steer clear.

Festive Fun 

For a lot of relationships, an overly sentimental or heartfelt message just wouldn’t feel right—and that’s totally fine! Sharing a laugh or a smile via a funny Christmas card can be just as special, and just as much of a celebration of your relationship, especially if you add your own lighthearted wishes too! This kind of message can also work really well for kids and teenagers!

Examples

• Hope your Christmas is totally Tree-riffic!
• Yule have a great Christmas. I just know it!
• Wishing you a most delightful, merry, and bright-ful festive season!
• May your stockings be stocked and your jingle bells rock. Merry Christmas!
• Remember, Santa is watching. Everything. Yes, even that. Anyway, Merry Christmas!
• Happy slow down and cozy up season! Hope yours is merry all the way.
• Wishing you all the joy, all the merry, all the treats this Christmas!”
• Hope your Christmas is fa-la-la-la-lawesome.
• Snow doubt about it, it’s going to be a very merry Christmas!

Sweet Sign-offs 

A sweet sign-off before your name is a must for the perfect Christmas greeting! Choose one of our list or come up with your own unique option.

• Warmest wishes at Christmas and always
• Merry Christmas!
• Hope and peace to you and yours
• Wishing you joy
• Happy Christmas
• Cosy wishes
• Peace and joy to you
• Joy to your world
• Blessings
• Christmas blessings
• Warm hugs

Writing tip: Our Hallmark writers also all agree that keeping it simple by closing with “Love,” for everyone on your list, no matter how close the relationship, can be a really good (and stress-free) way to go. After all, if ever there was a season all about the love, Christmas is it!