What to write in a Christmas card
Christmas cards travel further than almost any other card you send. They reach grandparents across the country, college roommates you talk to once a year, the neighbor who shovels your walk, and the clients who kept your business busy. Because the list is long, it is tempting to write the same line forty times. A small personal touch is what makes someone set your card on the mantel instead of the recycling.
A good Christmas message wishes the reader joy for the season, acknowledges the year that is ending, and points warmly toward the next one. Mention something real: the baby who arrived, the house you moved into, the visit you are planning. For work contacts, keep it gracious and grateful. The messages below are grouped so you can find the right tone quickly.
32 messages, each ready to drop into a card.
Short and sweet
Simple Christmas wishes that work for nearly anyone on your list.
For family
For the people you share traditions, recipes and holiday chaos with.
For friends
Catch-up notes for the friends you love but don't see nearly enough.
For clients and coworkers
Gracious, professional wishes that thank people for the year without overdoing it.
Tips for writing it
- Add one personal line to each card, even a quick one, so a long holiday list never feels like a form letter.
- Mention a highlight from the year, like a new home, a graduation or a trip, to show you were paying attention.
- For clients and coworkers, keep it grateful and general, and use 'happy holidays' if you are unsure what they celebrate.
- Sign every card from everyone in your household, and write out names so distant relatives know who has grown.
- Send digital cards by mid-December so they arrive before the rush and before people leave for holiday travel.
Make the card
Pick a design, choose what turns to gold, paste in your message and send it with a link. It is free and opens in any browser.
Questions
When should you send Christmas cards?
Aim to send Christmas cards in the first two weeks of December. That gives people time to enjoy them before the holiday and catches them before they travel. Digital cards arrive instantly, so you can send them a little later, but anything sent after Christmas Eve is usually better framed as a New Year greeting.
Should I write a personal note in every Christmas card?
Ideally, yes, even if it is a single sentence. A printed or shared greeting is fine as the main message, but one handwritten or typed line, such as a memory or a plan to visit, makes each card feel chosen. For business contacts, a short thank-you for the year counts as personal.