What to Write in a Christmas Card: 100+ Christmas Card Messages

What to write in a Christmas card: a warm greeting, one personal line and a wish for the year ahead. Two or three sentences is plenty. Below are 100+ Christmas card messages sorted by who you're writing to, ready to use as they are.

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Jump to: Short · Family · Friends · Partner · Work, school and neighbours · Funny · Religious · Season's greetings · Photo cards · A hard Christmas · Sign-offs · FAQs

Short Christmas card messages

1. Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
2. Wishing you a cosy Christmas and a gentle start to the new year.
3. Merry Christmas! Hope Santa finds you easily this year.
4. Peace, rest and good food this Christmas.
5. Thinking of you this Christmas.
6. Warmest wishes for the holidays.
7. Wishing you a merry little Christmas.
8. Have a wonderful Christmas, and save me a slice of cake.
9. Here's to slow mornings and full plates. Merry Christmas.
10. Merry Christmas from our house to yours.
11. May your Christmas be bright and your new year brighter.
12. Sending love and festive cheer your way.
13. Hope your Christmas is full of the good stuff.
14. Wishing you joy this Christmas and all through next year.
15. Happy Christmas! Let's make next year the one we finally catch up.

Short lines work best on a personalised photo Christmas card, where your favourite photo from the year fills the front.

Writing your own? Start with a greeting, add one line about the person or your year, then wish them something for the new year. If you're not sure someone celebrates Christmas, "Season's greetings" is always safe.

Christmas card messages for family

16. Merry Christmas, Mum and Dad. Thank you for every Christmas you made feel like magic, even the ones that weren't easy.
17. To my wonderful grandma, Merry Christmas. Your kitchen will always be what Christmas smells like to me.
18. Merry Christmas to the best brother a sister could argue with.
19. To my sister: thank you for always saving me the last roast potato. Merry Christmas.
20. We're sorry we can't be with you this year, but you'll be at our table in every way that counts.
21. Merry Christmas to our favourite aunt and uncle. Thank you for always making room for us.
22. To [name] and the whole family, wishing you a Christmas full of noise and laughter.
23. Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa. The kids can't wait to show you everything they've made this year.
24. Christmas isn't the same without everyone around one table. Can't wait until we're together again.
25. To our son and his family: Merry Christmas. We're proud of you every single day.
26. Merry Christmas to our daughter. Thank you for coming home, even if it's mostly for the food.
27. To my in-laws: thank you for welcoming me into the family. Merry Christmas from all of us.

For grandparents far away, add a family photo calendar so they see the grandchildren every month of the new year.

Christmas card messages for friends

28. Merry Christmas to the friend who's basically family by now.
29. Another year of voice notes and terrible advice. I wouldn't trade it. Merry Christmas.
30. Merry Christmas, [name]. This year was better because you were in it.
31. To my favourite person to eat too much with: Merry Christmas.
32. Wishing you a Christmas as fun as that night we [your inside joke].
33. Miles apart, still close. Merry Christmas, friend.
34. Merry Christmas! Let's not wait until next December to catch up properly.
35. Thank you for being the friend who always shows up. Have a lovely Christmas.
36. To my partner in crime at every Secret Santa: Merry Christmas.
37. Here's to another year of us. Merry Christmas.
38. Merry Christmas to my favourite gym buddy. Enjoy the rest days, you've earned them.
39. You make every season brighter, but especially this one. Merry Christmas.

Christmas card messages for a partner

40. Merry Christmas, my love. You're still my favourite gift.
41. Every Christmas with you feels like home.
42. To my partner in Christmas chaos: thank you for wrapping the presents I forgot.
43. Our [first / fifth / tenth] Christmas together and I still can't believe my luck.
44. Merry Christmas to the person who steals the duvet and my heart.
45. All I want for Christmas is you. And maybe a lie-in.
46. This year had its ups and downs, and you held my hand through all of them. Merry Christmas.
47. Here's to many more Christmases on the same sofa.

Want the card to come with something bigger? A photo book of your year together puts every trip and ordinary Sunday in one place.

Christmas card messages for work, school and neighbours

In mixed teams, "Season's greetings" and "Happy holidays" include everyone.

48. Season's greetings and best wishes for the new year.
49. Wishing you and your family a restful Christmas and a happy new year.
50. Thank you for being such a great part of the team this year. Enjoy the break.
51. Merry Christmas! Hope you get a proper rest with your inbox switched off.
52. Thank you for your support this year. Wishing you a happy holiday season and a successful new year.
53. To the best desk neighbour: thanks for the snacks and the patience. Merry Christmas.
54. Happy holidays from all of us at [company name]. We're grateful to work with you.
55. Dear [teacher's name], thank you for making this year so special for [child's name]. Merry Christmas.
56. Thank you for your patience this term, and for all the glitter you tidied up. Have a lovely Christmas.
57. Merry Christmas to the best neighbours on the street. Thank you for keeping an eye on things.
58. Thank you for taking our parcels in all year. Merry Christmas!
59. To our wonderful helper: thank you for everything you do for our family. Merry Christmas.

Sending to a whole team? Put your team photo on a personalised Christmas card instead of a box of shop-bought ones.

Funny Christmas card messages

60. Merry Christmas! May your Wi-Fi be strong and your family debates short.
61. Eat, drink and be merry. Loosen your belt before dessert.
62. Dear Santa, I can explain.
63. Merry Christmas from the people who never took last year's decorations down.
64. Hope your Christmas is merry and your trousers have stretch.
65. This card is your present. Just kidding. Mostly.
66. Merry Christmas! Don't tell Santa what you did in March.
67. Celebrating Christmas in 32 degrees again. Pass the ice cream.
68. Our tree is up and our budget is down. Merry Christmas!
69. Wishing you a Christmas with more naps than emails.
70. Calories don't count in December. That's the law.
71. We're sending this card instead of a group chat update. You're welcome.

Religious Christmas card messages

For people who celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas.

72. May the peace of Christ be with you this Christmas and always.
73. Wishing you the hope and joy of Christmas.
74. "For unto us a child is born." Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
75. Praying for a peaceful Christmas for you and your family.
76. May the light of Christmas fill your home and your heart.
77. Celebrating the birth of Jesus with you in our hearts. Merry Christmas.
78. May God bless you and your family this Christmas and in the new year.
79. Remembering the reason for the season, and the people we share it with.

Season's greetings and non-religious messages

80. Season's greetings and warm wishes for the new year.
81. Happy holidays! Hope the end of the year brings you plenty of rest.
82. Wishing you a joyful festive season, however you celebrate.
83. Thinking of you at the end of a big year. Happy holidays.
84. Warm wishes for a peaceful break and a happy new year.
85. Wishing you good food and a good long rest this holiday season.
86. Happy holidays from our family to yours.
87. Here's to the end of one year and the start of a great one.

Messages for a Christmas photo card

When the front is a family photo, keep the inside short and playful.

88. Merry Christmas from the [family name] family! (Yes, the dog is wearing antlers again.)
89. From our crew to yours: Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
90. Love, joy and one very blurry photo. Merry Christmas from all of us.
91. Our year in one photo: happy, a bit tired, very grateful.
92. Three of us became four this year. Meet [baby's name], and Merry Christmas!
93. New house, same chaos. Merry Christmas from our new address.
94. Bigger kids, greyer hair, same love. Merry Christmas!
95. This year took us from [place] to [place]. Next year, hopefully to your door.
96. We tried for a nice photo. This is the best we got. Merry Christmas!
97. Merry Christmas from [names] and [pet's name], who would like it noted that he sat still for this photo.

Our personalised photo Christmas cards are folded cards in 5" x 7" or 8" x 11", printed on thick fine art card, and every order comes with a matching envelope.

Messages for someone having a hard Christmas

Keep it gentle and skip the "merry".

98. Thinking of you this Christmas and sending all my love.
99. I know this Christmas is a hard one. I'm here whenever you need me.
100. Missing [name] with you this Christmas. Sending love and a big hug.
101. No need for "merry" this year. Just know you're in my thoughts.
102. However you spend Christmas this year, you're not alone. Call me any time.

Christmas card sign-offs

• With love,
• Warmest wishes,
• Love and hugs,
• Season's greetings from,
• All the best for the new year,
• Cheers to next year,
• With love from all of us at number [house number],
• Lots of love from [names] and [pet's name],
• Until next Christmas,
• Merry everything,

Card sorted? Now the present

Still need something to go with your card? Browse personalised Christmas gifts made from your own photos, from photo books to calendars. Running out of time? A gift card arrives by email, so it's never late.

For more Christmas gift ideas and offers, sign up for our emails at the bottom of this page.

Frequently asked questions

What are some good Christmas card wishes?

A good Christmas card wish is warm and specific: "Merry Christmas, [name]. This year was better because you were in it." Pair a greeting with one line about the person, then wish them something for the new year.

What are some short and sweet Christmas wishes?

"Merry Christmas from our house to yours", "Thinking of you this Christmas" and "Peace, rest and good food this Christmas" all fit in one line. They suit work cards, gift tags and photo cards.

How do you wish someone a Merry Christmas in a unique way?

Mention something only they would recognise, like a memory from this year or an inside joke. A photo of the two of you on the front makes it even more personal.

What do you write in a Christmas card for someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas?

Use "Season's greetings" or "Happy holidays" and focus on the new year: "Warm wishes for a peaceful break and a happy new year."

Make this year's card one they keep

The cards that stay on the shelf past New Year usually have a photo on them. Add your favourite photo from the year and your message to a personalised Christmas photo card, and it arrives with a matching envelope, ready to send. Order early so it arrives in time for Christmas.

Need words for the photo itself? Try our 120+ Christmas captions.