How to Write a Christmas Card from the Whole Family

A card from the whole family is a small thing that people keep. It tells grandparents, relatives and friends that you thought of them as a household, and it can carry a year of news in a few lines. This guide helps you write one that sounds like your family and takes ten minutes, not an evening. Writing to one person? See what to write in a Christmas card.

Decide who the card is from

Before you write, decide who is signing. Some families sign with the family name, such as “The Taylors”. Others list everyone: “Mia, Leo, Mom and Dad”. Use whichever your readers are used to. If the card goes to people who know the household well, first names are warm. If it goes to colleagues or neighbors, a family name is simpler. Either way, use first names only.

Write in “we”

The card is from all of you, so write “we” and “our”. A sentence such as “We hope your Christmas is warm” is friendlier than “I hope”. If one person is doing the typing, check that the others would be happy with the words. A good test is to read it aloud at the table, and see whether anyone would change a line.

Try it: build a family card

Type over the examples to see a short card from the whole family.

Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa! We have had a busy year: Leo started school and Mia learned to swim. We miss you and cannot wait to see you soon. All our love, The Taylors

Put it in a music box card

Choose one job for the message

A family card usually does one of three jobs. It can say thank you for the year, share a little news, or say that you wish you could be together. Pick one. A card that tries to do all three becomes a letter. If you want to add news, keep it to one or two lines, such as a new school, a new house or a new baby, and leave the rest for the phone call.

Keep the news light and kind

Share what you would happily say to anyone at a party. Good news is welcome, but long lists of achievements can read as boasting. Hard news, such as an illness or a loss, is better told in a call or a personal note than in a card that may be read by many people. If you do mention a difficult year, keep it brief, and end on something warm.

Think about privacy

A link can be forwarded, so write only what you would be comfortable having read by someone you do not know. Leave out addresses, phone numbers, children’s schools and travel dates. If a child’s name is on the card, first names are enough.

What goes in the card

✓ Share

• Good news you would tell anyone at a party
• First names
• One thing you miss about being together
• A warm line to end on

✕ Leave out

• Long lists of achievements
• Hard news such as an illness or a loss
• Addresses, phone numbers and children's schools
• Travel dates

Messages for different people

Grandparents. Say that you miss them, mention one thing the children have been up to, and say when you will see them next.

Aunts, uncles and cousins. Keep it playful. A joke about the family board game or who burns the dinner is part of the tradition.

Friends and neighbors. Say thank you for the year and wish them a happy new one. A line about something you shared, such as a barbecue or a school run, makes it personal.

People far away. Say what you will be doing on Christmas Day and promise a call. Mention one thing you miss about being together.

Try it: pick who it is for

Use one as it is, or swap in a detail from your own family.

Grandparents

Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa! We have decorated the tree the way you showed us, and Leo has put the star on crooked again. We miss you so much. All our love, The Taylors.

Merry Christmas! Mia drew you a picture, and the whole house smells of the cinnamon rolls you taught us to make. We will see you in the new year. Love from all of us.

Aunts, uncles and cousins

Merry Christmas to our favorite cousins! Same time next year for the board game, and this time we are not letting Dad keep the banker's hat. Love, The Taylors.

Merry Christmas, Aunt Rosa and Uncle Ben! Thank you for the best summer, and for teaching Leo to fish. See you soon, from all of us.

Friends and neighbors

Merry Christmas from all of us at number nine! Thank you for the barbecues, the borrowed ladder and the year of good company. Happy new year, The Taylors.

Wishing you a warm and happy Christmas. Thank you for always waving from the porch, and for making our street feel like home.

Far away

Merry Christmas! We will have the tree lit and the music box playing, and we wish you were here. We will call on Christmas Day. All our love, The Taylors.

Thinking of you this Christmas. The kids made your favorite cookies, and we saved you a plate. Call you soon, from all of us.

Wind the music box

Keep it short

Three or four sentences are enough. A short card is read in a few seconds and more likely to be read twice. If you have more to say, write it on a postcard or save it for the phone.

Before you send it

• We know who is signing it.
• It is written in we and our.
• It does one job: thanks, news or missing you.
• Any news is one or two light lines.
• It has no private details, because anyone with the link can read it.
• We read it aloud at the table and nobody wanted to change a line.

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When to send it

Any time in December works. Because the music box plays when the link is opened, not when it is sent, you can share it early and the person will still get the surprise. A card sent on Christmas morning feels extra personal. If someone does not celebrate Christmas, a short warm note about the winter break is kinder than a card with a religious message.

A short example

Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa! We have decorated the tree the way you showed us, and Leo has put the star on crooked again. We miss you so much and we cannot wait to see you in the new year. All our love, The Taylors.

Try it on Say Wishes

You can wind the key of a little music box and share your card as one link with the Christmas Card from the Family tool. Browse the ready-made family card messages for ideas, or see more ways to send a wish on the Christmas and winter page.