Say Wishes

What to Write in a Christmas Card: A Simple Guide

Short, specific ways to write a Christmas message that sounds like you, with ideas for family, friends, partners, colleagues and clients.

By Say Wishes. Updated 21 October 2026.

A Christmas card does not need to be long or clever. It needs to sound like you and to make the person feel remembered. The messages people keep are almost always the specific ones: a thank-you for something real, a memory only the two of you share, or a simple hope for their year.

Start with one real detail

Before you write anything, think of one true thing about the person. It might be a dinner you shared, a favor they did, a joke only you two get, or something they went through this year. Put that in the first sentence.

Compare “Wishing you a wonderful Christmas” with “I still think about the soup you brought over in March. I hope this Christmas is full of good food too.” The second takes ten seconds longer to write and means far more.

Keep it short

Two to four sentences is plenty. A long message can feel like a duty to read, while a short one feels like a warm hello. If you have more to say, say it in a call or a longer note and keep the card light.

Match the message to the person

Family and close friends. You can be warm and a little silly. Mention something you are looking forward to doing together, even if it is as small as a long walk or a board game.

Your partner. Say what you are grateful for in plain words. “Thank you for making our home the warmest place I know” is better than a rhyme.

Colleagues. Keep it kind and brief. Thank them for something specific, such as help on a project, and wish them a proper rest. Avoid jokes that depend on inside knowledge the whole team may not share.

Clients and customers. Be polite, sincere and short. Thank them for their trust, wish them a restful holiday and say you look forward to the year ahead. A personal line about something you worked on together stands out from a copied template.

Neighbors and acquaintances. A simple “Wishing you a peaceful Christmas” with your name is enough. The point is that you thought of them.

Merry Christmas or happy holidays?

If you know the person celebrates Christmas, “Merry Christmas” is warm and natural. If you are writing to a mixed group, such as a whole team or a long client list, “Happy holidays” or “Season’s greetings” is a friendly choice that includes everyone. When in doubt, write the version that matches how you would say it out loud to that person.

Things to avoid

  • Copying the same line for everyone. People can tell, especially in a group chat.
  • Making it about you. A card that is mostly an update on your year can read as a brag. Keep the focus on them.
  • Jokes that could sting. Skip humor about age, weight, relationships or money.
  • Leaving it blank. A signature alone is fine, but even one line makes it feel like a message.

A simple three-part formula

When you are stuck, try this order:

  1. Greeting. “Merry Christmas, Sam.”
  2. One specific thing. “Thank you for helping with the move. I could not have done it without you.”
  3. A wish for them. “I hope you get a calm few days and a very big slice of pie.”

When to send it

Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026. In England and Wales, Christmas Day is a bank holiday that Friday, and because Boxing Day (26 December) lands on a Saturday, the substitute bank holiday is Monday, 28 December, according to the UK government’s list of bank holidays.

For a posted card, send it early enough for the mail. For a digital wish, the timing is easier. The message plays when it is opened, not when it is sent, so you can send it any day in December. If you want it to be the first thing someone sees on the morning, send it late on Christmas Eve.

Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere

In Australia, Christmas falls in summer, so beach cricket and barbecues are as likely as roast dinners. A message that nods to that, such as “Hope your Christmas is sunny and your drinks are cold,” shows you know where the person is.

Try it on Say Wishes

If you would like your message to be a little more memorable, you can put it inside a snow globe and share it as one link. The person you send it to shakes the globe, or swipes across it to stir the snow, and your words appear. Browse the ready-made Christmas wishes for ideas, then change a few words to make one your own.

Try it