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It’s nearly that time of year again, and we’ll soon be decking the halls, wrapping presents and celebrating with loved ones. So, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas cards. Cards are all about spreading warm wishes and cheer during the festive season, so whether you’re sending them out to family or friends, here are some ideas for what to write when you’re staring at that blank page.
Here, we’ll cover:
- Christmas card messages for family & friends
- Funny Christmas card messages
- Christmas card messages for pet parents
- New Year’s-inspired messages
- Tips for signing your Christmas card
Christmas card messages for family
When sending cards to family members, making it personal is what’s important. The festive season can be an emotional one, so it’s a good time of year to come together and spread messages of love and cheer. This means it’s also okay to be a little cheesy – because when else can you get away with it?
Modern life means that families may be spread further apart, so sending a Christmas card is an opportunity to catch up, reconnect and let people know you’re thinking of them. Here are some Christmas card messages your family members are sure to love:
- Thinking of you this Christmas. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
- It’s time for mulled wine, candles, cakes, songs, reindeer, carols, laughter — and most importantly, LOVE.
- Sending love and good wishes, even from far away.
- Family like you is the greatest Christmas gift of all.
- Together is our favourite place to be. We can’t wait to see you soon!
Christmas card messages for friends
Cards sent out to friends can be the most fun to write. If you’re wondering how to write a Christmas card to a close friend, include a fun message or something that’s tailored specifically to them. If you’re sending cards to colleagues or acquaintances, you can keep your message more generic.
- May your Christmas be joyful.
- Joy and peace to you and yours.
- Peace in your world. Love in your home. Joy in your heart.
- Wishing you a happy and healthy Christmas.
- Wishing you a Christmas that’s merry and bright.
- May the festive season bring you the music of laughter and the warmth of friendship.
- Joy to you and yours.
Funny Christmas card messages
Want to make someone smile the moment they open your Christmas card? Include a funny Christmas message that’s lighthearted, personal and sure to elicit a chuckle. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Merry Christmas! I hope Santa left you some wine.
- Merry Christmas! I hope Santa brings you a new puppy.
- Eat, drink and be merry!
- Christmas is a time to cherish what’s important — friends, family, and food!
- Christmas is the season when you buy this year’s gifts with next year’s money.
- We tried our best.
- Getting this picture was a Christmas miracle.
- Dear Father Christmas: We can explain.
- Sorry we dropped the ball this Christmas. Happy New Year!
Christmas card messages for pet parents
If someone on your Christmas card list is a proud parent to a cat or dog (or any other animal!), add a note for their furry friend.
- Santa Claws is coming to town.
- Here comes Santa Paws!
- Meowy Christmas!
- Merry Woofmas!
- May your days be furry and bright.
- Happy Mew Year!
- Bark Humbug!
- Cold noses, warm wishes.
- Peace, love and belly rubs.
- Unleash the joy of the season!
- May your days be meowy and bright
- We “Woof” You a Merry Christmas
- Barkin’ around the Christmas tree
Christmas card wishes for the New Year
Maybe you were a little late sending out Christmas cards this year, but not to worry! Include a message about the New Year and no one will be any the wiser. Here are some to give you some inspiration:
- Love, cheer and Happy New Year.
- Wishing you a New Year filled with peace and love.
- May your New Year be filled with cheer.
- Cheers to the New Year.
Milestone Christmas card messages
A lot can happen in a year. And if you celebrated a major milestone in 2022, share it with your loved ones in a Christmas card message. Whether you welcomed a new addition to your family or moved to a new city, here are some sample messages to inspire you:
- Married Christmas
- Merry & Married
- Married & Bright
- Warm Christmas wishes from the future Mr. & Mrs.
- Merry, bright & engaged!
- Even more to be grateful for this year! Warmest wishes from our growing family to yours.
- Father Christmas came early! Happy Christmas from our newest addition
- The more, the merrier! Baby’s first Christmas
- There’s a new name on the nice list!
- A new home for Christmas.
- Oh, what a year!
How to sign Christmas cards
Once you’ve made sure your message is free of spelling and grammatical errors, sign off with an appropriate closing. Here are a few sign-off phrases you can use:
- Wishing you joy,
- Love always,
- Warmest wishes,
- All our love,
- With love,
- Thinking of you,
- Peace and joy,
- Love always,
Correct Christmas card grammar
Here are a few Christmas card grammar tips to make sure your Christmas cards are in tip-top shape.
1. Pluralise your last name correctly.
Many people struggle with pluralising their last name. Some add extra letters or an errant apostrophe.
But never fear — the rules are actually pretty straightforward.
How to pluralise your last name:
| LAST LETTER(S) OF LAST NAME | WHAT SHOULD YOU ADD TO MAKE IT PLURAL? | DOES IT NEED AN APOSTROPHE? |
|---|---|---|
| a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h (see exceptions below), i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, t, u, v, w, y | -s | No |
| s, x, z, ch, sh | -es | No |
2. Know when to use apostrophes (and when not to).
Apostrophes are used for one reason: to denote possession (Sarah’s car, the kids’ toys, the Johnsons’ annual party). Never use an apostrophe to pluralise a name.
How and when to make your last name possessive:
| Why would I do this? | If you’re describing something that belongs to your whole family (e.g. your house). |
| How do I do this? | Pluralise your last name (using the rules above), then add an apostrophe at the end. |
| Wait, the apostrophe goes after the whole name, even the pluralisation? | Yes |
| Give me two examples. | ‘Party this Sunday at the Joneses’ House’ and ‘Don’t forget to move the Dicksons’ car’. |
3. Brush up on your grammar skills.
No need to dust off your old textbooks just yet — this quick chart makes the rules of grammar, capitalisation and punctuation simple to follow.
Christmas card grammar:
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Please RSVP | RSVP | ‘RSVP’ is short for ‘répondez s’il vous plait’, which means ‘please respond’ in French. Saying ‘please’ is repetitive in this use. |
| ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Happy Hanukkah’ | ‘merry Christmas’ and ‘happy Hanukkah’ | Adjectives describing nouns shouldn’t be capitalised unless they start sentences. |
| Tis the season | ‘Tis the season | ‘’Tis’ is a contraction of ‘it is’ and needs an apostrophe, just like ‘it’s’. |
| Hi John | Hi, John | When addressing a note, use a comma after ‘hi’ but not after ‘dear’. |
| Dear, John | Dear John | Same as above. |
| ‘New Years Day’ and ‘seasons greetings’ | ‘New Year’s Day’ and ‘season’s greetings’ | In these phrases, ‘new Year’s’ and ‘season’s’ are possessive and need apostrophes. |
