What to Write in a Christmas Card: Messages & Examples
Writing the Christmas card should be the easy part.
Then you open the card, stare at the blank space and somehow “Merry Christmas” becomes the only sentence you have ever known.
If you are stuck, use the examples below as a starting point and make them sound like you.
What should you write in a Christmas card?
A good Christmas message does not need to be long. In most cases, three parts are enough:
- Wish them a happy Christmas.
- Add one personal line.
- Finish with your name or a warm sign-off.
The personal line is the bit that turns a generic card into your card.
The easiest Christmas-card formula
“Merry Christmas” + one genuine sentence about them + “Love from…” is enough. You do not need to sound like a greeting-card company.
Short Christmas card messages
- Merry Christmas. Hope you have a brilliant few days and a very happy New Year.
- Wishing you a lovely Christmas and plenty of time to relax.
- Hope Christmas brings good food, good company and absolutely no alarms.
- Merry Christmas and all the best for the year ahead.
- Sending lots of love this Christmas. Enjoy every minute.
Christmas messages for Mum
- Merry Christmas Mum. Thank you for everything you do all year. Hope you get properly spoiled for once.
- Happy Christmas Mum. Looking forward to being together, eating too much and pretending nobody is stressed.
- To the person who makes Christmas feel like Christmas — thank you. Lots of love.
If you are still choosing her present, see our Christmas Gifts for Mum guide.
Christmas messages for Dad
- Merry Christmas Dad. Hope you get a quiet few days, plenty of good food and control of the remote.
- Happy Christmas Dad. Thanks for always being there when we need you.
- Wishing you a great Christmas and a very happy New Year. Love you lots.
Christmas messages for a partner
- Merry Christmas to my favourite person to do absolutely nothing with.
- Another Christmas together, and I still choose you — even when you steal the good chocolates.
- Thank you for making the ordinary bits of the year better. I love you. Merry Christmas.
Christmas messages for friends
- Merry Christmas. Very grateful for another year of friendship, bad advice and excellent stories.
- Hope you have a brilliant Christmas. Thanks for being one of the people who makes life more fun.
- Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a New Year with plenty of good things in it.
Christmas messages for a couple
- Merry Christmas to you both. Hope you have a lovely break and a brilliant New Year together.
- Wishing you both a Christmas full of good food, good books and very few obligations.
- Lots of love to you both this Christmas. Hope we get to see much more of you in the year ahead.
If you are buying one present for both, our Christmas gifts for couples guide may help.
Christmas messages when you cannot be there
- Wish we could be there with you this Christmas. Sending lots of love from afar.
- Christmas will not be quite the same without seeing you. Hope this brings a little piece of us to you.
- Thinking of you from across the miles and looking forward to the next time we are all together.
If you are ordering from abroad, our guide to sending a gift to someone in Ireland when you live abroad explains the process.
Christmas messages for someone having a difficult year
You do not need to force cheerfulness if the person has had a hard year. Keep the message warm and simple.
- Thinking of you especially this Christmas and sending lots of love.
- Wishing you a gentle Christmas and hoping the New Year brings easier days.
- No big words — just wanted you to know we are thinking of you and sending love.
Christmas messages for colleagues
- Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a well-earned break.
- Thanks for all your help this year. Have a great Christmas and New Year.
- It has been a pleasure working with you this year. Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas.
Christmas messages for a host
- Thank you for having us. We really appreciate it and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
- Thanks for making us feel so welcome. Merry Christmas — and thank you for doing all the hard work.
- A little something to say thank you. Hope you get a chance to put your feet up after we leave.
For present ideas, see what to bring when visiting someone at Christmas.
Christmas messages for grandparents
- Merry Christmas Granny and Grandad. Hope you have a lovely few days together. Sending lots of love.
- Happy Christmas. Thank you for all the stories, dinners and cups of tea throughout the year.
- Wish we could be there with you. Sending a big Christmas hug and looking forward to seeing you soon.
Christmas messages for a sister or brother
- Merry Christmas. Thanks for another year of being the only person who fully understands our family.
- Happy Christmas. Hope you get a proper break and at least one present you did not choose yourself.
- Lots of love this Christmas. Very lucky to have you, even if I rarely admit it.
Christmas messages for a teacher
- Thank you for everything you have done this term. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a well-earned break.
- Thank you for your patience, encouragement and hard work this year. Have a lovely Christmas.
- Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year. Thank you for all you do.
Christmas messages for employees or clients
- Thank you for your support throughout the year. Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas.
- With thanks for everything this year. We hope you have a restful Christmas and a great New Year.
- It has been a pleasure working with you this year. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the year ahead.
Christmas messages for someone grieving
Christmas can make a bereavement feel particularly difficult. You do not need to avoid mentioning the person who died if you know the recipient would appreciate their name being included.
- Thinking of you especially this Christmas and sending you lots of love.
- I know Christmas will feel different this year. We are thinking of you and remembering [Name] with you.
- No pressure to be festive. Just wanted you to know you are very much in our thoughts this Christmas.
Funny Christmas card messages
- Merry Christmas. May your batteries be included and your family debates be brief.
- Hope Santa brings you exactly what you wanted, or at least something with a receipt.
- Merry Christmas. Eat the good chocolates before anyone notices.
- Wishing you peace, joy and first choice of the leftovers.
How long should a Christmas card message be?
As long as it needs to be. A short message can feel far more genuine than a paragraph of borrowed phrases.
If the gift is being sent directly, mention why you chose it or what you hope they do with it. “For a quiet night with a book after the madness” is more personal than another line about festive cheer.
Can The Book Resort handwrite my Christmas message?
Yes. Every Book Resort hamper includes an Irish-designed card and your gift message is handwritten inside. No receipt or prices are included in the hamper, so it can be sent straight to the recipient.
Found the words? Send them with the gift.
Choose a Christmas hamper, add your message in the cart and we will handwrite it on the card before the gift leaves Waterford.
Christmas card message FAQs
What is a simple message to write in a Christmas card?
“Merry Christmas. Hope you have a lovely few days and a very happy New Year” is simple, warm and works for most people.
What should I write in a Christmas card to someone far away?
Mention that you are thinking of them and looking forward to seeing them again. A specific shared memory or future plan makes the message more personal.
What should I write when someone has had a difficult year?
Keep it gentle rather than overly cheerful. A simple “Thinking of you especially this Christmas and sending lots of love” can be enough.
Can I add a handwritten card to a Christmas hamper?
Yes. Add your message when ordering from The Book Resort and we will handwrite it inside the card included with the hamper.
