80 holiday and Christmas card messages to send now

Nothing makes the holiday season merrier than a personalized card from a loved one, whether it’s a funny message or a religious greeting. Christmas card messages are a festive way to wish friends, family, business partners, clients, and significant others good tidings and share holiday cheer. Whether you’re writing paper cards or sending digital Christmas cards, we’ve got some sample holiday card messages that spread the love and joy of the season.

What to write in a Christmas card

Before writing your holiday card messages, think about who you’re sending them to. Your recipient list often impacts the length, tone, and style of your Christmas card wording. 

Consider the elements below that follow Christmas card etiquette before drafting your holiday messages. And if you’re sending Christmas cards to colleagues or employees this year, check out a specific selection of business holiday card messages that spread love, peace, and joy in a professional tone.

• Keep it short: Quick messages are best for acquaintances, coworkers, and distant relatives on your Christmas card list. These messages range from one to two sentences but still leave a smile on the recipient’s face.
• Make it sincere: Heartfelt messages are a good option for partners, close friends, and close family members. A sincere message expresses love and gratitude for the person—and may even inspire a tear or two. 
• Add a photo or multiples: Use photo cards, or add a Photo Gallery Block to any digital holiday card to show off your pictures from the past year. For a more thorough retrospective, send out a heartwarming year in review.
• Sign your card: Make sure to include a fond closing, such as “Holiday wishes” or “Peace and love” before typing your name.

Holiday card sayings for your partner

If the best gift this year is on the couch next to you—rather than under the tree—let them know. Use our Christmas card message suggestions to let your partner know just how much you love them, either with heartfelt language or humor. The message can be short and sweet or longer and more specific to the life you share. 

1. All I want for Christmas is you! 
2. I’m so happy to spend the holidays with you.
3. Meet me under the mistletoe.
4. You’re the only gift I need this year (but buy me a present anyway).
5. Who cares if it’s snowing outside? Your love keeps me warm all year long.
6. I’d wish you peace and joy this year, but you’ve given me so much of both already. Our relationship is the most special gift I could ever receive.
7. It’s only the most wonderful time of the year because I get to spend it with you. I can’t wait to wake up on Christmas morning and share the magic with my favorite person!
8. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than cuddled up in front of our Christmas tree with you. Thanks for making the holidays such a special time. I love you!
9. This Christmas, I reflect on how lucky I am to have you in my life. Our love story is the best gift of all—and it’s nowhere near the end. I’m so happy to live happily ever after with you!
10. Forget the gifts under the tree. The only wrapping I want is your arms around me, and I want to stay there long after Christmas is over.

Holiday card messages for family

We’ve got two words for a surefire Christmas card for family: photo cards. Once they’ve finished swooning over cute pictures of you, your pets, or your children, they’ll move on to your sweet Christmas card message—which can either briefly reflect how much you care about them, or be a little longer to share a heartfelt story. Depending on your relationship with your family, your tone can range from formal to funny.

11. Happy holidays to my beloved family.
12. The best gift you’ve given me is our time together.
13. Let’s eat, drink, and be merry—as only our family can do!
14. We wish we could be together this Christmas!
15. Having the love of such a special family is all the gift we need.
16. We had a wonderful year, and so much of it was with our wonderful family. We love you and can’t wait to celebrate the holidays with you!
17. As we reflect during this special time, we think about how many happy memories we have—and how many of them are with you. Thank you for being such an inspiration, year after year.
18. You’ve always been the heart of our holidays, and I’m honored to pass down the traditions you taught us. My Christmas memories are infused with love because of your special influence on my life.
19. Being in our family is the greatest gift of all. We may not be perfect, but I wouldn’t change a thing about us. Looking forward to spending the holidays with you!
20. Whenever I think about being home for the holidays, a smile comes to my face. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me this year and during my entire life.

Holiday card messages for friends

When it comes to writing Christmas card messages to your friends, you can get a little playful. Like you would with family, let your friends know you miss them and wish them well if you haven’t seen them much this year.

Make plans to catch up sometime in the future. And in addition to the sayings, get playful with graphics. A nod to boozy merrymaking or a bold text-only design can truly speak to your friends and the humor you share.

21. Good tidings from the [your surname] Family!
22. Let’s deck the halls together this year!
23. Wishing you peace and love this holiday season, and all year long.
24. Hot cocoa, Christmas movies, and lots of laughs—sounds like a plan to me!
25. Have a holly jolly Christmas and a happy New Year!
26. Santa may know that we’ve been naughty, but our times together are always so nice! Happy holidays and thanks for the unforgettable moments this year.
27. This time of year is so special because we get to spend it together! Thanks for being there for me in the hard moments and celebrating with me in the good ones. 
28. Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and many blessings for the coming year. I’m so grateful you’re in my life.
29. May your holidays be filled with love, laughter, and warm memories to carry you through the rest of the cold winter months. 
30. Season’s greetings from our family to yours! We love having you in our lives and we carry you in our hearts all year round.

Religious Christmas card messages

If you’re looking to lift spirits this year, messages of faith, joy, peace, and goodwill to all are always welcome. How religious you want to be is up to you, from “Glory to God” to “Peace on Earth.” 

Christmas card etiquette suggests it’s best not to send overtly religious Christmas cards to anyone who does not share your faith, but use your judgment on what’s best for your greeting to include.

31. May the blessings of the season shine down on you and your family.
32. Peace, joy, and goodwill to you and yours.
33. Joy to the world—the Lord has come!
34. The gift of faith is truly the greatest gift of all. 
35. God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas.
36. This season, we remember Christ’s birth and his legacy to all the Earth. May we carry His love to every corner of our lives.
37. May the wonder of the first Christmas surround you as you celebrate this special time with friends and family.
38. When I count my blessings, you are first among them. Thank you for your love and kindness this year, and prayers for a bountiful year to come.
39. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on Earth! Blessings and prayers for a beautiful holiday season.
40. Let the spirit of Christmas light your way as you celebrate the true reason for the season.

Funny Christmas card sayings

The holidays are certainly a time for messages of love and peace, but who says you can’t do that with a little humor as well? From the clever to all-out silly, there are so many ways to liven up your funny Christmas cards with wordplay, relatable sentiment, or cheeky graphics. If you’re the kind of personality that loves a good pun, there is no shortage of funny Christmas card ideas.

41. Have your “elf” a merry little Christmas!
42. First we sleigh, then we Cabernet!
43. On Christmas, all I need is your presence. Sorry, I meant “presents.”
44. Best wishes for a silent night (yeah, right).
45. Cheers to another Christmas where we keep saying we’ll get together and just never do.
46. You may have resting Grinch face, but I love you anyway. Hopefully, your heart grows those extra three sizes this year. 
47. You’re welcome for the greatest gift you’ve ever received: another year with me.
48. You light up my life like no one else can. Sorry, I wasn’t talking to you—I was talking to my Christmas tree.
49. What do you mean, all you got from me was this card? Did the iPad get lost in the mail? Oops.
50. May your cocoa be strong enough to survive the holidays. (And if it’s not, add some extra Christmas cheer.)

Christmas card quotes and inspirational messages

Inspire people to look to the new year with positivity and to cherish those around them. From classic Christmas lyrics to iconic quotes from film and music, some Christmas card sayings are the right choice for anyone on your list. 

51. “Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp!” – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss
52. “Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.” – Helen Steiner Rice
53. “Christmas enters, streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope, and singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.” – “Amazing Peace” by Maya Angelou
54. “Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” – “Miracle on 34th Street”
55. “Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
56. “What is Christmas? It is the tenderness of the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future.” – Agnes M. Pahro
57. “Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” – “The Polar Express”
58. “Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room.” – Nora Roberts
59. “I love the Christmas-tide, and yet, I notice this each year I live; I always like the gifts I get, but how I love the gifts I give!” – Carolyn Wells
60. “We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

Short and sweet holiday card wishes

And of course, after your Christmas message, don’t forget to add your signature! You can add personality with every line of the card, even your name. You can add your sign-off into your template, or hand-write it at the bottom. Sign off as a family, or list everyone’s names out individually. You can even add the ages of your kids (and pets) if you like. These are our go-to’s:

61. Warmest wishes
62. Season’s greetings
63. Joy & peace
64. Happy Holidays
65. Joy and good cheer
66. Love & warmth
67. Sending our love
68. Merry Christmas to you
69. Joy & Cheer
70. Merry Everything
71. Peace on Earth
72. Holiday cheer
73. Warmest holiday greetings
74. Be merry & bright
75. All the best
76. Sending our best to you and yours
77. With love
78. With snow much love
79. Warmest wishes
80. Until next year

Say Happy Holidays with Paperless Post

Whatever Christmas message you choose this holiday season—from funny to traditional—we know the people in your life will be happy to hear from you. You can also follow our guide to Christmas card trends to make sure your cards are on point this season.

Custom holiday cards

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