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Christmas and new year card.
What to write.

Name them, wish them a good Christmas and a better new year, then add something true of this year. That is the card done.

These Christmas and new year messages are sorted by who they are to you and what the card is really for.

Create a cardRead a sample card

Everyone's words in one card.

Updated

Marker lettering with a highlighter stroke. Well done. Please stop telling us about it. (Don't stop.)

Have a good one. You know where we are if you need us.

From Maya

Another December, and you are still in our thoughts. Happy Christmas.

From Dev

Happy Christmas. Have you been good? Don't answer that.

From Ellen

Pick a design

  • Pop congrats card. Congratulations.
  • Marker lettering. Congratulations. The rest of us are proud. "jealous" is crossed out and "proud" written above it.
  • Botanical congrats card. Congratulations.
  • A house. You're a homeowner. First job: find the stopcock.
  • A set of car keys. You passed. Mind the kerb.
  • A set of car keys and the words try one, try two, try three. Third time lucky. Congratulations.
  • A blue ribbon and cut-paper lettering. Congratulations.
  • Marker lettering with a highlighter stroke. Qualified. Officially clever now.
  • Two glasses. Well done, you. Have a proper night off.
  • A star. Top of the class.

The question

Each writer gets a question.

One at a time, about Sam. They answer in their own words, or write without one.

Who they are to you
  1. Something you saw Sam do to get here.
  2. The moment you knew Sam would manage it.
  3. Something Sam put up with on the way.
  4. A thing about Sam that made this no surprise.
  5. The part of this that was all Sam's own doing.
  6. Something you hope Sam will stop and enjoy.
  1. The moment you knew you had a proper friend in Sam.
  2. Something Sam did that only a friend would.
  3. A thing you still laugh about together.
  4. The time Sam turned up when it mattered.
  5. Something Sam knew about you before you said it.
  1. Something Sam did for the family that went unsaid.
  2. A habit of Sam's that you have caught yourself copying.
  3. A memory of Sam from when you were younger.
  4. Something Sam put up with from you.
  5. Something Sam taught you, mostly by example.
  1. A small thing Sam did that you noticed and never mentioned.
  2. The moment you knew.
  3. Something Sam did this year that made things easier for you.
  4. A thing about Sam you would not change.
  5. Something Sam carried that was yours to carry.
  1. The thing you go to Sam for.
  2. Something you picked up from working beside Sam.
  3. A bad day at work that Sam turned round.
  4. Something a new starter should be told about Sam.
  5. Something Sam did that made the job feel worth doing.

Or write without one.

Christmas and new year messages

Pick one, add their name, and sign.

For someone you see every week

  • Happy Christmas. See you for the usual between the days.

  • Merry Christmas and a very good new year. You made this one better.

  • Wishing you a lovely Christmas and a new year that starts well.

  • Have a good one. You know where we are if you need us.

  • To you and yours: happy Christmas and a very happy new year.

For someone you only write to at Christmas

  • Happy Christmas from our house to yours. A proper catch-up is long overdue.

  • Merry Christmas. Another year, same warm wishes from all of us to all of you.

  • Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a good new year. We think of you.

  • Another December, and you are still in our thoughts. Happy Christmas.

  • A happy Christmas and new year to you. We should do better at keeping in touch.

For children

  • Happy Christmas. Have you been good? Don't answer that.

  • Merry Christmas to our favourite person in your house. Enjoy every minute.

  • Wishing you a Christmas full of good things and a new year full of more.

  • Hope the presents are everything you asked for and the chocolate lasts till Tuesday.

Funny

  • Merry Christmas. Another year of pretending to enjoy sprouts.

  • Happy Christmas. May your presents be everything you hinted at and nothing you didn't.

  • Wishing you a merry Christmas and a new year with fewer Mondays in it.

  • Christmas is the easy bit. January is coming, but we don't have to mention that yet.

  • Another year done. You made it through, which is the main thing.

New year focus

  • Whatever last year brought, I hope the next one treats you better.

  • Happy new year. Here is to doing less of what we don't want and more of what we do.

  • Wishing you a new year that surprises you in the best way.

  • A good new year is what you deserve. I think this one delivers.

  • Here is to a new year that is quieter, kinder, and a bit warmer than this one.

What to leave out

Do not fill the card with wishes you don't mean. A true word about their actual year beats five warm-sounding greetings you could have sent to anyone.

Do not mention anything difficult that happened to them this year unless you are very close. A Christmas card is not the place to revisit it.

Do not open with 'hope this finds you well'. It is filler, and they can feel it.

Do not say 'as another year draws to a close'. It reads like a newsletter, not a card from a person.

One card from everyone

Friends, family, whoever is on the list. One link. It opens on Christmas morning.

  1. 01

    Set Christmas Day as the date.

    The card opens that morning and not before. Nobody reads it early.

  2. 02

    Share one link.

    By group chat or message. Each person writes once and signs with their name.

  3. 03

    They read it on the day.

    Every message in one place, each one signed. They keep it.

Create a card

Questions

What do you write in a Christmas and new year card?

Wish them a merry Christmas, add one thing that is true of their year, and sign. Two sentences is plenty.

Should a Christmas card mention the new year too?

If you only send one card a year, yes. A few extra words cover the whole season.

Is it too late to send a Christmas card after Christmas?

A new year card sent in the first week of January is perfectly fine. Say happy new year and leave Christmas out of it.

Part of group congratulations card.

More guides

Somebody has a day coming up.

Create a card

Everyone's words in one card.