1. tbf
  2. group congratulations card
  3. Christmas card

Christmas card.
What to write.

Wish them a merry Christmas, add a few words about their year, and sign with love. A Christmas card with something specific about them beats ten printed ones.

The messages are sorted by who they are to you. Pick your group, add a detail, then sign.

Create a cardRead a sample card

Everyone's words in one card.

Updated

A rosette. Well done. We're so proud of you.

Wishing you peace and cake in equal measure. Merry Christmas.

From Joe

Merry Christmas. Thank you for being my person this year.

From Priya

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

From Kofi

Pick a design

  • Two glasses. Congratulations. Pop something.
  • Marker lettering. Congratulations. The rest of us are proud. "jealous" is crossed out and "proud" written above it.
  • A set of car keys. Congratulations on passing. Can we have a lift?
  • A speech bubble. Congratulations. You're the talk of the group chat.
  • Two-colour printed lettering. Congratulations on the new job. Your old lot are gutted.
  • A trophy. Well done. Genuinely.
  • A set of car keys and the words try one, try two, try three. Third time lucky. Congratulations.
  • A set of car keys. You passed. Mind the kerb.
  • A celebratory poster. Congratulations.
  • Two-colour printed lettering. Congratulations. You made it look easy. It wasn't.

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 card messages

Pick your group, add something about their year, and sign.

For family

  • Merry Christmas. Thank you for a year of Sunday lunches and good advice.

  • Wishing you a merry Christmas and a quiet New Year. Love from all of us.

  • Merry Christmas, Mum and Dad. See you on the 25th, and I am bringing pudding.

  • To the whole family: merry Christmas. May the turkey be moist and the arguments short.

  • Merry Christmas. Distance means nothing when the card arrives on time.

  • Wishing you peace and cake in equal measure. Merry Christmas.

For friends

  • Merry Christmas. Thank you for being my person this year.

  • Wishing you a merry Christmas and a 2027 with fewer group chat arguments.

  • Merry Christmas. Let us raise a glass to surviving this year.

  • To my dearest friend: merry Christmas. You made my year better.

  • Merry Christmas. Same pub, same table, first week of January.

  • Wishing you mince pies, lie-ins and no small talk. Merry Christmas.

For neighbours and colleagues

  • Merry Christmas. Lovely having you next door this year.

  • Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. From number 12.

  • Merry Christmas. Thank you for taking the parcels in all year.

  • Happy Christmas. Hope the new year is kind to you both.

  • Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Funny

  • Merry Christmas. I have eaten my weight in Quality Street and I regret nothing.

  • All I want for Christmas is for you to stop singing that song.

  • Merry Christmas. Diet starts January. Pudding starts now.

  • Dear Santa: define nice. Merry Christmas.

  • Merry Christmas. May your batteries be included and your in-laws be brief.

Short

  • Merry Christmas. Much love.

  • Wishing you a merry Christmas.

  • Happy Christmas to you all.

  • Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

  • Peace and joy. Merry Christmas.

What to leave out

Do not write a round robin of your year unless they would want it. A few words about them beat a page about you.

Do not sign only your surname. Christmas cards from people you cannot place go straight in the bin.

Do not write about dieting, money or politics. It is Christmas. Wish them well.

One card from everyone

The family across three cities and the old friends. One link, and it opens on Christmas morning.

  1. 01

    Add Christmas Day.

    The card opens that morning and not before.

  2. 02

    Ask everyone.

    Each person gets one link and writes once, in a browser.

  3. 03

    They read it before presents.

    Every Christmas message, each with a name under it.

Create a card

Questions

What do you write in a Christmas card?

Merry Christmas, a few words about their year, and your name. That part about their year is what makes it a card and not a leaflet.

How early should Christmas cards go out?

Mid December for the same country, late November for abroad. A card that arrives after Christmas is a New Year card, so write accordingly.

What do you write to someone who had a hard year?

Say you are thinking of them and wish them peace. Christmas cards are allowed to be quiet.

Do people still send Christmas cards?

Yes. Millions go out every December, and the ones with a handwritten message are the ones kept.

Part of group congratulations card.

More guides

Somebody has a day coming up.

Create a card

Everyone's words in one card.