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Birthday card.
What to write.

Say happy birthday, add something specific about them, and sign your name. That is all a birthday card needs.

The birthday card messages below are sorted by who the person is to you. Pick one, put in a detail only you know, then sign.

Create a cardRead a sample card

Everyone's words in one card.

Updated

Dinner together. Table for two, cake for one. The birthday rules.

Happy birthday. Eat cake.

From Nadia

Another year of you. I am lucky to know you.

From Joe

Happy birthday. Sunday lunch is on us this week.

From Priya

Pick a design

  • A roast potato. Happy birthday. Have the last roast potato.
  • A mug. Happy birthday to the one who knows how everyone takes their tea.
  • A set of car keys. Happy birthday. Still got it. Not sure where you put it.
  • A family holding hands. Hand in hand, same as always. Happy birthday.
  • Marker lettering. Happy birthday. First round's on you. "us" is crossed out and "you" written above it.
  • Cutpaper birthday card. Happy birthday.
  • Midcentury birthday card. Happy birthday.
  • Marker lettering. Happy birthday. I got you a card. "present" is crossed out and "card" written above it.
  • Tasting the wine. We tasted six. We remember four. Happy birthday.
  • A sun. Happy birthday. Hope the sun comes out.

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 Sam did this year that you still think about.
  2. Words of Sam's that you have caught yourself using.
  3. A day Sam made better just by turning up.
  4. Something Sam taught you without meaning to.
  5. A small thing about Sam that nobody else would notice.
  6. The story about Sam you tell most.
  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.

Birthday card messages

Pick one for who they are to you, add a detail, and sign.

Short

  • Happy birthday. Have a good one.

  • Happy birthday. Eat cake.

  • Another year, and a good one ahead.

  • Happy birthday. I am glad you were born on a day I get to celebrate.

  • Have the best day. You deserve it.

  • Happy birthday. See you soon to celebrate properly.

For a friend

  • Happy birthday. Thanks for being the person I ring first with good news and bad.

  • Another year of you. I am lucky to know you.

  • Happy birthday to my favourite person to do nothing with.

  • You make ordinary days better. Have an extraordinary one.

  • Happy birthday. Same time next year, and I will still owe you a drink.

  • Growing older with you as a friend is the easy part of getting older.

For family

  • Happy birthday. This family would be very dull without you.

  • To the one who holds us all together. Have a lovely day.

  • Happy birthday. Sunday lunch is on us this week.

  • Another year, another reason the family group chat is worth reading.

  • Happy birthday. We are proud of the person you are.

  • The best of the family. Do not tell the others I said so.

For a partner

  • Happy birthday, love. I would pick you again, every year.

  • Another year with you. It keeps getting better.

  • Happy birthday to the person I like most in the world.

  • You, me, dinner tonight. Happy birthday.

  • I love you more each year, and I notice it most on your birthday.

Funny

  • Happy birthday. You are now the age you used to call old.

  • Another year closer to complaining about your knees.

  • Happy birthday. I got you this card and my excellent company.

  • You are not old. You are just well celebrated.

  • Happy birthday. Act your age. Actually, do not bother.

For a child

  • Happy birthday. We are so proud of who you are becoming.

  • Another candle, another year of you making us laugh.

  • Happy birthday. You can stay up late tonight.

  • To the best kid we know. Have a brilliant day.

  • Happy birthday. Make a big wish.

What to leave out

Do not write about their age unless you know they laugh about it. Forty is funny to some people and not to others.

Do not apologise for a late card at length. Two words, then the birthday wish.

If you barely know them, keep it short and warm. A long message to a stranger reads oddly.

One card from everyone

Family, friends, the people from five cities. One link, and it opens on the morning.

  1. 01

    Add the birthday.

    The card opens that morning and not before.

  2. 02

    Ask the people.

    Everyone gets one link and writes once, in a browser.

  3. 03

    They read it with their tea.

    Every message signed. They keep it after.

Create a card

Questions

What do you write in a birthday card when you do not know what to say?

Write happy birthday, add one thing that is specific to them, and sign your name. A few honest words beat a long message that says nothing.

How long should a birthday message be?

Two or three sentences. If you have more to say, say it in person.

Is it rude to write only happy birthday?

No. A short card that arrives on the day beats a long one that never gets written.

Should a message in a group card be short?

Yes. Everyone writes a few words, and the card is the sum of them. Save the long letter for a card of your own.

Part of group birthday card.

More guides

Somebody has a day coming up.

Create a card

Everyone's words in one card.