What to include in Christmas greetings
Pick a moment you shared, say why it stayed with you and finish with a wish that suits your relationship.
Christmas greetings for family, friends and colleagues
Each of these messages fits inside a small card. If a line sounds right, borrow it and swap in a detail of your own. A particular song, the name of a street or the joke on the train home can bring a whole afternoon back to someone. Think about how you would greet them if they rang the doorbell today.
For someone in the family
“Dad, your old pencil is still tucked inside my crossword book. Every time I reach for it, I think of you insisting we could finish just one more clue. Merry Christmas and a great big hug.” If you live far apart, a small scene can bridge the distance. “I heard our kitchen radio song while I was making tea this morning. By the chorus I was singing your part as well as mine. Sending you lots of love from here.” Neither message needs a date for the next visit.
For a friend, including one having a hard year
“My favourite bit of our weekend away was the walk home with the wonky umbrella. I hope next year gives us another story that makes us laugh quite that hard. Happy Christmas.” When the season is difficult for a friend, a quieter note might suit the moment. “I passed our old bookshop today and thought of you. Sending you a hug this week. No need to write back.” If you offer company, make it something you can follow through on, such as bringing over the book you have been keeping for them.
For a colleague or a whole team
“Thank you for talking me through my first morning at the workshop. I still use the trick you showed me for sorting the samples. Wishing you a lovely Christmas.” For a group, choose a moment they all know. “I kept the sketch we made on the back of that lunch menu. It always makes me smile to see where our project started. Thank you all, and warm wishes for the coming year.” A shared detail feels natural even when colleagues celebrate the season differently.
Read the message aloud before you copy it into the card. Replace anything you would never say in conversation. Sign off with the name the recipient uses for you, and add the year if you think they might keep the card and read it again.
If the story outgrows the card, turn it into a personal letter and save the short message for the sign-off.