51 Christmas Messages for Cards, Texts & Emails

Writing Christmas messages sounds simple enough. After all, how hard can it be to jot down a few heartfelt words on a card, text, or email? As it turns out, harder than you might think. How excited will your childhood friend, Ashley, be after receiving a card with “Merry Christmas” slapped on it for the tenth year in a row?

The challenge lies not just in finding the right words and avoiding clichés, but in matching your message’s tone to the relationship and format. “Thinking about you this holiday” might sound odd if addressed to your manager, for example, but perfectly fine for that friend you secretly wish were more than a friend.

In this guide, you’ll find tips for writing Christmas messages for friends, family, and coworkers, along with examples of inspirational, religious, funny, and short Christmas messages you can use in your cards or texts.

Types of Christmas messages with examples

Not every Christmas message fits every person or situation. What you write to your best friend won’t sound quite right in a company email, and your cousin might not appreciate the same joke your coworker finds hilarious. The key is to match your words to the relationship and tone. Here are some examples to help you get started.

Christmas messages for friends

When writing to friends, skip the generic greetings and make it sound like you. Share an inside joke, lean into your natural tone—whether that’s sentimental, playful, or sarcastic—and don’t be afraid to show a bit of personality.

Examples

1. Merry Christmas to the friend who’s been my partner in chaos all year—here’s to more stories we can’t tell in public.
2. Hope your holidays are as over-the-top as your Christmas playlist (and twice as fun).
3. I’m grateful for your friendship—and for your ability to reply to texts sometime before Easter. Merry Christmas!
4. Hope your Christmas is as sweet as the cookies you’ll be burning this year!
5. Wishing you a cozy Christmas filled with good food, bad movies, and people who make you laugh until it hurts.
6. Hope your Christmas is as unique and wonderful as you are.
7. Merry Christmas! Here’s to surviving the holidays with grace, good humor, and minimal awkward family moments.

Christmas messages for family

Family messages can range from deeply heartfelt to simple and sincere, depending on how close you are. You might write something warm and nostalgic to your parents, keep it light with your siblings, or go for a more classic greeting for extended relatives.

Examples

8. Merry Christmas to the people who will always feel like home, no matter where we all are.
9. Thank you for every tradition, every laugh, and every meal that turns into a family story. Love you all.
10. Wishing you a Christmas as warm and bright as the memories we’ve shared over the years.
11. Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad—you’ve made every holiday special just by being yourselves.
12. Wishing a Merry Christmas to the best family I could ask for—near or far.
13. Hope your Christmas is peaceful, joyful, and involves at least one dessert we don’t have to argue over.
14. To my wonderful family: may your holidays be merry, your lights untangled, and your Wi-Fi strong.

Christmas messages for coworkers

Whether it’s a formal greeting to your manager or a friendly note to a teammate you’ve shared laughs with, your Christmas message should match the vibe of your workplace and your relationship. Keep it professional, but feel free to add warmth or light humor if that fits.

Examples

15. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a successful year ahead. Thank you for your support and teamwork.
16. Merry Christmas! Looking forward to tackling new challenges together in the coming year.
17. To a fantastic colleague—hope your holidays are relaxing and full of holiday cheer.
18. Wishing you peace and happiness this holiday season. Thanks for making work feel a little less like work.
19. Merry Christmas! Grateful for your friendship and all the coffee breaks we’ve shared this year.
20. Hope your Christmas is more fun than the last team-building exercise!
21. Wishing you a Christmas filled with joy, laughter, and no online meetings!

Inspirational Christmas messages

Inspirational messages focus on the real meaning of Christmas: the feelings of joy, love, and togetherness that matter more than gifts, fancy meals, or holiday parties. They’re perfect for anyone who wants to remind themselves or others what the season is truly about.

Examples

22. Let the kindness and joy of the season fill your heart and brighten your days.
23. Wishing you a Christmas wrapped in love, laughter, and simple happiness.
24. May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace, love, and hope this season and beyond.
25. Here’s to a season filled with kindness, laughter, and little things that make life big.
26. May the spirit of the season bring out the best in you and those around you.
27. May your Christmas be merry, bright, and surrounded by loved ones.
28. Hope your holidays sparkle with joy and the warmth of togetherness.

Religious Christmas message

Religious Christmas messages center on the birth of Jesus and the deeper spiritual meaning behind the season. They’re a way to share blessings, faith, and gratitude with loved ones or your faith community. Many people include scripture quotes to connect on a deeper spiritual level.

Examples

29. Wishing you the peace and joy that come from Christ’s birth this Christmas season.
30. May God’s love fill your heart and home this Christmas and throughout the coming year.
31. Celebrating the miracle of Christmas and the hope it brings to us all.
32. May the light of Christ guide you and bring you comfort this holiday season.
33. Rejoice in the blessings of Christmas and carry its spirit of love and hope with you always.
34. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
35. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14)

Funny Christmas messages

Sometimes, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to make someone laugh. Funny messages add a playful twist to holiday greetings—perfect for friends, coworkers, or anyone who loves a little humor with their eggnog. Just keep it light and steer clear of anything that might hit a sore spot.

Examples

36. Merry Christmas! May your holiday be more “fa la la” and less “uh oh.”
37. May your presents be plenty and your family drama minimal.
38. Hope your Christmas is as awesome as your holiday sweater (and twice as loud).
39. Santa’s coming… time to pretend you’ve been good all year!
40. May your Christmas be merry—and your ugly sweater win first place.
41. Merry Christmas! May your holiday be filled with more presents than awkward family conversations!
42. May your Christmas be filled with laughter, love, and minimal awkward small talk.

Short Christmas messages

Sometimes less is more. Short Christmas messages get straight to the point while still sharing your warm wishes—ideal for texts, cards, or gift tags where space is limited.

Examples

43. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
44. Wishing you joy and peace this season.
45. Hope your holidays are bright and merry!
46. Sending you love and warm wishes.
47. Cheers to a joyful Christmas and a great new year!
48. Warmest wishes for a wonderful Christmas.
49. Elfie time!
50. Stay cozy and bright!
51. Sleigh all day!

Tips for writing a great Christmas message

Cards, texts, and emails each have their own style, length, and tone. Knowing what works best for each helps your message feel natural and thoughtful, no matter how you send it.

General tips

• Keep it genuine and personal. Adding a personal touch when you can, like an inside joke or a shared memory, can go a long way.
• Avoid clichés but don’t stress perfection; sincerity matters most.
• Proofread your message to avoid typos or awkward phrasing.
• Consider your relationship with the recipient; this will guide tone and timing.

For cards

• Cards give you room to be more thoughtful and detailed.
• Handwriting your message adds warmth and authenticity.
• Aim to send cards 3 to 4 weeks before Christmas to ensure timely delivery.

For texts

• Keep texts brief, casual, and friendly.
• Emojis can help add personality, but don’t overdo it.
• Send texts on or just before Christmas Day to catch the moment.

For emails

• Emails can be somewhere between formal and casual, depending on who you’re writing to.
• Include a clear subject line that fits the occasion.
• For professional emails, send them one to two weeks before Christmas to avoid getting lost in inbox clutter. For friends and family, emails can be sent closer to Christmas Day or even on the day itself for a more casual, timely feel.

Frequently asked questions about Christmas messages

What is the best message for Christmas?

The best Christmas message is one that feels sincere and reflects your relationship with the person you’re writing to. Here are a few simple examples:

• Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
• Wishing you joy and peace this season.
• Hope your holidays are bright and merry!
• Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the best this holiday season!

Want your Christmas message to sound just right? Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to customize these examples and make them truly yours.

What are some heartfelt Christmas card messages?

Heartfelt Christmas card messages express genuine warmth, love, and appreciation. Heartfelt doesn’t necessarily mean overly sentimental. A simple, sincere message often says it best. For example:

• May your holidays be filled with moments that make you smile and people who make you feel loved.
• Thinking of you this Christmas and grateful for all the memories we’ve shared.
• May this Christmas remind you how loved and appreciated you are—not just today, but all year long.
• Wishing you a peaceful Christmas surrounded by the people and moments that matter most.

Need more Christmas card message ideas? Try Quillbot’s AI chat to brainstorm beyond the classic wishes and adapt your message to your own style and tone.

What should I write in a Christmas message for a new relationship?

When writing a Christmas message for a new relationship, it’s best to keep it light and optimistic, expressing excitement about the future together without being too intense. Here are some examples of what to write:

 

• Merry Christmas! It’s been amazing getting to know you, and I’m excited for what’s to come in our journey.
• Merry Christmas! I’m so glad we met, and I can’t wait to see what the New Year holds for us.
• Happy holidays! Can’t wait to make more memories with you.

An error-free Christmas message shows that you care. Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to catch any mistakes before you send your card, text, or email.