160 Merry Christmas Wishes & Messages to Write in a Christmas Card

Last updated: December 18, 2024 by Amanda

Whether your favorite Christmas traditions include feasting, sipping a festive beverage (or three), a religious gathering, or hanging stockings for Santa, we’ll all agree that connecting with family and friends truly is the best part of the season. That's right, it's time to send Merry Christmas wishes to all our friends and family. So, if you’re wondering “What is the best message for Christmas?” - we have a list of Merry Christmas message ideas bigger than Santa’s “nice” list!

I live in the Southern Hemisphere, so I'll spend my “White Christmas” sitting on a white, sandy Australian beach! Wherever you live in the world, if you celebrate the festive season, you'll definitely be sending a Merry Christmas wish or two, and there are so many holiday greetings to choose from. If you're old school, like me, sign a card with a traditional Christmas message. Or, you may like to slip into your friend’s DMs with a quick text or SMS to let them know you’re thinking of them at this hectic time of year. Either way, it can be hard to go wrong when you're reaching out,especiall if you come bearing gifts!

Ready to sign some cards and gifts? Find heartfelt Christmas messages, funny and short Merry Christmas quotes and greetings, romantic wishes for your other half, plus religious messages for Christian friends and family. Whether you're writing wishes for your close family and friends, or need simple message ideas for coworkers and acquaintances, these Merry Christmas wishes are perfectly festive for spreading Christmas cheer.

Short and Traditional Merry Christmas Wishes & Text Messages

If you need a short, sweet, or even a last minute Christmas message to write in a card, we have your back. When the festive season is super busy, you may need a quick and casual Christmas text message to send to friends in the group chat. Here are our short Merry Christmas wishes -with a sprinkle of emoji fun.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2025.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, filled with lots of love.🎄

Merry Christmas! Tell [name of family members] to have a wonderful holiday! 🤶🎅

Cheers to warm holiday memories!

Happy Holidays! Hope your Christmas isn't a chore. Put your feet up and enjoy a little relaxation time. 🥳🥂

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Wishing you a Happy Christmas surrounded by your loved ones. 🥰💕

Wishing you a lovely Christmas season and a very happy New Year!

We may not be together for Christmas, but I'm with you in spirit. Merry Christmas, I miss you. 🎄🎁🎅

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a peaceful New Year.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!

Happy Holidays and see you in the new year! 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣

May your Christmas shine brightly with joy and goodwill!

Merry Christmas! Let's find time to meet for a drink before the holidays end. 🎅🥂

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year!

Thinking of you this winter season, hope you have a wonderful holiday. ❄️⛄

A little more sparkle, a little less stress. This Christmas, I wish you the very best. 🥳✨🥂

There are many ways you can wish someone a Merry Christmas. These can also be used for an alternative way to sign off a Christmas card message.

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

Season's Greetings

Happy New Year

Happy Christmas

Best wishes for the Holidays

Have a magical Holiday season

Traditional Merry Christmas Wishes

These traditional Merry Christmas wishes celebrate classic festivities of hanging twinkling lights on a tree, sipping eggnog, stealing a kiss under the mistletoe, and singing along to your favourite Christmas songs. They're perfect for writing in a Christmas card for almost anyone on your list.

From our cozy home to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

May the Christmas Season bring happiness, joy, and full stockings to you and your family.

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I hope your holiday celebrations are full of lots of fun, surprises, and magic from Santa!

May peace, love, and prosperity follow you always, as we celebrate Christmas and the turning of the New Year.

Warmest wishes for the Holidays. May you enjoy good health and happiness throughout the coming year.

In this most majestic season, may you find many reasons for happiness. Merry Christmas and lots of love from our family to yours!

Sending you my best wishes from across the miles for a fabulous festive season. Happy holidays!

From my home to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! Stay safe and take care.

Heartfelt Merry Christmas Wishes

Christmas is the perfect time to spread love and heartfelt wishes to those close to you. A few kind words can make someone’s holiday extra special. Check out our list of Merry Christmas wishes to inspire your holiday greetings.

May the closeness of your loved ones, family, and friends fill your heart with joy this Christmas.

The gift of love. The gift of peace. The gift of happiness. May all these be yours at Christmas.

Thank you for being such an important part of my life. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that the coming year brings your family many blessings.

May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you today and throughout the New Year.

May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter and goodwill. And may the year ahead be full of contentment and joy. Have a Merry Christmas!

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter. We look forward to seeing you in 2025.

Whatever is beautiful. Whatever is meaningful. Whatever brings you happiness. May it be yours this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

Funny Merry Christmas Wishes

Ho- Ho-Ho! Bring your friends and family a Santa-style belly laugh with these funny Merry Christmas wishes. These will work well in a greeting card along with your own jokes or a funny message from you. I've added an example message you could write underneath some of the funny Christmas sayings, and personalize them further to suit the recipient.

Christmas (noun). The only time of the year when we can gaze upon a dead tree and eat candy out of socks.

Don we now our ugly sweaters… Let's party this Christmas!

I hope you love the present you told me to buy for you. Merry Christmas!

"It's all fun and games until Santa checks the naughty list."
Let's hope we went under the radar this year! Thanks for being such a great friend who fills every day with fun and mischief. Cheers to a fabulous 2025!

"You can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
~ Maya Angelou
However tangled the lights are this year, I know you'll handle it with aplomb. Merry Christmas!

"One of the nice things about Christmas is that you can make people forget the past with a present."
~ Unknown
Don't think of it as me bribing you, just consider it my way of 'spreading Christmas cheer'!

"The 3 stages of man: He believes in Santa Claus. He doesn't believe in Santa Claus. He is Santa Claus."
Congrats on stage 3! Merry Christmas ol' man.

"Three Wise WOMEN would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, bought practical gifts, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and there would be peace on earth!"

To my very wise and amazing [wife/mother], what would we do without you? With all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, negotiating, cuddles, and stories, you take care of us and keep our family happy and healthy. Merry Christmas, we love you!

Lessons from a Christmas Tree:
"Be a light in the darkness.
We all fall over sometimes.
You can never wear too much glitter.
Bring joy to others.
Sparkle and twinkle as often as possible.
It's okay to be a little tilted".
~ Jane Lee Logan

One sure sign that you're getting older is how Santa seems to look younger each year. Cheers to another year of holiday fun!

May your eggnog be spiked with plenty of rum to get you through this holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You're a lot like some of my Christmas tree ornaments. Bright, colorful. and a little bit cracked!

"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas. But if the White runs out I'll drink the Red!"
Looking forward to celebrating with you over a wine or two this Holiday season. Cheers to a fabulous 2025!

"Time to get into the holiday spirit... gin, vodka, whiskey..."
Looking forward to celebrating with you over the holidays. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

Please note: Christmas is canceled! Apparently YOU told Santa that you've been GOOD this year... he died laughing!

Merry Christmas Wishes for Family

You may not be gathering with all of your family this Christmas. Reconnect with them and send well wishes in a thoughtful card. These Merry Christmas messages for family will help you spread Christmas cheer near and far!

There's nothing like a well-lit Christmas tree to remind me of all the fun we had together as children. Wishing you a holiday season as full of wonder as when we were young!

To a joyful present and a well-remembered past! We raise a glass all the way from [insert your location]. Merry Christmas and have a magnificent New Year.

I hope that the holidays end your year on a cheerful note. May it make way for a fresh and bright New Year.

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."
~ Burton Hills
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and many blessings this year.

"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."
~ Washington Irving
Thank you for graciously hosting us this Christmas. May the rest of your year remain merry and bright.

We're so grateful that you could be here to celebrate the holidays with us! May our good cheer follow you home and warm you through the New Year.

May the good times and treasures of the present become our family's golden memories of tomorrow, just as our childhood memories from past holidays give us such happy recollections now.

Now that the kids are out of the house, you can rest easy for Christmas! Wishing you a relaxing and stress-free holiday.

Merry Christmas Wishes for Friends

The holiday season is the perfect excuse to contact your friends and let them know you’re thinking of them. Spread cheer and send love with these fun and heartwarming Christmas wishes which are guaranteed to make their day merry and bright!

Friends are the family you choose. I'm so glad to get to spend time with my chosen family this holiday season.

Christmas is magical when shared with those we care about, and I’m so lucky to spend it with you! Thank you for welcoming us into your home and making us feel so special. Merry Christmas!

I always feel like a kid again when Christmas comes around. You know what that means... Time for some holiday mischief!

Cookies and cakes and spices and cocoa... When it starts to smell like Christmas, it's hard not to get into the spirit. Here's a little something to spread Christmas cheer around your home.

It wouldn't be Christmas without you. So glad to have you with me, year after year.

Me: "I want a magical Unicorn for Christmas"
Santa: "Be realistic"
Me: "Okay. I want 5 minutes to myself each day to drink my coffee hot and pee in peace."
Santa: "What color Unicorn would you like?"
Here's to the most fabulous unicorn in my life. Thank you for being a great friend and support-you truly are unique. Wishing you more sleep and time for yourself in the coming year. Happy Holidays!

Hooray, it's the holidays! I hope you have a great Christmas, and I can't wait to celebrate the New Year with you!

The spirit of Christmas is bright and magical. When you start to feel it, it will enchant you with hope and wonder that lasts beyond the holiday season.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Season creating special memories with your beautiful family. With lots of love from the [insert family name].

Wishing you happy holidays and a wonderful New Year. Best wishes from the [insert family name].

Merry Christmas! And best wishes for a healthy, happy, and peaceful New Year. With love from the [insert family name].

For even more messages to send to your friends, check out our Christmas Wishes for Friends page.

Romantic Merry Christmas Wishes

Christmas is all about romance, cozy cuddles, snuggling by the fire and maybe even matching Christmas sweaters! Set the holiday mood right with these sweet and flirty Merry Christmas wishes for your special someone - perfect for a card or a heartfelt text.

My love for you shines brighter than the lights on the tree. Merry Christmas!

"All I want for Christmas is you."
~ Mariah Carey, All I Want for Christmas Is You

No matter what gift I find under the Christmas tree, you're all I need. Merry Christmas to my sweetheart.

May the season bring you as much happiness and love as you have brought me. Here's to a wonderful Christmas together!

I can't think of any other way I would want to spend Christmas than staying warm with you.

You are so special to me. I love sharing life and love with you. May all your wishes come true this Christmas.

Wishing that your Christmas sparkles with festive cheer, like the shining star that you are.

Seeing you takes all the stress out of the Christmas season. Thanks for filling my holidays with joy and love.

You are the gift I ask Santa for every year! I couldn't wish for a better gift than spending Christmas with you.

Meet me under the mistletoe. I'll be there with bells on.

I've been waiting all year to spend Christmas with you! Now that it's here, I can't think of any gift I'd want any more than this. Merry Christmas, my love!

You're the best Christmas present a [gal/guy] can get!

We may not be able to celebrate Christmas together this year, but just remember that you are always in my thoughts. With love from the bottom of my heart.

Merry Christmas Wishes, Quotes, & Sayings

We've rounded up the best inspirational, funny, famous Merry Christmas quotes and sayings that are perfect for friends and family. Use these totally share-worthy Christmas quotes, including Christmas song lyrics and festive movie quotes, to capture the holiday spirit in your greeting card messages.

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."
~ Zuzu Bailey (Karolyn Grimes), It’s a Wonderful Life

"Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind."
~ Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), Miracle on 34th Street

"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."
~ Anonymous

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light."
~ Judy Garland / Various, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

"Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!"
~ Gangster Johnny (Ralph Foody), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come, let earth receive her King."
~ Isaac Watts, Joy to the World

"Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to."
~ Fred Gailey (John Payne), Miracle on 34th Street

"Christmas is a box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family."
~ Charles M. Schulz

"It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it."
~ Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly."
~ Andy Rooney

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."
~ Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell), Elf

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet, the words repeat, of peace on earth, goodwill to men!"
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"For children, Christmas is anticipation. For adults, Christmas is memory."
~ Eric Sevareid

"Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas."
~ Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

"There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas."
~ Charles Dickens

"I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams."
~ Bing Crosby / Various, I’ll Be Home for Christmas

"This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone."
~ Taylor Caldwell

"Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don't quite know how to put our love into words."
~ Harlan Miller

"At its best, Christmas is a mirror in which we see reflected the very best life can be. Where we see ourselves moved by generosity, inspired by hope and uplifted by love, not only for ourselves but for the whole evolving universe."
~ Bruce Sanguin

"We expect too much at Christmas. It's got to be magical. It's got to go right. Feasting. Fun. The perfect present. All that anticipation. Take it easy. Love's the thing. The rest is tinsel."
~ Pam Brown

"There's a certain magic that comes with the very first snow. When the first snow is also a Christmas snow, well, something wonderful is bound to happen."
~ Frosty the Snowman

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal and that every path may lead to peace."
~ Agnes M. Pharo

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."
~ Charles M. Schulz

Religious Merry Christmas Wishes

Wish your Christian friends and family a Merry Christmas with these religious Merry Christmas messages that reference the birth of Jesus and the first Christmas. They are a lovely way to help to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday season.

God gave His greatest gift to us on that first Christmas Day and may the wonder of it always guide and light your way. Merry Christmas!

May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope, and the peace of His love at Christmas and always.

A silent night, a star above, a blessed gift of hope and love. A blessed Christmas to you!

The magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence. May you have the gift of faith this Christmas.

May God fill your life with love, joy, and peace this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

May you feel God's presence in the candles that softly spread their glow at Christmas. May the wonder of His abiding love guide you through each day. God's Blessings be with you.

May your heart be lifted in praise this Christmas for the wonderful gift of Jesus and the joy He brings to our lives. Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Sharing with you the Glory, the Wonder, the Miracle of this Holy Season.

On this beautiful Christmas day, surrounded by our friends and loved ones, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas as we share God's love for creation.

Faith makes all things possible,
Hope makes all things work,
Love makes all things beautiful,
May you have all three for this Christmas.
Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! May God bless you richly throughout this holiday season.

'Tis the season for giving, charity, respect for all God's creations, and bringing peace to our Earth.

"Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both."
~ Phillips Brooks
It's not what you get, it's what you give. Thank you for being an amazing example of charity and faith.

"Like God, Christmas is timeless and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. It is something even more than what happened that night in starlit little Bethlehem; it has been behind the stars forever. There was Christmas in the heart of God before the world was formed."
~ Roy Rogers

"Advent helps us remember that light shines in the darkness and we reflect it."
~ Greg Richardson
May your light shine bright this Christmas season, as we reflect the message of Christmas.

A little child,
A shining star,
A stable rude,
The door ajar.
Yet in that place,
So crude, forlorn,
The Hope of all
The world was born.
~ Anonymous.

And if you'd like to add a bible verse to your card message, do take a look at our Christmas Bible Verses page.

Merry Christmas Wishes for Distant Loved Ones

We like to keep things light-hearted at Christmas time. However, we can't always be with our loved ones in December. Many of us may have had a difficult year with illness, loss, or uncertain employment. These Christmas greetings offer notes of encouragement, sentiments of “I miss you”, plus how to say Merry Christmas to someone who has lost a loved one.

Though I won't be able to see you this Christmas, be assured I will be thinking of you all day.

Though I can't make it home for Christmas, home is always in my heart. May you have a very Merry Christmas.

As lovely as the holidays can be, they can also make people feel down. This can be a difficult time of year, and I want you to know that you're not alone. I'm sending you my warmest wishes and lots of love.

The nostalgia I feel for cozy Christmas times in front of the fireplace always makes me think of you. I hope you're having a warm holiday with loved ones surrounding you.

New Year? Yes please! Here's to better times ahead for us all! Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a safe and healthy 2025.

You've always made Christmas a special time for me. Now, I hope you can feel my love and gratitude from far away. Wishing you a Merry Christmas with all my heart.

This Christmas card is packed full of hugs and kisses just for you! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that we can see you again soon. Until then, cheers to you for your good health and happiness!

We wish you a very happy Christmas and holiday season. We know that this past year has been very difficult for you, and we pray that the coming year brings more certain times for your family. Sending all our love and good wishes for better days ahead.

Merry Christmas! We're so sorry you've been ill and hope you are feeling stronger and better every day. May this holiday season be a time of rest as you recover, and the New Year be full of hope for better days ahead.

We want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers every day as we remember [name] and miss him terribly. We know this Christmas season will be very difficult, and we wish we could gather around you in person to support you more. We are sending all our love from afar, and if there is anything you need please let us know.

This holiday season, I find myself wishing you were here with me. I'm sending you a hug through the mail and wishes for a beautiful Christmas celebration.

Even though you're far away, you'll be in my thoughts this Christmas Day. Sending you my warmest wishes for a very merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas Wishes for your Coworkers and Boss

Woo-hoo work (for many) is over for another year! The Holiday season offers an opportunity to thank your coworkers and boss. These messages are a starting point, and you could personalize them further, like giving a shoutout to that colleague who had your back during a tough project.

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your time off and see you in the new year.

Congratulations on a great year, and warm wishes to you and your family throughout the holiday season.

Best wishes for the holidays, and for health and happiness throughout the coming year.

You've been working so hard this holiday season. Thank you for all your efforts. Hang in there and enjoy some Christmas magic, on me!

Greetings of the Season and best wishes for the New Year!

I appreciate your leadership and support throughout this past year. I'm hoping you get the opportunity to relax and spend time with your loved ones during the holidays.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a healthy, happy, and peaceful New Year.

May the holiday season end the present year on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright New Year. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us at [insert company name]. We hope you have a very happy holiday, and we wish you all the best for the New Year.

You are truly amazing and work so hard, thank you for all your efforts this year. I hope you have a very happy holiday season!

Merry Christmas to a fantastic colleague! May your holidays be filled with joy and laughter, and the New Year brings you everything you wish for.

Make sure to also check out our holiday messages to employees and Christmas messages to employees.

Non-Religious Merry Christmas Wishes

The holiday season is a time of joy and connection, and is celebrated in many ways across different cultures and religions. These non-denominational holiday wishes offer a warm and inclusive way to spread cheer while honoring the diversity of different traditions.

Wishing you a season filled with love, laughter, and light.

May your holidays be as magical as the memories you’ll make.

May your holidays be warm, your home be bright, and your new year be merry.

Wishing you a fun-filled holiday season and best wishes for a Happy New Year! Love from the [insert family name].

Here’s to a peaceful holiday season for you and your loved ones.

Warmest wishes for a season full of love, kindness, and togetherness.

I hope your halls are decked with joy, love, and laughter. May the New Year be full of adventure and fun, you deserve it!

Wishing you Holidays filled with fun and laughter! I can't wait to celebrate NYE with you.

May your holidays sparkle with happiness and your new year shine with success.

Hope your holiday is as wonderful and bright as you are.

Wishing you joy and laughter to close out the year and plenty of love to carry into the next.

Free Printable Christmas Card Templates

Spread the joy of the season with our heartwarming collection of free printable Christmas cards! With over 150 designs to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect card for every recipient on your list. 🎄

More Merry Christmas Wishes

If you're looking for even more Christmas card messages and wishes ideas then take a look at our other pages:

Christmas Card Messages
Merry Christmas Wishes (incl. funny)
Happy Holidays Wishes (incl. funny)
Christmas Quotes
Christmas Greetings for Cards
Season's Greetings & Messages
Christmas Trivia
Holiday Messages to Employees
Christmas Messages to Employees
Christmas Wishes for Friends
Christmas Poems
Christmas Funny Poems
Religious Christmas Messages
Christmas Religious Poems
Christmas Prayers
Christmas Bible Verses
Kids' Christmas Poems
Printable Christmas Cards
More Xmas Cards
Merry Christmas Images
New Year Wishes
New Year Quotes
New Year Bible Verses
Happy New Year Images

Found the perfect Christmas wish? Give it a final flourish in cursive, like ✧༺ 𝓢𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷'𝓼 𝓖𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ༻✧, with our Cursive Text Generator.

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