What to write in a Christmas card: 100+ thoughtful messages

The chestnuts are roasting, your stockings are hung by the chimney with care and Jack Frost has just begun nipping at your nose. Christmas has arrived, and that means it's time to check your list twice because it's officially time to hand out Christmas cards.

There are two types of people in this world: Those of us who start writing our Christmas cards in October and those of us who are rushing to our local post box right before Christmas Eve. Whichever category you fall into, there is plenty of family and friends we all want to wish a 'Merry Christmas' to every year.

Whether you plan to fill your personalised DIY cards with sweet holiday sayings or prefer to go with a funny Christmas joke or pun, our list of the best Merry Christmas wishes will have something that fits the bill. A lot of these messages come from Christmas movie quotes and can do double duty as the perfect caption for the annual family photo for Instagram this year too.

Meaningful Christmas wishes

May the Christmas Season bring only happiness and joy to you and your family.
Wishing you a season full of light and laughter for you and your family.
Best wishes for a joyous Christmas filled with love, happiness and prosperity!
Merry Christmas! Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year too.
May your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter.
Our family wishes you love, joy and peace … today, tomorrow and always.
May your family have a festive season that is full of wonderful surprises, treats and non-stop laughter.
Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the best this festive season!
Wishing you a Christmas that's merry and bright!
We hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday.
I hope your festive holiday is full of peace, joy and happiness.
Merry Christmas with lots of love.
I hope your Christmas is filled with joy this year!
Happy Christmas! I hope all of your Christmas wishes come true.

Funny Christmas wishes

Christmas is the only time of year in which one can sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of socks. Enjoy!
Wishing you a white Christmas! (And when you run out of white, just open a bottle of red).
A Christmas reminder: Don’t try to borrow any money from elves ... they're always a little short. Have a Merry Christmas!
Wishing you hope, peace and lots of Christmas cookies this festive season!
They say the best Christmas gifts come from the heart … but cash and gift cards do wonders too! Merry Christmas.
I told Santa you were good this year and sent him a link to your Pinterest board. Merry Christmas to you!
Please note: Christmas is canceled. Apparently, you told Santa you have been good this year … he died laughing.
Christmas is mostly for children. But we adults can enjoy it too, until the credit card bills arrive.
Eat. Drink. Be Merry. Have a wonderful Christmas!

Religious Christmas wishes

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas
Merry Christmas! May God richly bless you throughout the year.
Sending prayers and hearty Christmas greetings to you. May you receive the most special of God’s blessings during this Christmas season!
Merry Christmas! I hope you receive one blessing after another this coming year.
May the Lord grant you and all your loved ones peace, joy and goodwill.
Wishing you a season that’s merry and bright with the light of God’s love.
May God’s blessings be yours this Christmas.
May the true spirit of Christmas shine in your heart and light up your path.
May God bless your life with love and joy this festive season.
Merry Christmas! May God's love be with you.

Romantic Christmas wishes

Your love is the best Christmas gift I could ever receive. Merry Christmas to you!
You're the partridge to my pear tree.
Christmas is more magical now that you’re in my life!
The only thing I love more than Christmas is you.
It’s not what’s under the tree that matters most, it’s who’s around it. Every year I’m so grateful to have you there.
Though we are apart, you are in my heart this Christmas.
Forget the mistletoe, you can kiss me anytime you like.
All I want for Christmas is you.
I'm so lucky to be spending another Christmas with you!
Merry Christmas! You're the best gift I could ask for.
Holidays like Christmas make me so grateful to share life with you.

Christmas Wishes for Long-Distance Friends

I may not be nearby, but you are always in my heart this holiday. Merry Christmas!
Missing you most during this festive time.
I wish we could be together this festive season, but I'm sending you warm wishes this Christmas.
I'll miss celebrating with you this Christmas. Eat a few extra cookies for me!
We may not be able to rock around the Christmas tree together, but I'll deck the halls in your honour.
Let's have a Christmas video call — I'll bring the hot chocolate.
Christmas won't be the same without you here.
Even though we're apart, I hope you have a joyous holiday.

Christmas wishes during a hard time

May the magic of the Christmas season fill your home with joy and peace. Sending lots of love to your family.
You’ve had more than your share of challenges this year. Wishing you peace and hope at Christmas and a New Year full of better days.
My love and thoughts are with you during the Christmas season.
Wishing you love and light this Christmas.
I know it's been a hard year for you and your family. I hope the New Year brings better days.
Our hearts are with you and yours, now and always.
Sending you hugs this Christmas season. Take some time to care for yourself.
I hope the holidays bring a chance to rest and recharge.
May God's love lift you up during this winter of life.
We're always here to support you, if you need a helping hand this Christmas.

Christmas wishes inspired by quotes

Christmas is the day that holds all time together. —Alexander Smith
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
Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling. —Edna Ferber
A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. —Garrison Keillor
Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart ... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever. —Bess Streeter Aldrich
Christmas is not an external event at all, but a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart. —Freya Stark
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. —Burton Hills
Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection. —Winston Churchill
My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. —Bob Hope
Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day. —Helen Steiner Rice

From: Good Housekeeping US