What do you write on a holiday card? Funny & simple holiday card messages + lots of Christmas card note ideas for how to add something “extra”.
Warmest wishes, season's greetings, and best wishes for a happy New Year…ever get tired of saying the same holiday greetings and holiday card messages?
I typically don't send out Christmas and Holiday cards (I know, I know – for shame).
Year after year, without fail, I receive thoughtful cards from friends and family that bring me joy. But along with gratefulness and happiness, I feel slightly ashamed at not sending my own batch out.
That all changed several years ago when I decided to take the time to show my friends and family how much I care through the mail.
How much joy and holiday cheer can one envelope hold?
Aside from beautiful cards, letters, and opening your mailbox to find something other than advertisements or bills, I decided to brainstorm around this question and figure out ways to add some extra cheer this season to the lives of those I love.
You'll find some awesome holiday card messages, ways to sign your holiday cards, and bonus splurges to include (many of which won't cost you extra postage).
🎄How Do You Sign a Holiday Card? 19 FUN Ideas
Let's talk about signing your holiday cards or holiday photo cards – you know, where “sincerely”, or “love” goes, right before your name?
This area of your holiday card is like your email signature. Don't you just love seeing something extra special in someone's email signature? It's like a special surprise.
Here are some ideas for signing your holiday cards in a unique way (which one you choose depends on your level of intimacy):
- To Crackin' Santa's Nice List,
- With Joy,
- Mistletoe + Kisses,
- A stamp of something Christmas-y, like a Santa's hat, or an Elf, or deer tracks, or sleigh tracks, etc., then sign your name inside of the stamp
- To Santa's Health,
- May your chocolate stay hot and your snowman stay cold,
- May your gingerbread be crunchy and your slippers be soft,
- To Silent Nights,
- May your days be jinglin' and your nights be silent,
- Your Brother/Sister in Christ,
- To Keeping Christ in Christmas,
- Mistletoe Blessings,
- To Rockin' those Jingle Bells,
- To Christmas Vacation Reruns,
- To Finding that Pesky Elf,
- Yours in Decking the Halls,
- Don't Forget the Good Stuff in your Nog,
- May the Nog Help Get You Through,
- Just a Sleigh Ride Away,
- From the very merry team at fill in your town/city name
Hint: sending money? Check out these free printable money card holders.
✍🏻 11 Funny Christmas Card Message Ideas
Let me share with you some cool wording for holiday greetings – ranging from silly & funny to serious and heartfelt.
“May your holly be jolly, and the thistle stay out of your mistle.”
“Do you hear what I hear? A month of head-to-toe snuggies and Hallmark movies? Have a wonderful Christmas.”
“It's time to add marshmallows to your hot cocoas, break out the sweater socks, and throw a few extra logs on the fire.”
“‘Tis the season to reflect on our lives. That, and to watch Christmas Vacation reruns.”
“May you never stop following the Christmas Star.”
“May you find your kid-like wonder this holiday season.”
“May your holiday be filled with jingle bells and cookie smells.”
“Forget the to-do's, and focus on the ta-da's. May this be your season of ta-done's!”
“Get that holly crackin'!”
“I thought you deserved more than a lump of coal this Christmas season. You're holding it.”
“I wanted to take a break from watching Christmas Vacation long enough to say Happy Holidays!”
“May your tree be squirrel-free this year.”
“To finally getting off Santa's naughty list this year…”
“O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, please light our nights this season.”
Generic Holiday Greetings
Need something a bit more generic for general holiday greetings? I got you!
- “Warm wishes on these cold nights.”
- “Good tidings, good cheer, good food, this coming year.”
- “Lots of love at this most wonderful time of the year.”
- “May you have a wonderful New Year, filled with good health, and good times.”
- Our 5 favorite holiday movies you might want to check out this year:” (include your list).
- “To finding your reason this holiday season.”
📮Holiday Card Extras (Meets Postal Guidelines for a 55-cent Stamp)
If you wish to use a 55-cent stamp, then you need to maintain a flat envelope that weighs one ounce or less. In addition to a card, you could include:
- Snowflake confetti (put it inside the card, so that it explodes out on them!)
- Printout of a seasonal bucket list
- Printout of a Christmas-themed Mad Libs
- Photos of the person from an event you both attended over the year
- Packet of fire colorant (these are so cool!)
- Lottery ticket
- Cherished recipe, hand-written on an index card
- Patches/rhinestone designs to iron onto something (check out your local craft store)
- Christmas origami
- Drink token for a local bar (depending upon how flat it is)
- Pocket inspirational card with a verse or piece of wisdom (think fortune cookies)
- Seasonal-smelling car freshener
- A bookmark (I love this last-word bookmark – especially good for when reading with young children and a person constantly gets interrupted. If they are bible readers? Then THIS is the line marker magnetic bookmark I recommend for those really thin pages).
Holiday Card Extras for the Kids
This year I decided to send each of our nieces and nephews some reindeer food in addition to a Christmas card.
I can picture them now, intently following the directions by spreading the reindeer food across their parent’s yard to attract Santa’s sleigh.
Other ideas include:
- Buttons with instructions to use as eyes and a mouth for a snowman
- Japanese erasers (they are just so cute!)
- Ponytail holders
- Piece of candy
- Snowman poop
- etc.
Holiday Card Extras for the Pets
If you are sending a Christmas card to a pet owner, you can immediately make them smile by adding in a toy or treat.
My aunt is receiving a small catnip stick for her two cats. I also thought it would be cute to include a small biscuit or treat from the snack bar at pet stores for a dog.
I guess the only downfall would be if the dog/cat smelled the goods and tore apart the envelope first!
Holiday Card Extras for Everyone Else
For everyone else on your list – co-workers, friends, family members, teachers, etc. – here are a few ideas to add pizzazz to their holiday cards:
- A mini anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
- A small plastic bag of miniature marshmallows, aka “snowman poop” (this increased the cost to mail it, FYI)
- A chocolate square, an individual serving of hot cocoa, a travel coffee pouch, a teabag, candy canes
- Little jingle bells (again, this increased my cost to mail these)
- Sprig of mistletoe
- Keychain (the flat kind that has a light for safety reasons could be a neat and helpful gift that you can find at Dollar Tree)
- Lip gloss/chapstick
- Snazzy refrigerator magnet
Make the Card Personal
Sending personalized greeting cards will make them even more special for friends and family members who receive them. Don't forget to add photos to cards of the kids, the dogs, or a happy holiday memory!
I may not send out Christmas and Holiday cards each year, but I believe I have sent some smiles through the mail this year. And that counts for something!
Do you send Holiday cards? What are some extras you've included over the years?
Amanda L Grossman
Latest posts by Amanda L Grossman (see all)
- 100 Cheap Self Care Ideas (for Your Self Care Routine) - April 12, 2025
- 53 Alphabet Date Ideas A-Z (Budget-Friendly) - April 7, 2025
- 100 Things to Do as a Couple (On a Budget) - April 4, 2025
Shannon-ReadyForZero
Monday 3rd of December 2012
I like the chocolate square idea! I usually include a book mark with a quote that reminds me of the person I'm sending a card to.
FruGal
Wednesday 5th of December 2012
Thank you! That is very thoughtful of you to do.