What a Christmas card greeting is
A Christmas card greeting is the message printed or written inside the card. Printed cards carry a stock line from the publisher. Handwritten cards carry your own line. Most greetings run 5 to 15 words. One or two sentences fill the space.
Common greetings
- Merry Christmas
- Happy Holidays
- Season's Greetings
- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
- Wishing you peace and joy this Christmas
- Best wishes for the holiday season
- Blessings to you and your family
Match the greeting to the recipient
Family and close friends
Use "Merry Christmas" plus a personal line. Name one event from the year. Two sentences work. Example: "Merry Christmas, Dana. The trip to the lake in July was the best week of my year."
Coworkers and clients
Use a neutral line. "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" covers people who do not mark Christmas. Add one work reference. Keep it to one sentence. Skip jokes about gifts, parties, or office politics.
Cards for children
Short lines work best. "Merry Christmas" plus a first name. Add a sticker, a joke, or a note about a gift.
Religious and secular lines
Religious cards quote Luke 2:14 or use lines such as "Blessings at Christmas." Secular cards use "Happy Holidays," "Season's Greetings," or "Warm wishes." Pick one tone and hold it for the full batch of cards.
How to sign
- Write the greeting first.
- Add one personal line.
- Sign with first names for friends, full names for clients.
- Add a date if you mail after mid-December.
Length and format
A folded card holds 20 to 40 handwritten words. Photo cards hold less. Print the greeting on the card and handwrite the names and one line. Leave the back panel blank for the address and stamp.
History
The first commercial Christmas card was printed in London in 1843. Henry Cole ordered 1,000 cards. Artist John Callcott Horsley drew the design, which showed a family at a table with glasses of wine. The card sold for one shilling. The Greeting Card Association reports about 6.5 billion greeting cards sold each year in the United States. Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday of the year.