If you’ve committed to sending Christmas cards, we’re sorry to say that you’re now stuck in it forever. 

Imagine one year your Nan doesn’t get hers? She’ll start to worry, maybe she did something wrong? Unfortunately, you started this, which means you have to keep it up. And the pile will keep getting bigger (hopefully, anyway). 

That means it’s the magical time of year when you suddenly realise you’ve got the handwriting of a medieval doctor and no idea what to say to half your contact list. By the final few cards, you’re barely even scrawling in English. 

Fear not, because Scribbler’s here to save your Christmas sanity (and your dignity) with a few tips to help you write something better than “To [Name], Merry Christmas. From [Your Name].” 

Also, don’t use AI, it’s not very personal, is it?

Be Personal

You should probably make it sound like you actually know them, and you’re not just rifling through a pile of Xmas cards like an underpaid postman. 

Example:

“To [Name],

May your wine be mulled, your bells be rung and your t*ts be tinselled. 

Love,
Mum

Okay maybe don’t send this to your child, but this message conveys that you’re both hilarious and has a nice bit of sentiment in there, too. Basically ‘I wish you a merry Christmas’ but without sounding super boring. 

And if they have a habit of wearing decorations as if they were clothes? Even better.

Say something real

‘Merry Christmas’ - boring, generic, everyone says it, means very little. 

‘Have a f*cking great Christmas, let’s get baubled’ - fun, exciting, sets expectation of regular festive pub visits nice and early.

Because really, that’s what Christmas is all about, isn’t it? 

Add in a Memory (especially if it’s embarrassing)

‘Happy Christmas! Remember when you got hammered at the office party and threw up on Sharon’s desk? Hope that happens again!’

‘Merry Chrimbo! Hope you don’t get me another pair of Primark socks!’

‘Happy Christmas, Dad, please don’t burn the turkey again.’

End on a High Note

Don’t finish it with ‘Regards’ or ‘From’, that’s really weird. This is a nice Christmas card, not an email to someone you hate.

‘Love and leftovers ‘til we can’t physically move’.

‘I like you more than a Malteser Celebration (almost)’. 

‘Hope to see you on the nice list this year’. 

Much more fun, right?