How to Write a Christmas Letter (Plus, Real Examples You Can Copy!)

Good news: Whether you want to be heartfelt, hilarious, or just keep it short and sweet, we’ve gathered some creative Christmas letter examples that’ll inspire your own. Plus, we’ll share a few tips to make writing your holiday letter as easy as pie (pumpkin, of course).

First, What Is a Christmas Letter?

A Christmas letter is a short written note, often sent with your holiday card, that shares highlights from your year. It might include big life updates, fun family stories, or simple seasonal greetings. Some Christmas letters are heartwarming and reflective, while others go all-in on humor or creativity.

How to Write a Great Christmas Letter: Quick Tips

Before you pick your favorite example below, here are a few quick tips:

• Keep it brief. A few short paragraphs are plenty!
  
  
• Be real. Don’t stress about sounding perfect—honest, funny, and relatable is better.
  
  
• Pick a format that fits your style. We’ve listed several below.
  
  
• Use names. Mention kids, pets, and partners—it makes it more personal.
  
  
• Add a photo. A great Christmas card photo makes your message even more memorable.

1. The Short & Sweet Christmas Letter

Perfect for: Busy families who want to keep things simple

Merry Christmas from the Reynolds family!
It’s been one heck of a year—we’ve had our hands full, but our hearts are fuller. Hudson’s energy keeps us laughing, Hazel is our sweet soul, and little Josie keeps up with her big siblings like a champ. We’re loving holiday movie marathons and looking forward to a peaceful new year. Wishing you and yours the very best this season!

With love,
The Reynolds Family

2. The Funny and Casual Christmas Letter

Perfect for: Families with a sense of humor and a lot of chaos (aka kids)

Hey everybody,

We’re writing this while Liza colors the tablecloth, Meredith replays the same 10 minutes of Coco, and Terrence levels up in Fortnite. So yeah, life is nuts—but the good kind of nuts. Mark got promoted (yay!), I’m still writing grants and loving it, and the kids are growing way too fast.

Wishing you peace, joy, and maybe five minutes of quiet.

Love,
Meg, Mark, and the crew

3. The "Spell-It-Out" Christmas Letter

Perfect for: Creative families who want a fun twist

Pick a word—like MERRY, JOYFUL, or HOLIDAY—and use each letter to kick off a sentence or paragraph.

M – May brought big news—we’re having a baby in March!
E – Every summer we head north to unplug. This year’s trip = perfection.
R – “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” is playing again. I love it. David hates it. Marriage is compromise.
R – Rebecca is moving in for the summer! We’re thrilled.
Y – You really should come visit. Cute town. Great coffee. Excellent parks.

4. The Interview-Style Holiday Letter

Perfect for: Families who want a fun Q&A format

Q: What’s the big news this year?
A: Sara’s pregnant! Baby coming this spring. Surprise = joy.

Q: What’s Pat’s obsession?
A: Coldplay. Two concerts. Endless trivia.

Q: What’s Sophia into now?
A: Rock climbing. She’s a total natural.

Q: What’s Sara doing for fun?
A: Painting watercolors again—gorgeous stuff.

Q: What’s Chester the cat’s deal?
A: He’s 17 and somehow thriving. Like a furry Benjamin Button.

5. The "Family Newspaper" Christmas Letter

Perfect for: Families with big personalities and great stories

The Setter Sentinel: 2025 Edition
Dad Finds New Job, New Joy: After 25 years, he made a leap—and landed closer to home.
Mom vs. Snapping Turtle: Paddleboard adventure turns splashy. Everyone survived. Barely.
Daughter Discovers Pottery: Watch out, Etsy. Her face mugs are a hit.
World Goes Nuts: So we’re sending you all our calm, peace, and love this holiday season.

6. The Funny Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas and Ho-Ho-Hope you’re ready to laugh!

Henry believes our couch is a trampoline. We disagree.
Charlie’s launching toy dinosaurs into orbit. NASA has not responded.
Hannah is baking. The fire alarm thinks she's a chef.
Julie and I tried gardening. Our cucumbers took over the fence. The squirrels won.

2025 was a wild ride—and we wouldn’t change a thing. Wishing you joy, laughter, and no exploding science experiments this season!

7. The Newlywed or New Baby Christmas Letter

Perfect for: Celebrating big life milestones

What a year! We got married, honeymooned in Colorado, and adopted a sweet puppy named Gus.

We’re loving married life—and figuring it out one burnt dinner at a time.

To top it off, we’re expecting a baby in May! Our hearts (and calendar) are full, but we’re grateful for every minute.

Wishing you peace, love, and a nap this holiday season.

Love,
Emily & Jace (and Gus!)

8. The Empty Nester or Grandparent Letter

Perfect for: Sharing grown-up updates, family milestones, and a warm tone

This year, we officially became empty nesters—though we still seem to be a 24-hour Airbnb for our kids and grandkids!

John retired in June and has taken up woodworking (so far, no injuries). I’ve joined a local book club, and we’ve loved having time to travel.

The best part of 2025? Welcoming our first grandchild, Ellie Marie.

Wishing you all the cozy comforts of the season and a joyful new year ahead.

With love,
Linda & John

Make it Personal with a Custom Christmas Card

Now that you’ve seen a few Christmas letter examples, you’re ready to write your own! Pair your letter with a  photo Christmas card and make this year’s holiday message extra special. Whether your style is heartfelt, hilarious, or somewhere in between, your loved ones will love hearing from you.