The Holiday Collection
The short answer: A Christmas letter template is a one-page format for sharing your year: a greeting, three to five highlights, a quick update on each person, a look ahead and a warm closing. Copy the fill-in template below (or one of 3 more for different families), swap in your news, and keep it to about 250 to 400 words. You'll also find short and funny examples, what to leave out, and when to mail it.
Our picks for christmas letter template
Save 38%Bundles
Holiday Season Bundle
Plan Christmas, save for it all year, and host without the January money hangover.
I love giving and receiving cards, and I keep them. A letter tucked inside a card is the one people hold onto, so it's worth a little planning.
Free Christmas letter template (copy and fill in)
Merry Christmas from the [Family Name]!
Dear [friends and family / Name],
What a year it's been! We hope this letter finds you warm, well and surrounded by people you love.
Our year in a few highlights: This year we [highlight 1]. In the spring, [highlight 2]. Our favorite memory was [highlight 3].
Quick updates: [Name] has been busy with [activity or milestone]. [Name] is [new job, hobby or goal]. And [pet's name] is still [funny habit].
A little real life: Not everything went to plan. [Short, light mishap or lesson.] We're grateful to everyone who [helped, visited or checked in].
Looking ahead: Next year we're looking forward to [plan or hope].
We'd love to hear about your year too. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.
With love, [Names]
What to include (and what to skip)
| Include | Skip |
|---|---|
| 3 to 5 highlights | Every event of the year |
| One line per person or pet | Long brag lists |
| A funny or honest moment | Complaints about relatives |
| Thanks to people who helped | Health, money or account details |
| A question for the reader | Dates your home will be empty |
| A photo or two | More than one page of text |
Christmas letter examples
Short and sweet: "Merry Christmas! This year brought a new job, a long-awaited road trip and more pancakes than we can count. We're thankful for every one of you and hope your year was full of good things. Love, the Carters."
Funny: "Our year in numbers: 2 flat tires, 1 kitchen remodel that took 3 times longer than promised, and 0 regrets about the dog who ate the holiday ham. Wishing you a merry, mishap-free Christmas!"
After a hard year: "This year asked a lot of us, and your calls, meals and notes carried us through. We're ending it grateful, a little stronger, and hopeful for what's next. Merry Christmas, with all our love."
Simple one-person letter: "Merry Christmas! This year I started a new class, finally visited the coast and learned to make bread. I'm thankful for friends like you and can't wait to catch up in the new year."
How to write it in 30 minutes
- Brainstorm for 10 minutes. Scroll your phone's photos month by month and jot one highlight per season.
- Pick the best 3 to 5 and fill in the template above.
- Read it out loud and cut anything that sounds like a résumé.
- Add a photo and a handwritten line at the bottom of each copy.
- Address and mail in the first two weeks of December.
Letters and cards have been part of the season for a long time. Plan your mailing date before you write. The USPS 2026 holiday shipping dates recommend sending First-Class Mail in the lower 48 states by Thursday, December 17, for delivery before Christmas. Overseas and military addresses need earlier dates, so check the full table. For envelopes, Emily Post's guide to addressing correspondence covers how to write names for couples and families.
Need shorter wording for the card itself? See our Christmas card messages, keep everyone organized with a Christmas card list, and brush up on holiday card etiquette.
3 more Christmas letter templates for different families
The fill-in template above suits most households. If your year had a different shape, start from one of these instead.
Month-by-month template (for a busy year):
Merry Christmas from the [Family Name]! Here's our year, one month at a time:
- Winter: [highlight]
- Spring: [highlight]
- Summer: [trip, project or milestone]
- Fall: [school, work or home news]
The best part of the year was [one sentence]. We hope your year held good things too, and we'd love to hear about them. With love, [Names]
One-line-per-person template (for big families):
Greetings from all [number] of us!
- [Parent]: [work, hobby or goal in one line]
- [Parent]: [one line]
- [Child, age]: [grade, sport or new skill]
- [Child, age]: [one line]
- [Pet]: [the funny habit everyone asks about]
We're grateful for [people or moments] this year. Merry Christmas and happy New Year! [Names]
First-Christmas template (new baby, new marriage or new home):
Our first Christmas as [a family of three / Mr. and Mrs. / homeowners]!
This year we welcomed [baby's name, born month] / said "I do" in [month] / moved into [city or "our first house"]. Life looks a little different now: [one honest, light detail]. We couldn't have done it without [thanks]. From our [new] home to yours, Merry Christmas! [Names]
Format checklist before you print
| Detail | What works |
|---|---|
| Length | One page, about 250 to 400 words |
| Font size | 11 to 12 point, so older relatives can read it |
| Paper | Holiday stationery, or plain paper with one photo at the top |
| Photos | One or two, printed on the letter or tucked in the card |
| Personal touch | A handwritten line at the bottom of each copy |
| Privacy | First names only; no address, school or travel dates |
Keep cards, letters and postage organized
- Christmas Budget & Gift Planner, $4.99. Includes a Christmas card list page, plus gift, budget, menu and to-do pages, so postage and cards stay in the holiday budget.
- Holiday Season Bundle, $15.99 (regularly $25.94 for the six items bought separately). The gift planner plus a meal planner, cleaning schedule and savings trackers.
Browse the Holiday shop or all our Printables. The free Holiday Budget Starter Kit is 3 US Letter pages, emailed after you join the list.
The Holiday Collection
Give every person a limit and watch what's left
The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner adds up every list for you: a budget for each person, a log of each purchase and the amount left to spend, plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
- Spreadsheet for Excel and Google Sheets
- 11 printable pages, US Letter + A4
- Instant download, 14-day fix-or-refund promise
Planning the whole season? See the holiday sets from $7, with early prices through Cyber Monday
Frequently asked questions
What should a Christmas letter include? A good Christmas letter includes a warm greeting, three to five highlights from the year, a short update on each household member or pet, one thing you're looking forward to, and a closing wish. Keep it to one page so it gets read.
How long should a Christmas letter be? Keep a Christmas letter to one page, about 250 to 400 words. If you have a lot of news, pick the highlights and add a photo collage instead of more paragraphs.
How do you start a Christmas letter? Start with a warm, simple line such as 'Merry Christmas from our house to yours!' or 'What a year it's been, and we're so grateful you were part of it.' Then go straight into your first highlight.
How do you end a Christmas letter? End with a wish for the reader and a sign-off, such as 'Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year. With love, the Smiths.' A handwritten note at the bottom makes a printed letter feel personal.
How do you write a Christmas letter without bragging? Balance wins with real life: share a funny mishap, thank the people who helped you, and ask about the reader's year. Talk about what you enjoyed rather than what you achieved.
What should you leave out of a Christmas letter? Leave out private details like travel dates when your home will be empty, account or health specifics, and anything a family member wouldn't want shared. Skip long lists of achievements and complaints about relatives.
Is it OK to send a Christmas letter after a hard year? Yes, a short, honest letter after a hard year is often the most meaningful one people receive. Thank those who supported you, share one small bright spot and keep the tone hopeful.
When should you mail Christmas letters? Mail them in the first two weeks of December so they arrive before Christmas. If you're running late, a New Year's letter sent in early January works just as well.
Should a Christmas letter be typed or handwritten? Typing the main letter is fine and makes copies easy. Add a handwritten greeting or signature on each copy so it still feels personal.
Can I email a Christmas letter? Yes, you can email a Christmas letter. Many families email or text a letter with photos to save postage and paper. Print copies for older relatives who prefer mail.
Do people still send Christmas letters? Yes, people still send Christmas letters. Many families still tuck a year-in-review letter inside their Christmas card, and some send it as an email or a printed photo newsletter.
How do I keep track of who gets a Christmas letter? Keep one list with each name, address and whether their card or letter has gone out. The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) includes a Christmas card list page, so letters, cards and postage stay organized alongside your gift budget.
Free printable
Write a clear formal or friendly letter
Fill-in letter layouts with guidance for each paragraph. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple planning and home organization tips.
