90+ creative Christmas wishes to make your loved ones smile

The holidays are fast approaching, and what better way to show your loved ones how much you care than with a heartfelt message? Write it on a greeting card, send out digital holiday wishes, or use one of these creative phrases to caption a photo book.

There’s nothing wrong with the simple, classic “Merry Christmas,” but if you’re looking for a message that’s a bit more creative, take inspiration from these 100 ideas that are sure to make your loved ones smile.

Heartfelt Christmas wishes for children

Children get really excited about Christmas, exuding the joyful glee that the holidays are all about. They really look forward to tearing open holiday cards and gifts, so it’s extra special to include a whimsical or sweet child-friendly message. Here are a few examples of Christmas wishes for children of all ages:

• Merry Christmas, little angel.
• May Santa give you something special and make this Christmas the best one yet.
• I pray that this Christmas brings you a lifetime of love and good luck.
• May all your wishes come true, dear child. Merry Christmas!
• You are even more bright and sparkly than a Christmas tree!
• A silent night, a star above, a blessed gift of hope and love. A blessed Christmas to you!
• Merry Christmas! You’re cuter than an elf on the shelf.
• Santa’s here, my little dear, with Christmas gifts for you. And since you’ve been so good this year, we bought a few for you, too!
• Christmas castles in the sky are dusting us with snow. The more you play, the more you smile, the more the magic grows.
• We hope your day is filled with love. And chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
• This Christmas is going to be the best one yet! Wishing you a very merry Christmas.”
• Santa’s heard what a wonderful boy/girl you’ve been this year, and he’s already started packing his sleigh.
• Merry Christmas to the nicest kid(s) on the nice list!
• I heard a rumor that Rudolph is on his way to your house.

Popular holiday cards

Creative Christmas wishes for friends

It’s hard to express how much you adore a special friend, but the holidays are a great time to do so. This year, tell a friend how much they mean to you with heartfelt holiday greetings like these:

• My greatest Christmas present is to have you by my side.
• I wish you a year full of joy and blessings. May peace be with you.
• Merry Christmas to you and your family! I wish you good times and a home full of laughter and joy.
• To my friend—may the joy of this holiday fill you with happiness.
• I’m so lucky to receive the best present year after year: Calling you my friend.
• I hope this Christmas is your most magical yet, and the magic carries over to the new year, too.
• I can’t imagine the holidays without you. Thank you for being my friend—it’s the greatest gift of all.
• “Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” —Winston Churchill
• “Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”—Peg Bracken
• May this season grant you endless wishes and may your heart be full of joy and contentment.
• Having you as my friend makes me feel as if it's Christmas every day.
• Christmas is a time when we take stock of our blessings and reach out to those who have touched our lives. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend.

Witty and punny Christmas messages

A wise joker once said, “Being good for goodness' sake was not enough motivation.” Perhaps they were right. If you know someone who likes to have a giggle, send them one of the following witty Christmas messages in a funny Christmas card.

• Please note: Christmas is canceled. Apparently, you told Santa you have been good this year… He died laughing.
• Merry Christmas! May your happiness be large and your bills be small.
• Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases.
• Merry Christmas! Don’t worry, this card has been SANTA-tized!
• What did the Christmas tree say to the ornament? Hang in there!
• He sees you when you’re sleeping. Creepy, right? Sleep well!
• It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Allegedly.
• Merry Christmas! You sleigh me.
• Forget the garland, I’m in it for the swag.
• There’s only one Christmas spirit and I just poured it into a glass.
• I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, but rosé will do in a pinch. Happy holidays!
• Happy holi-bae!
• “We are opening the presents now. Not later. Now. Why? We’re adults and we can open our presents WHENEVER WE WANT!”—Gus, “The Ref”

Whimsical holiday cards

Christmas wishes for pet lovers

This year, design a dog Christmas card for the pet lover in your life and seal it with a cute and funny animal-themed message like these:

• We wish you a Meowy Christmas and a Happy New Year!
• Have a paw-sitively spectacular Christmas!
• Have a wonderful dog-gone holiday!
• Deck the howls with mounds of Milkbones!
• Happy holidays! Don’t forget to leave Santa Paws a plate of milk bones under the tree.
• Happy holidays! You’re the cat’s meow.
• Have a purr-fect Christmas day!
• Hoppy Holidays!
• Barking around the Christmas tree. Have a happy holiday.
• Christmas wishes and doggy kisses.
• Santa Paws is coming to town.
• Unleash the joy this holiday!
• Merry Christmas! I licked the envelope. Love Fido

Pet holiday cards

Holiday puns for foodies

From Christmas cookies to the holiday feast, delicious food makes the season extra special. This year, send your family and friends a fresh batch of food-related Merry Christmas wishes. They’re perfect for food-themed cards and gift tags. Here are a dozen ideas to get you cooking:

• Seasons Meatings.
• A piece on Earth, and to all, a good slice.
• Guac’in around the Christmas tree. Have a chippy holiday.
• Seasonings greetings! Keep it spicy this holiday!
• Happy hot cocoa season.
• Happy Hollandays.
• Seasons greetings and happy Challah-days!
• Happy taco-days!
• Let it dough! Let it dough! Let it dough!
• Seasons Eatings!
• All I want Pho Christmas is you!
• We wish you a Merry Chipmas!

Musical Christmas greetings

If you’re stumped for unconventional Christmas card ideas, turn to music. Holiday songs are heartwarming, and everyone has at least one favorite. Choose a line from your favorite carol, or skim the selections below for inspiration.

• “Rockin' around the Christmas tree, let the Christmas spirit ring. Later we'll have some pumpkin pie, and we'll do some caroling.”—Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
• “Just look outside at all that snow. Got the Christmas spirit, ho ho ho!”—Christmas Gift Rap
• “I won’t ask for much this Christmas. I won’t even wish for snow. And I’m just gonna keep on waiting, underneath the mistletoe.”—All I Want for Christmas Is You
• “Holidays are joyful, there’s always something new. But every day’s a holiday, when I’m near to you.”—Merry Christmas, Darling
• “Christmas Eve will find me, where the love light gleams. I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.”—I’ll Be Home for Christmas
• “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight. Walking in a winter wonderland.”—Winter Wonderland
• “Come and trim my Christmas tree, with some decorations bought at Tiffany. I really do believe in you, let’s see if you believe in me.”—Santa Baby
• “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let Earth receive her King.”—Joy to the World
• “There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow.”—It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
• “Merry Christmas, baby, sure do treat me nice. You bought me all those good ol' presents, I love you, baby, rest of my life.”—Merry Christmas, Baby
• “The mood is right, the spirit’s up. We’re here tonight, and that’s enough. Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.”—Wonderful Christmas Time
• “What a bright time, it’s the right time, to rock the night away.”—Jingle Bell Rock

Christmas wishes from different cultures

Every country and culture has its own special greetings for the holiday season. It’s common practice in the United States to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” but in other countries, these phrases are translated into their native tongue.

Here are 12 ways to spread the joy of Christmas around the world.

• United Kingdom: “Happy Christmas!”
• Navajo: “Nizhónígo Késhmish!” (Beautiful Christmas)
• Australia: “Have a good Chrissie!”
• Mexico: “Feliz Navidad!” (Merry Christmas)
• Ireland: “Nollaig shona duit!” (Happy Holiday)
• France: “Joyeux Noël!” (Happy Christmas)
• Romania: “Crăciun Fericit!” (Merry Christmas)
• India: “Shubh Krismas!” (Happy Christmas)
• China: “Shèng dàn kuài lè” (圣诞快乐) (Merry Christmas)
• Philippines: “Maligayang Pasko!” (Merry Christmas)
• Tonga: “Kilisimasi Fiefia” (Happy Christmas)
• Rwanda: “Noheli nziza!” (Happy Christmas)

Multicultural holiday cards

DIY Christmas greetings

You know what you want to say and how you want to say it, but those store-bought cards might not hit the mark. The good news is you can always create a perfect DIY Christmas card from scratch.

Here are a few ideas:

• Design a postcard: Print a photo on card stock and use the back to handwrite unique Merry Christmas messages.
• Personalize a Mixbook card: Browse our Christmas cards to find the perfect template. Then, launch the card in Mixbook Studio™ and customize your image, text, background, and stickers. Add gold foil to reflect the holiday spirit.
• Upgrade a plain Christmas card: If you already have a plain Christmas card, add your creative flare by drawing borders or other artwork around it. Use a metallic pen to make the lines stand out.
• Create a forever card: Design a timeless metal Christmas card using Mixbook’s custom metal prints. Choose your own image and overlay your text. These aluminum prints are scratchproof with a glossy finish.

May your days be merry and bright

Are you excited to get started on your Christmas card project? Mixbook Studio makes it fun and easy.

Turn your ideas into tangible memorabilia like photo books or canvas prints. Or design Christmas cards to send to the ones you love.

Create a Mixbook account and get started today!