The Ultimate Christmas Card Guide: Timing, Messages & Mistakes to Avoid
Christmas cards are one of the oldest traditions in the greeting card world — and one of the most neglected. Every year, millions of people intend to send them. A fraction actually do.
This guide covers the practical side: when to send, what to write, who to include, and how to make your cards stand out without spending your entire December at the kitchen table.
When to send Christmas cards
The ideal arrival window is 1st–14th December. That gives the recipient time to display the card before Christmas Day without it feeling premature.
Working backwards:
- Royal Mail 2nd class: Post by 18th December (but this is cutting it fine).
- Royal Mail 1st class: Post by 20th December.
- International (Europe): Post by 9th December.
- International (rest of world): Post by 2nd December.
The real advice? Write them in November. Aim to post in the last week of November or first week of December. You'll never regret being early.
Who to send to
This is where most people stall. The list feels endless, so they send to no one.
A practical approach:
- Start with people who sent you a card last year. Reciprocity is a good baseline.
- Add anyone you haven't spoken to in months but genuinely think about. A Christmas card is a low-pressure way to say "you're still on my mind."
- Include people who might be alone. An elderly neighbour, a friend going through a hard time, a colleague who's new to the area. A card costs very little and can mean a lot.
- Don't feel obligated to send to everyone. A thoughtful card to twelve people beats a generic one to sixty.
What to write
The mistake most people make with Christmas cards is treating them as a formality. "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" stamped onto forty identical cards doesn't make anyone feel seen.
For close family and friends
Add a personal line about the year:
Merry Christmas! This year flew by, but one of the best bits was that weekend we spent at the coast. Let's do it again — maybe somewhere with better weather. Love to you both.
For people you've lost touch with
Acknowledge the gap without apologising for it:
Merry Christmas. I was thinking about you the other day — hope life's treating you well. Would love to catch up in the new year if you're up for it.
For colleagues
Keep it warm but professional:
Merry Christmas! Working with you this year has been a genuine pleasure. Hope you get a proper rest over the break — you've earned it.
For neighbours and acquaintances
Simple and sincere:
Wishing you and your family a really lovely Christmas. It's always nice to see your decorations go up — they make the whole street feel festive.
Common mistakes
Writing the same message in every card. If someone compares notes, it's obvious. Even a single personalised sentence makes a difference.
Forgetting the return address. Especially for people who might want to send one back but don't have your current address.
Over-the-top religious language (when you're not sure). "Merry Christmas" is universally understood and safe. "Blessed Christmas" or scripture quotes are lovely if you know the recipient shares your faith — awkward if they don't.
Round-robin family update letters. Controversial opinion: these are fine if they're honest and have some humour. The ones people dread are the ones that read like a LinkedIn post. "Oliver achieved grade 8 in both violin and water polo" is not the flex you think it is.
Leaving it too late and not sending any. A late card is infinitely better than no card. If it arrives on the 27th, the recipient is still pleased. If it never arrives, they just think you forgot.
How to make it easier
The biggest barrier to sending Christmas cards isn't laziness — it's logistics. Finding the time, buying the stamps, remembering addresses, getting to the post box. Every step is a reason to put it off.
That's exactly why we built Flipabee. You pick the design, write the messages, and we print and post each card at the right time. See how it works.
Christmas sorted. In January. Imagine that.