How to Write a Christmas Letter People Read (Ideas and Examples)

A note before we start: we make Tribute, the group video maker, and one of the ideas is a Christmas letter on video.

What should a Christmas letter include?

Think of a family Christmas letter as a once-a-year update for the people who don't see you every week: the great-aunt, the college friends, the old neighbors. It still has an audience. In a 2013 Pew Research Center survey, 65% of U.S. adults said they planned to send Christmas or holiday cards, and a letter is the part of the card people sit down with.

• A greeting that sounds like you, not a greeting card.
• The year's best story, told in four or five sentences.
• One short update per person, pets included.
• A line about the reader: a memory, a hope to see them, a thank-you.
• A sign-off with every name and, if you like, a photo.

How do you write a Christmas letter in five steps?

Writing a Christmas letter takes one evening if you plan it in this order. Draft it in early December so it can go in the cards by mid-month.

Step 1: Pick one theme

A theme turns a list into a story. Try "the year of moving boxes," "the year everyone got braces" or "our year in 12 snacks." Christmas letter themes also make the next steps easier, because you only keep the news that fits.

Step 2: Lead with your best story

Open with the moment you told at every dinner this year: the camping trip where the tent blew into the lake, the toddler who called the pastor "Grandpa." Skip "What a year it has been." Readers decide in the first two lines whether to keep going.

Step 3: Give everyone one paragraph

Three to four sentences per person. Better yet, let each kid write their own, spelling intact; a 7-year-old's paragraph about her loose tooth will get read twice. Say one real thing about each person, not their full résumé.

Step 4: Cut it to one page

Read it out loud and cut anything you'd skim if someone else sent it. Compared to a two-page letter, a one-page letter gets read to the end, and that's where your warmest line lives.

Step 5: End with the reader

Close with a line for them: "We hope your year had more good days than hard ones, and we'd love to hear about it." Sign every name. Add a photo or two, and you're done.

What are creative Christmas letter ideas?

If your family has sent the same letter for ten years, change the shape. These creative Christmas letter ideas work for any family size.

1. The A to Z letter

Alphabet Christmas letters give each letter one line of news: "A is for Austin, where we moved in June. B is for the box we still haven't unpacked." Skip the hard letters or have fun with them ("X is for the X-ray of Max's wrist").

Best for: Families with lots of small news and a sense of humor.

Why it works: The format is a game, so readers keep going to see what you did with Q.

2. The JOY letter

Three sections, one for each letter: J for the journeys you took, O for the ordinary days you loved, Y for what you're looking forward to next year. JOY Christmas letters stay short by design.

Best for: Families who want something warm and brief.

Why it works: The "O" section makes room for small moments a highlight reel would skip.

3. The Christmas letter on video (a Tribute group video)

Instead of writing everyone's paragraph, let each person say it. Start a Tribute, send the link to the family, and have each person record their update for the year. Tribute is a group video maker that turns messages from friends and family into one surprise video. It works by inviting everyone to record a short clip from their phone; Tribute compiles the clips, music and photos into a finished video you share or play together.

Recording is easy for most of your list: 91% of U.S. adults own a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center. Put the link at the bottom of the paper letter, or send the video on its own. Over 8 million videos have been sent on Tribute, and it holds 4.9 stars from 7,000+ reviews.

• Time needed: 10 minutes to set up; open it 2 to 3 weeks before you send cards
• Cost: Free to start a draft; you pay from $35 when you publish and start collecting videos

Best for: Families whose news is better told than written, and relatives who'd rather see faces.

Why it works: Unlike a letter one parent writes, everyone tells their own part of the year.

👉 Start a Tribute

4. The top 10 list

Rank the year: "No. 7: Dad learned to make bread. No. 1: Nobody broke a bone." A countdown is easy to scan, which makes it a strong pick for a cute Christmas letter on a postcard.

Best for: Busy families with a lot to report.

Why it works: Lists are fast to write and faster to read.

5. The letter from the dog

Funny Christmas letters often come from the pet. "This year the humans left me alone for a whole weekend. They say it was a wedding. I say it was betrayal." The dog can report on everyone with zero tact.

Best for: Families who can laugh at themselves.

Why it works: A narrator with opinions turns ordinary news into a story.

What do Christmas letter examples look like?

Here are three to adapt: two short Christmas letter examples for a card, and one family Christmas letter at full length.

Short Christmas letter examples

• "This year we traded the city for a house with a yard and a very loud rooster next door. Ella started kindergarten, Sam learned to ride a bike, and we learned to sleep through crowing. We'd love a visit. Merry Christmas from the Okafors."
• "Our year in three words: new job, new knee, new puppy. Mark loves the first, Grandma loves the second, and we're all still deciding on the third. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a calm New Year."

A family Christmas letter example

Dear friends and family, this was the year of the minivan. We bought one in February, and since then it has carried two soccer teams, one cello and a Christmas tree that was too big for the living room.

Maya (12) is in seventh grade and has opinions about everything, including this letter. Leo (8) lost four teeth and found one. Dad ran his first half marathon; Mom ran after Dad with water.

We think of you all more than we write. We hope this Christmas finds you warm, and that next year brings us to your door, minivan and all. Love, the Garcias.

What should you leave out of a Christmas letter?

Skip the brag list (honor rolls, promotions and pay raises in a row), medical detail and anything a teenager would be embarrassed to see in print. If the year was hard, say so in one honest line, such as "It was a tough year, and we're grateful for everyone who helped," and move on to something good.

Need the card line too? Our Christmas card messages for family pair well with a letter.

Writing to one person instead of everyone? See our guide to Christmas love letters. For the rest of December, from white elephant gifts to traditions, our holiday season guide has you covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a Christmas letter be?

One page, or about 300 to 400 words. Short Christmas letter examples on a card can be four or five sentences. If you have more to say, cut it rather than adding a second page.

What do you write in a family Christmas letter?

Open with the year's best story, give each person a short paragraph, and end with a line for the reader. Add a photo and sign every name.

How do you make a Christmas letter fun to read?

Pick a format like the A to Z letter, a top 10 list or a letter from the dog. A theme keeps it short and gives readers a reason to finish.

Is it okay to send a Christmas letter after a hard year?

Yes. Say it in one honest line, thank the people who helped, and share one good thing. Friends would rather hear from you than not.

Can a Christmas letter be a video?

It can. A group video lets each family member record their own update, and you can send the link with your card or on its own. It suits relatives who'd rather see faces than read.

When should you send a Christmas letter?

Mail it in the first half of December so it arrives before Christmas. A late letter sent as a New Year's note works too.

👉 Start a Tribute and let everyone in the family tell their part of the year.