How to Write a Sample Christmas Letter to Friends and Family That People Actually Read

Let’s be real for a second. Most holiday newsletters are a bit of a slog. You open the envelope, a photo of a golden retriever in a Santa hat falls out, and then you're faced with two pages of single-spaced text about a kid’s soccer tournament from last April. It's tough. We love our friends, but the "year in review" format often feels like a corporate annual report mixed with a brag sheet. Honestly, if you're looking for a sample christmas letter to friends and family, you’re probably trying to avoid that exact trap. You want to stay connected without sounding like a LinkedIn update.

The secret isn't just about what you did; it's about how you tell it. People crave connection, not just a list of milestones. They want to know how that kitchen renovation nearly broke your spirit, or why the family trip to the Grand Canyon ended with everyone eating lukewarm gas station hot dogs. That's the good stuff.

Why Most Holiday Letters Fail (and How to Fix It)

We’ve all seen the template. "Johnny is in 4th grade and loves math. Sarah got a promotion. We went to Florida." It’s dry. It’s predictable. According to etiquette experts like those at the Emily Post Institute, the goal of a holiday letter is to "bridge the distance" between you and your loved ones. If the letter feels like a chore to write, it’s going to be a chore to read.

Instead of a chronological timeline, try a thematic approach. Group your year by "The Big Messes," "The Small Wins," or "Things We Learned." This breaks the monotony. It makes your life feel like a story rather than a spreadsheet. Plus, it gives you permission to skip the boring months where nothing happened except watching Netflix and folding laundry.

The Power of Vulnerability

There’s this weird pressure to make everything look perfect in a sample christmas letter to friends and family. But perfection is boring. It’s also kinda alienating. If your year was hard, it’s okay to say that. You don’t have to turn your letter into a therapy session, but acknowledging a job loss, a health scare, or just a generally "meh" year makes your joys feel more earned.

Research into social psychology often points to the "Pratfall Effect"—the idea that people who are generally competent but make mistakes are more likable than those who appear perfect. Apply that to your Christmas letter. Mention the burnt turkey. Talk about the DIY project that went sideways. It makes you human.

A Sample Christmas Letter to Friends and Family: Three Ways to Do It

There isn’t one "right" way to do this. Your personality should dictate the format. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re sentimental, lean into that. Here are three distinct styles you can use as a jumping-off point for your own draft.

✨ Don't miss: 100 Biggest Cities in the US: Why the Map You Know is Wrong

Option 1: The "Top Five" List

This is great for people who hate writing long paragraphs. It’s punchy. It’s easy to skim.

Dear Everyone,

2025 was... a lot. If we had to boil the last twelve months down to a highlight reel, it would look something like this:

1. The Great Basement Flood: Not how we planned to spend July, but we now know more about industrial dehumidifiers than we ever wanted to.
2. Maya’s First Goal: She finally figured out which direction the net was. The celebration lasted three days.
3. The Quiet Moments: Honestly, our favorite part of the year was finally finishing the backyard fire pit and sitting out there on Tuesday nights.
4. Career Shifts: Mark started a new role in October. He’s still figuring out the coffee machine, but the commute is shorter!
5. Gratitude: Most of all, we’re just thankful for you guys.

Wishing you a messy, beautiful, and happy holiday season.

Option 2: The Narrative Snapshot

This style focuses on one or two specific stories rather than trying to cover the whole year.

Hi friends!

🔗 Read more: Cooper City FL Zip Codes: What Moving Here Is Actually Like

I was looking through my camera roll the other day trying to find a "perfect" photo for this card. I found plenty of the kids smiling, but the one that stuck out was from our camping trip in August. We’re all soaking wet, huddled under a tarp, laughing because the tent leaked. That pretty much sums up our 2025. It wasn't always dry, but we found a way to laugh.

Aside from the rain, things have been good. Leo started middle school (send help), and I finally took that pottery class I've been talking about for a decade. Turns out, I’m terrible at it, but my lopsided bowls make great paperweights. We missed seeing many of you this year, but you were in our thoughts. Can’t wait to catch up in person soon.

Option 3: The "By the Numbers" Approach

This is quirky and visually interesting. It works well if you have a lot of small updates.

The Smith Family: 2025 by the Numbers

• 36: Days spent traveling (mostly to visit grandparents).
• 4: New teeth for baby Clara.
• 412: Cups of coffee consumed by exhausted parents.
• 1: Dog adopted from the shelter (meet Buster!).
• 0: Successful attempts at keeping the vegetable garden alive.

It’s been a busy one, but we wouldn’t trade it. Hope your year was just as full of the things that matter.

Finding Your Voice Without Sounding Like a Bot

You’ve probably noticed that AI can churn out a holiday letter in three seconds. But it usually sounds like a Hallmark movie script written by someone who has never actually met a human being. To keep your sample christmas letter to friends and family feeling authentic, use your natural "speaking voice."

💡 You might also like: Why People That Died on Their Birthday Are More Common Than You Think

If you wouldn’t say "we flourished in our endeavors" in real life, don’t write it in your letter. Say "we did pretty well." Use contractions. Use slang if that's how you talk. Use parenthetical asides (like this one) to add a bit of flavor. The goal is for the reader to hear your voice in their head while they read.

Don't Ignore the Design

A wall of text is intimidating. Even the best writing can be ruined by bad formatting. If you’re sending a physical letter, use a readable font—nothing too "loopy" or decorative. If it’s an email, keep it short. Use bolding for emphasis, but don't overdo it.

And photos? They matter. A lot. But try to avoid the hyper-staged, matching-outfits-in-a-field look. People would much rather see a candid shot of your family actually doing something together. It feels more "real."

Common Pitfalls to Dodge

There are a few things that can sour a holiday letter quickly. The biggest one is the "Humble Brag." You know the one: "We were so exhausted from our three-week luxury cruise, but we managed to make it back in time for Tommy to accept his genius-of-the-year award." Yikes.

If you have great news, share it! But frame it with gratitude or a bit of humor. Instead of just announcing a promotion, talk about the hard work it took or the excitement of the new challenge.

Another mistake is the "Newsletter Novel." If your letter is three pages long, most of it isn't being read. Aim for one side of one page. If you have more to say, that’s what phone calls and coffee dates are for.

Actionable Steps for Writing Your Letter

1. The "Brain Dump": Spend ten minutes jotting down every significant (or funny) thing that happened this year. Don't filter it yet.
2. Pick a Theme: Look at your list. Is there a common thread? Resilience? Growth? Pure chaos? Choose a theme to anchor your writing.
3. Identify Your Audience: Are you writing primarily to extended family who hasn't seen you in years, or close friends who know your daily life? Adjust the level of detail accordingly.
4. Write the "Shitty First Draft": Just get the words down. Don't worry about grammar or flow yet.
5. The "Cringe Test": Read it out loud. If you feel embarrassed saying a sentence, delete it or rewrite it.
6. Add a Call to Action: Not a sales one, obviously. End by asking the reader to send an update back or suggesting a time to call. It turns a one-way broadcast into a two-way conversation.

Next Steps for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

• Finalize your mailing list now. Don't wait until December 20th to realize you're out of stamps or missing an aunt's new address.
• Select your favorite photo. Look for something that captures a "real" moment from the year, even if it's not technically perfect.
• Draft your letter using one of the templates above. Keep it under 400 words to ensure it stays engaging from start to finish.
• Print and ship. If you're doing digital, schedule the email for a time when people are likely to be relaxing, like a Sunday afternoon in mid-December.

Writing a sample christmas letter to friends and family doesn't have to be a daunting task. It’s just a way to say "I’m thinking of you" in a world that’s often too busy for a quick text. Keep it honest, keep it short, and most importantly, keep it you.