The Christmas card has always been a symbol of love and holiday cheer. In 1843, the first Christmas cards were sent out by Sir Henry Cole, the founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and it has been a quintessential part of British tradition ever since.
Although modern technology has taken over the way we communicate, Christmas cards have always been a special way of sending our love and greetings during the holiday season.
But writing a Christmas card hasn’t always been easy, especially for people who are going through a difficult time in their life. It could be a job loss, a death in the family, a terminal illness or even the pandemic.
When you’re writing for people who are struggling in some way, you have to be extra sensitive with your message so you’re offering the right amount of love and encouragement without sounding too cheerful or intrusive to your recipients.
To help you get through this tricky task, we compiled 21 message ideas for these difficult times.
Christmas Card Messages for Those Affected by the Pandemic
Life has been a lot harder than usual since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe. We’ve all had a hard time for one reason or another – whether we’ve suffered with the illness ourselves, our income has been affected, or we’ve struggled with our mental health during the lockdown.
• “Face masks and lockdowns aside, this is still a year to be grateful for a lot of things and you are one of the reasons I celebrate this Christmas with cheer. May your house be filled with everything you need during the holidays and beyond. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!”
• “From our bubble to yours, we wish you a safe, healthy and happy Christmas with people closest to your heart. See you when this is all over. Happy holidays!”
• “Sending you virtual hugs to keep you warm and loved. May this holiday season be easier than the last few months. Remember that you are loved no matter what. Happy holidays!”
• “May your days be merry and bright even if the pandemic is still in sight. Happy holidays from our bubble to yours!”
• “There’s nothing I would want more than to give you a big hug. But since we can’t get together as usual this year, I hope this card gives you all the love and warmth even if we’re afar. Happy holidays and here’s to hoping for a better year ahead.”
Christmas Card Messages for Those Struggling with Illness
It can be difficult to keep cheerful at Christmas time if you’re struggling with a long-term illness, or trying to recover from sickness or injury.
• “This Christmas, I only have one wish: that you be given the gift of good health and recovery so you can fully celebrate the season with family. To better days ahead! Happy holidays!”
• “Our warmest wishes of happiness, recovery and good health as you celebrate the season with the people closest to your heart. Merry Christmas!”
• “May the coming year be better than this one. Wishing you joy and good cheer throughout the holiday season and know that you are in our thoughts.”
• “Sending our love and prayers this holiday season, to you most of all. You’re in our thoughts, on Christmas day and every day. Merry Christmas to you and the family!”
• “Season’s greetings and a lot of love from our home to yours. We wish you nothing but the best of health and a much better year ahead. Happy holidays!”
Christmas Card Messages or Those Grieving the Loss of a Loved One
It can be incredibly hard to know what to say in a Christmas card when someone has suffered a terrible loss, such as a death in the family. You want them to know you care and that they’re in your thoughts, without sounding too cheerful or merry.
• “May you find peace and comfort during this Christmas Season. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers always. Happy holidays from our family to yours.”
• “Thinking of you and the family through this difficult time. May the light of Christmas bring warmth and love into your household, and here’s to hoping for a better year ahead.”
• “This has been a difficult year for you and I want you to know that you’ve been in my thoughts and prayers. May you have a peaceful holiday celebration with family and friends.”
• “May God grant you peace and comfort as you celebrate the holiday season after a challenging year. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish nothing but the best for you in the coming year.”
• “Love and light to your family, that’s all we want for you this holiday season. Merry Christmas and know that we are here whenever you need us.”
• “Our shared memories of the past holidays will always have a special place in our hearts. May these memories also give you comfort and warmth during the holidays this year. Merry Christmas!”
Christmas Messages for Those who Lost a Job
People who have lost their job recently – whether it’s due to budget cuts, redundancy, the pandemic, or any other reason – probably aren’t feeling too merry, or up to much Christmas cheer. Show them you love them and you’re there for them no matter what hardships they’re facing.
• “Whenever I count my blessings, I think of you. This year may be hard, but better days are ahead. Merry Christmas to you and the family!”
• “A job lost, but freedom gained. This is just the beginning of a brighter future for you. I’m grateful to have you in my life and I hope you get the best Christmas present this year. Happy holidays!”
• “Winston Churchill once said: ‘Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.’ May this inspire you to get back up and show the world what you can do. Happy holidays and looking forward to seeing you.”
• “As they say, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and no one is more deserving of that light than you. Know that I’m thinking of you and wishing you the best New Year ahead. Happy holidays from my family to yours!”
• “This year may have been tough, but you are still blessed. Remember that more than the job, you are surrounded by people who love and cheer for you. Merry Christmas to you and the family!”
Tips on Writing a Christmas Card in Hard Times
To make sure that you are being mindful of what you’re writing for your Christmas cards this year, here are some tips that you should keep in mind:
• Keep it short and simple. This is a brilliant piece of advice for writing just about any type of message, and it also applies when writing messages for Christmas cards at difficult times. Keep things brief so that you only say what really matters. This strategy also helps you avoid offending anyone or saying things that you’re not supposed to say.
• Don’t overthink things. Writing a Christmas card message may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. If you want to look for inspiration, draw on the memories you have with your recipient. When you write something that reminds them of a good time in their life, it’s a lot easier to make them feel loved and valued.
• Choose the right Christmas card design. Although you’d want to be as cheerful with your Christmas card design as possible, you still need to be mindful of the fact that your recipient may not feel the Christmas cheer as much as they would like to.
It’s best to choose a Christmas card design that is minimal but still has all the details that will remind your recipient of the warmth of the holiday season. It’s probably best to avoid choosing a funny or cartoon Christmas card for someone who’s going through a tough time. Something simple but beautiful, such as a peaceful countryside scene like the Stag Family, may be perfect. Or, if you know that your recipient draws a lot of strength and guidance from their faith, a traditional religious Christmas card may help give them some comfort, such as this simple and effective Hope design.
Where Can I Order Christmas Cards?
It has been a tough year for most of us, that’s for sure. From the pandemic to the losses that a lot of families experienced because of it, Christmas is definitely a time to be grateful for what we have, especially for the people around us.
So, if you’re already planning your holiday list this year, make sure to include people who’ve had a difficult year as your recipients. Christmas cards are an inexpensive way to make people feel loved and valued as we all celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
At Christmas Connections, you can find a wide range of Christmas cards suitable for everyone, including those who are going through a difficult time. Every design that we stock is completely customisable, so you can edit the internal text and tailor it to each and every recipient as you please.
As all of our cards come with a 10p charitable donation to a good cause of your choice, you can even make a donation to a charity that will really mean something to your recipient. Show your loved ones how much they mean to you this year with Christmas Connections.
