The holiday season is here, and it’s time to start thinking about your annual Christmas letter. While sending a holiday letter is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, it can be challenging to come up with fresh and exciting Christmas Letter Ideas every year.
To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of eight Christmas letter ideas that will make your letter stand out from the rest.
One of the most popular Christmas letter ideas is to write a personalized family update. This type of letter focuses on sharing the highlights of your family’s year, such as milestones, accomplishments, and new additions.
Personalized family updates are a great way to keep friends and family up to date on what’s been happening in your life, and they allow you to share your joy and accomplishments with those you care about.
Another fun Christmas letter idea is to create a themed letter. Themed letters can be anything from a recipe card to a crossword puzzle, and they allow you to get creative with your writing.
Themed letters are a great way to add a personal touch to your holiday greetings and show your loved ones that you put some thought and effort into your letter.
Personalized Family Update
Sending a personalized family update to loved ones during the holiday season is a great way to keep in touch and share important news. Here are some ideas for creating a unique and memorable family update.
Highlighting Achievements
One way to make your family update stand out is by highlighting your family’s achievements from the past year. Too gag-worthy? Then don’t.
Or, redefine what is considered an achievement. You can also add in some sarcasm and make the achievements really silly.
Sharing Family News
Another important aspect of a family update is sharing news about what’s been happening in your family’s life.
This could include anything from new additions to the family, to updates on health or personal challenges, to exciting travel experiences. Be sure to include plenty of details and anecdotes to make your update feel personal and engaging.
Themed Christmas Letters
For those looking to add a creative twist to their Christmas letters, a themed approach can be a fun and memorable way to share holiday cheer. Here are two themed ideas to consider:
Santa’s Workshop
In this theme, the letter is written from the perspective of Santa Claus and his elves. The letter can include updates on the latest toy-making technology, funny anecdotes about the elves, and even a wishlist of presents for the recipient.
To make the letter more visually appealing, consider using a festive font and including clipart of Santa, elves, and toys.
A table could be used to list out the wishlist. For example:
| Recipient | Gift Request |
|---|---|
| Johnny | Lego set |
| Sarah | Dollhouse |
| Tom | Train set |
You can mix it up and make it a letter to Santa or a letter from Santa.
Christmas Around the World
For a global twist on the traditional Christmas letter, consider highlighting different holiday traditions from around the world.
The letter can include interesting facts about how Christmas is celebrated in different countries, as well as personal experiences from the writer’s travels. People are going nuts over discovering their heritage right now on those DNA websites, so if you’ve done that, make sure you add in relevant history!
To make the letter more visually appealing, consider including pictures of holiday decorations and celebrations from different countries.
Bullet points could be used to list out the different countries and their traditions. For example:
- Mexico: Celebrates with a Posada party and a Nativity scene
- Germany: Decorates Christmas trees with candles, ornaments, and tinsel
- Australia: Celebrates with beach barbecues and outdoor activities due to it being summer during Christmas
By choosing a fun and unique theme for their Christmas letter, writers can add a personal touch that will make their letter stand out from the rest.
Interactive Christmas Letters
Interactive Christmas letters are a fun way to engage your family and friends during the holiday season. These types of letters are a great way to share your family’s news while also providing an entertaining activity for your recipients.
Here are two ideas for creating interactive Christmas letters:
Puzzle and Games
One way to make your Christmas letter interactive is by including puzzles and games. You can create a crossword puzzle or word search that includes words related to your family’s activities and milestones from the year.
You can also include a trivia game with questions about your family’s interests or events from the year. Another fun idea is to create a scavenger hunt with clues that lead to different parts of your letter.
Make a Video or TikTok
Hey, meet the kids where they are–and kids are on TikTok. Come up with a fun video where everyone just says hi and sends holiday greetings.
Your kids can do a silly dance to a Christmas song, or wear bells or hats or ugly sweaters.
This is particularly good for friends and family far away who don’t often get to hear your voices.
DIY Craft Instructions
Another way to make your Christmas letter interactive is by including DIY craft instructions. You can provide step-by-step instructions for creating a holiday craft, such as a paper snowflake or a homemade ornament.
You can also include a template for the craft and encourage your recipients to send you pictures of their finished products. This is a great way to involve your recipients in your family’s holiday traditions and create a sense of community.
Overall, interactive Christmas letters are a great way to add some fun and creativity to your holiday greetings. By including puzzles, games, and DIY craft instructions, you can engage your recipients and create a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Travel Adventures Summary
For those who have traveled throughout the year, a travel adventures summary can be a great way to share their experiences with loved ones during the holiday season. Here are a few ideas to make this year’s Christmas letter stand out:
Table of Destinations
Create a table that lists all the destinations visited throughout the year, along with a brief description of the activities and experiences in each location. This can be a great way to showcase the diversity of travel experiences and give readers a glimpse into the adventures of the past year.
Highlight Reel
Instead of a detailed summary, consider creating a highlight reel of the best moments from each trip. This can be done through photos, videos, or even short anecdotes. It’s a great way to share the most memorable moments and give readers a taste of the travel experience.
Bucket List
Share a list of destinations that are still on the travel bucket list, along with the reasons why they are a must-visit. This can be a great way to inspire readers to plan their own adventures and add new destinations to their own bucket lists.
Local Adventures
Don’t forget to include local adventures as well! Share experiences from day trips, weekend getaways, and other local adventures. This can be a great way to show that travel doesn’t always have to be far away and expensive.
Overall, a travel adventures summary can be a great addition to any Christmas letter. It’s a way to share experiences and inspire others to explore the world around them.
Pet Adventures
For pet owners, Christmas is an excellent opportunity to showcase their furry friends’ personalities and adventures throughout the year.
Here are a few ideas to help pet owners create a fun and memorable Christmas letter:
1. Highlight their favorite moments
Pet owners can use their Christmas letter to highlight their pets’ favorite moments throughout the year. They can include pictures and stories of their pets’ adventures, such as hiking trips, beach days, or even just lounging on the couch.
2. Share their quirks
Every pet has its own unique personality and quirks. Pet owners can use their Christmas letter to share some of their pets’ quirks and funny moments. For example, they can talk about their dog’s obsession with chasing squirrels or their cat’s love for sleeping in cardboard boxes.
3. Include a letter from the pet
Pet owners can get creative and write a letter from their pet’s point of view. This letter can include updates on their pet’s life, their favorite activities, and even a wishlist for Santa. It’s a fun way to add a personal touch to the Christmas letter.
4. Show off their costumes
If pet owners love dressing up their pets, they can include pictures of their pets in their Halloween or Christmas costumes. It’s a great way to show off their pets’ personalities and add some humor to the Christmas letter.
5. Share their training progress
Pet owners can also use their Christmas letter to share their pets’ training progress. They can talk about the new tricks their pets have learned or their progress in obedience training. It’s a great way to show off their pets’ intelligence and hard work.
6. Create a collage
Pet owners can create a collage of their pets’ adventures throughout the year. They can include pictures of their pets playing, sleeping, and exploring. It’s a great way to showcase their pets’ personalities and create a fun and colorful Christmas letter.
7. Include a recipe
If pet owners love cooking for their pets, they can include a recipe in their Christmas letter. They can share their pets’ favorite treats or even a homemade meal. It’s a fun way to show off their culinary skills and share their love for their pets.
8. Share their charity work
Finally, pet owners can use their Christmas letter to share their charity work with animals. They can talk about their volunteer work at a local animal shelter or their donations to animal welfare organizations. It’s a great way to spread awareness and inspire others to help animals in need.
Year in Review
One popular theme for Christmas letters is to provide a year in review. This is a great way to share all of the important events and milestones that happened throughout the year with friends and family.
Here are a few ideas for how to structure a year in review section of your Christmas letter:
- Chronological: Start with January and work your way through the year, highlighting the most important events and milestones for each month.
- Theme-based: Organize your year in review section around a specific theme, such as travel, family, or work. This can help to make the section more interesting and engaging for readers.
- Highlight reel: Instead of providing a detailed account of every event, focus on the highlights of the year. This can include major accomplishments, trips, and other memorable moments.
No matter how you choose to structure your year in review section, be sure to include plenty of photos to help bring the events to life for your readers. You can also use tables or bullet points to help organize the information and make it easier to read.
The year in review section is a great way to share all of the important moments from the year with your loved ones and to reflect on all that you have accomplished together.
Holiday Family Fun
- Free ASL Christmas Activity: Christmas Tree Worksheet Printable PDF
- Free Fill-in-the-Blank Santa Letter Template for Kids
- 6 Free Printable Christmas Thank You Notes for Kids (Fill in the Blank PDF Templates)
- 50 Free Christmas Coloring Pages (printable PDF)
- The Bayberry Candle Tradition and Poem for Christmas and New Year’s Eve (Free PDFs)
- 25 Best Gifts that Autistic and Disabled Teenagers and Adults Actually Want
- 30 Thoughtful Gifts for Intellectually Disabled Adults That They’ll Actually Use and Love
- Christmas Tree Coloring Page Project for Kids–Free PDF
- 8 Unique and Easy Christmas Letter Ideas
- 25 Best Free Christmas Apps for Kids
