I was looking through old Christmas cards last night after the kids finally went to bed, the ones I’ve saved over the years in a box in my closet. Some were from my grandparents who are gone now. Some from friends I’ve lost touch with. Some from family members whose handwriting I recognized instantly. And I noticed something interesting: the way people signed those cards told me as much about our relationship as the messages themselves did.
My best friend from college always signed hers “Love you, mean it” with about fifteen exclamation points. My grandmother signed every single card “With all my love, Grandma” in her shaky cursive. My husband’s cards from when we were dating were signed “Yours,” which felt so intimate at the time. And then there were the formal ones from distant relatives: “Warm regards, Aunt Helen and Uncle Bob.” Each closing was a snapshot of that relationship, a final note that colored everything written above it. It made me realize that when I start writing my own Christmas cards in a few weeks, I need to think more carefully about how I sign them. Because the closing matters more than we think, and most of us probably default to the same one or two phrases year after year without considering whether they actually fit the person we’re writing to.
Classic and Traditional Closings
These never go out of style and work for almost anyone:
- Merry Christmas
- Warmest wishes
- With love
- Love always
- All our love
- Much love
- Fondly
- Warm regards
- Best wishes
- Sincerely
- With warm wishes
- Yours truly
- With gratitude
- With affection
- Kindest regards
- Most sincerely
- Respectfully yours
- With deep appreciation
For Close Friends and Family
When you’re writing to people who know you well:
- Love you tons
- Miss you always
- Can’t wait to see you
- Grateful for you
- So lucky to have you
- Love from our family to yours
- Forever grateful for you
- Thinking of you always
- With all my love
- Love from all of us
- Always in our hearts
- You mean the world to us
- Blessed to know you
- Love you more
- Missing you like crazy
- Forever friends
- Always and forever
- You’re the best
- Love you to the moon and back
- Can’t imagine life without you
Funny and Playful Closings
For people who appreciate humor:
- Cheers to surviving another year
- Stay awesome
- Keep being fabulous
- Don’t spend it all in one place (when including money)
- May your days be merry and your wine be plenty
- Here’s to more chaos next year
- Still your favorite (when writing to siblings)
- Love you, mean it
- XOXO and all that jazz
- Catch you on the flip side
- Peace out
- Stay weird
- Keep slaying
- You rock
- High five from afar
- Nailed another year
- Living our best lives
- Too blessed to be stressed
- Cheers to us not growing up
For Distant or Formal Relationships
When you need something warm but not too personal:
- Season’s greetings
- Happy holidays
- Warmest regards
- Best wishes for the season
- Wishing you well
- Kind regards
- With appreciation
- Respectfully
- Cordially
- Warm holiday wishes
- All the best
- Wishing you joy
- With kind thoughts
- Sincerely yours
- Best regards
- With good wishes
- Thinking of you this season
Religious Closings
For cards with faith-based messages:
- Blessings to you
- God bless
- In His love
- With prayers
- Grace and peace
- Faith, hope, and love
- May God bless you richly
- In Christ’s love
- Heaven’s blessings
- Peace be with you
- With Christian love
- Blessed Christmas to you
- May His light shine upon you
- Walking in faith together
- Prayers and blessings
- In God’s grace
- With His love
- Rejoicing in Him
For Colleagues and Professional Connections
Work relationships call for appropriate warmth:
- Happy holidays
- Best wishes for the new year
- Warm wishes
- Cheers to a great year ahead
- Wishing you continued success
- All the best
- Looking forward to next year
- With appreciation
- Season’s best
- Professional regards
- With gratitude for your partnership
- Thank you for another great year
- Best for the coming year
Sweet and Sentimental Closings
When you want to express deeper emotion:
- Forever and always
- With all my heart
- You’re loved more than you know
- Treasuring our friendship
- So grateful for you
- You’re a blessing
- With deep affection
- Holding you close in my heart
- Always thinking of you
- You’re family to us
- With endless love
- My heart is full because of you
- Grateful every day for you
- You make life beautiful
- Blessed by your friendship
- Thankful for every moment with you
Short and Simple
When less is more:
- Love
- Cheers
- XOXO
- Hugs
- Always
- Yours
- Best
- Joy
- Peace
- Blessings
- Warmly
- Truly
- Gratefully
For Long-Distance Friends and Family
When miles separate you:
- Missing you across the miles
- Wish we were closer
- Love from afar
- Distance means nothing
- Thinking of you from here
- Sending love across the miles
- Can’t wait to see you again
- Miss your face
- Near or far, always in my heart
- Distance can’t dim our friendship
For New Relationships
When you’re still getting to know someone:
- Getting to know you has been wonderful
- So glad we met
- Happy to know you
- Warmly
- With friendship
- Looking forward to more memories
- Cheers to new friendships
- Grateful our paths crossed
For Ending on an Uplifting Note
When you want to leave them feeling hopeful:
- Here’s to better days ahead
- Wishing you all good things
- May the new year bring joy
- Onwards and upwards
- Here’s to new beginnings
- Hoping for your happiness
- Wishing you peace and joy
- May your heart be light
- Sending positive vibes your way
- Believing in good things for you
Looking through those old cards reminded me that the closing is often what we remember most. I can’t quote most of the messages word-for-word, but I remember exactly how my grandmother signed hers. I remember my college roommate’s enthusiastic sign-offs. I remember which relatives kept it formal and which ones added personal flourishes.
When I do sit down to write my Christmas cards in a few weeks, I’m going to think more carefully about each closing. Not overthink it to the point of paralysis, but actually consider what feels right for each person. My best friend will get something funny because that’s us. My parents will get something sentimental because they deserve that. My kids’ teachers will get something warm but appropriate. My husband’s colleagues will get something professional but friendly.
The closing is the last impression you leave. It’s the final note that tells someone how you actually feel about them. “Warmest wishes” says something different from “Love you tons,” even if the message above it is similar. “Sincerely” hits differently than “XOXO.” The words you choose to end with matter because they’re the last thing that person reads before they put your card on their mantle or fridge.
So when you start writing your cards this season, don’t default to your usual closing without giving it a thought. Look at each person’s name and ask yourself: what feels true for this relationship? What captures how I actually feel about them? What would make them smile when they read it?
Sometimes it’ll be “Love always.” Sometimes it’ll be “Warm regards.” Sometimes it’ll be something unique that only makes sense for that specific person. Trust your instincts, be genuine, and don’t be afraid to vary your closings based on who’s receiving them.
The message tells them what you want to say. The closing tells them how much they mean to you. Both matter. Both deserve thought.
Happy card writing when you get around to it, everyone. And may you find the perfect closing for every person on your list.
