Christmas Letter
Write a one-page family Christmas letter with a year-in-review fill-in template, then print it or have IRIS print and mail it to a US address.
Open the letter editorLetters from $3.20 with printing and First-Class postage included. See all prices
PDF mailing available — check requirements
Mail one printed Christmas letter to one US address. For the same letter to many households, ask about volume mailing.
Create and review your letter
Enter your details in the browser editor, review the generated letter, then download it or continue to mailing.
IRIS is an independent printing and mailing service. It is not USPS or the recipient or authority for guided letters. Review the document, destination, mailing options, and total before checkout.
Christmas letter template: how to write a family Christmas letter, with samples
How do you write a Christmas letter?
A family Christmas letter, sometimes called a Christmas newsletter, is a short year-in-review you tuck into cards or mail on its own. Aim for one page: about 300 to 450 words reads in two minutes and fits one US Letter sheet at a normal font size. The template on this page follows the order most good letters use:
- Open with a greeting and one or two sentences that sum up the year.
- Give three to five short updates, one per family member, pet included if you like.
- Tell one highlight as a small story: a trip, a move, a new job, a funny moment.
- Add a line of gratitude for the people who helped you this year.
- Close with wishes for the new year, a sign-off, and everyone’s names.
How do you keep a Christmas letter from sounding like bragging?
Write to one friend, not an audience. Pick one specific detail per person instead of a list of achievements, mix wins with small everyday moments, and let the funny or imperfect parts in: the burnt pie, the lost luggage, the dog who ate the tomato plants. Readers remember stories, not résumés. If a grade, promotion, or trophy matters, mention it once and move on.
What do you write in a Christmas letter after a hard year?
You don’t have to pretend. A short, honest sentence about an illness, a loss, or a job change tells friends what happened without asking them to carry it. Share only what everyone in the family is comfortable with, then spend the rest of the letter on what helped: the people who brought meals, a small good day, what you’re hoping for next year. If the year was too much for a full letter, a few lines of thanks are enough.
What should you leave out of a Christmas letter?
Letters get passed around, photographed, and left on counters. Keep these out:
- Travel dates or any mention of when the house will be empty.
- Children’s school names, teachers, team schedules, or full birthdays.
- Health details someone in the family hasn’t agreed to share.
- Money figures, salaries, and home prices.
- Anything about someone else’s private news, such as a sibling’s divorce.
Sample Christmas letter from a young family
Dear friends and family,
This was the year of firsts at our house. Maya, 6, learned to ride her bike and now narrates every ride like a sports announcer. Leo, 3, discovered dinosaurs and can pronounce “Pachycephalosaurus” better than either of us. Chris started a new job he really likes, and Dana finally finished the garden fence, mostly.
Our highlight was a long weekend at the lake, where Leo caught his first fish and insisted we name it before letting it go. (It was Gary.)
Thank you to everyone who babysat, sent hand-me-downs, and answered late-night parenting texts. We hope the new year brings you rest and plenty of good news.
With love, Dana, Chris, Maya, Leo, and Biscuit the dog
Sample Christmas letter from empty nesters
Merry Christmas from Linda and Tom!
Our first full year with an empty house turned out quieter and busier than expected. Tom joined a community choir and has learned that tenors are always in short supply. Linda took up pottery; the lopsided mugs are now our favorites. Sarah moved to Denver for work and loves it, and Ben is finishing his last year of college.
In September we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopped at every overlook, which is why a three-day drive took five.
We are grateful for old friends who kept inviting us out, and for phone calls that last longer than they used to. Wishing you a happy, healthy new year.
Warmly, Linda and Tom
Sample Christmas letter from a single person
Hi everyone,
2026 was a year of small, good changes. I adopted a gray cat named Pepper who now runs the apartment, started running on Saturday mornings, and made it through a 10K without walking. Work is steady, and I finally learned to bake a decent loaf of bread.
The best part of the year was a week visiting my sister and her kids, which involved more board games than sleep.
Thank you for the texts, visits, and dinners this year. I hope the new year treats you kindly. Merry Christmas!
Love, Jordan (and Pepper)
Sample Christmas letter after a hard year
Dear friends,
This year asked a lot of us. In the spring we lost Grandpa Joe, and we have missed his stories at every family dinner since. Mark’s surgery in August went well, and he is back on his feet and back to burning the pancakes on Sundays. The kids have been patient and kind through all of it.
What carried us were the people around us: the meals left on the porch, the cards, the friends who just sat with us. We noticed every one.
We are hoping for a quieter, gentler new year, and we wish the same for you.
With love and thanks, Ana, Mark, Sofia, and Daniel
How do you address and mail a Christmas letter?
Fold the letter in thirds and put it in the card envelope, or mail it on its own in a standard business envelope. A card plus a letter can weigh more than 1 ounce, so weigh one before buying stamps: each extra ounce is $0.29, and square or bulky cards add USPS’s $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge. Address the envelope the same way as a Christmas card, and mail it early: USPS publishes recommended holiday mailing dates each year but doesn’t guarantee delivery by a date.
Can IRIS print and mail a Christmas letter for me?
Yes, one letter to one US address per order. Fill in the template, review it, enter the recipient’s address and your return address, and IRIS prints the letter, puts it in an envelope, and mails it by USPS First-Class Mail. A one-page black-and-white letter is $3.20 and a one-page color letter is $3.40, postage included. IRIS mails a letter, not a folded greeting card, and can’t promise a delivery date, so order early in December.
Sending the same letter to a long list of relatives? Ask about volume mailing instead of placing one order per household.
Sources
Checked against these sources: . This is general information, not legal advice.
Open the letter editor
The editor keeps this draft in this browser tab. Nothing is uploaded until you choose Continue to mailing.