The family Christmas card is, at its core, a shameless brag. Everybody knows the deal. The secret is to avoid all the false modesty and just lean in and own it.

The do’s and don’ts

Do: be self-aware

“Emma got into her first choice college and we have been insufferably smug about it since April.” Charming. You’re proud and you know you’re being that parent. People love you for it.

Don’t: just announce it

“Emma was accepted to her first choice college.” The same information without the self-awareness lands completely differently.

Do: try to use some humor

“Jackson made honor roll, Maya placed second in regionals, and Connor learned to use the toilet. We’re proud of all of them equally.” Still a list. Nobody groaned.

Do: send a photo that looks like your actual family

Messy hair, mid-sneeze, dog looking the wrong way. Real is what people put on their fridge for three months.

Don’t: make everyone wear matching outfits in a lavender field in Provence

You know who you are.

Do: keep it short

To paraphrase William Shakespeare: “Brevity is the soul of a good Christmas letter.”

Don’t: write an annual letter with sections

If it requires folding, it is too long. If you used the phrase “and on the professional front,” you have crossed a line.

Don’t: disguise a brag as hardship

“It was such a challenging year with all the travel. Four international trips. But so grateful for the experiences.” We see you. We still love you. But we see you.

Do: send a card that feels chosen

Not grabbed off a drugstore shelf. A card that feels like you actually picked it says everything before anyone reads a word.

The card itself matters more than you think

A beautiful card that feels chosen does a lot of work before anyone reads the message.

Postable has hundreds of designs from independent artists, printed on real recycled paper, mailed directly to everyone on your list. You pick the card, write the message, upload your addresses, and we handle everything else. No stamps, no envelopes, no kitchen table covered in cards for three weeks.

Browse Christmas cards at Postable

The one rule

Before you finalize your message, ask yourself: would I say this out loud to a friend at a party?

If yes, you’re good. If it would require PowerPoint slides, edit it down.

Frequently asked questions

What should you write in a family Christmas card?

The best family Christmas card messages are short, specific, and self-aware. Pick one or two real things from your year — funny ones work especially well — and write them the way you’d tell a friend at a party. End with a genuine wish for the recipient rather than another update about yourself. Two warm sentences beats a paragraph of updates every time.

How long should a Christmas card message be?

A Christmas card message should be two to four sentences for most relationships. If you’re including an annual letter, one paragraph is plenty. The goal is personal, not comprehensive. As Shakespeare almost said: brevity is the soul of a good Christmas letter.

Is it okay to brag about your kids on a Christmas card?

Yes, absolutely — that’s basically the point. The key is owning it rather than disguising it as something else. “We have been insufferably smug about Emma’s college acceptance since April” is charming. The same information delivered with false modesty is not. Lean in, be self-aware, and people will love you for it.

What makes a Christmas card message annoying?

False modesty is the main culprit. Disguising a brag as hardship (“it was such a challenging year with all the travel”), the achievement dump with no humor, the annual letter that requires folding, and the suspiciously perfect matching-outfits family photo. The fix for all of them is the same: own what you’re doing and add a little self-awareness.

Should I send a photo Christmas card or a non-photo card?

Both are great. Photo cards work best when the photo feels real and joyful rather than staged. A mid-sneeze, a dog looking the wrong way, a genuinely happy moment — those are the photos people keep on their fridge. Non-photo cards are perfect for professional contacts, people you’ve drifted from, or anyone who wants a beautiful card without the family update. Postable has thousands of options for both.

What is the funniest thing to write in a Christmas card?

“Jackson made honor roll, Maya placed second in regionals, and Connor learned to use the toilet. We’re proud of all of them equally” lands every time. The humor comes from the specificity and the willingness to put the mundane achievement on the same level as the real ones.

Pick a card that does the bragging for you. Beautifully designed, printed on recycled paper, mailed directly to everyone on your list. postable.com/cards/holidays/christmas