Christmas cards for your cousin

A cousin is half family, half friend, and sometimes the one person who understands what happened at that wedding. You grew up in the same chaos at different addresses, and you are likely the two who remember the same version of the story.

That gives you licence. A cousin card can be cheeky, specific and a bit conspiratorial. Mention the summers, the dodgy holiday house, the relative you both avoid. If you do not see each other often, this is a cheap way to stay close. Send it as a link and schedule it for Christmas morning, and the two of you can compare notes on Boxing Day.

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10 things to write inside

Swap in their name. Change anything that doesn’t sound like you.

  1. sweet [first name], I am so glad we got each other for cousins. Nobody else remembers the holidays the way we do. Merry Christmas. Love you.
  2. sweet Dear [first name], you are family I would have picked anyway. Happy Christmas. Let's not leave it a year before we catch up.
  3. sweet Merry Christmas, [first name]. I think of those summers more than I admit. Thanks for being part of them.
  4. sweet [first name], whatever the year held, I hope Christmas gives you a good table and a good laugh. You always gave me both.
  5. funny [first name], if anyone at lunch asks about the thing we both know about, I have no idea what they mean. Merry Christmas.
  6. funny Dear [first name], let's agree on a plan to sit together on Christmas Day, away from the one who talks about property. Happy Christmas.
  7. funny Merry Christmas, [first name]. Remember the holiday house with the one bed and the spider? I still do. So does the spider.
  8. quiet [first name], glad we are cousins. Merry Christmas.
  9. quiet Thinking of you this Christmas, [first name]. Let's catch up properly soon.
  10. rude [first name], you were the worst influence on me as a kid and I owe you for every bit of it. Merry bloody Christmas.

Questions people ask

What do you write in a card to your cousin?

Use a shared memory or a family joke. Cousins grew up with the same stories, so a line like 'remember the holiday house' says more than a general greeting. Add a note about catching up soon.

Is it weird to send a Christmas card to a cousin I rarely see?

Not at all. A short message at Christmas is how plenty of cousins stay in touch. Keep it light, mention something you both remember, and say you'd like to catch up. It rarely feels forced.

Can I send a different card to each of my cousins?

Yes. Choose a card for each one that fits how you know them, and write your own message inside. You can schedule all of them for Christmas morning, so nobody gets theirs late.

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