Christmas cards for a big family Christmas

A big family Christmas has too many chairs, not enough plates and a roster for who does the dishes that nobody reads. There is one aunt on the phone to another aunt, three kids under a table, and a cousin arriving late with an enormous salad. It is loud, warm and a small miracle of logistics.

Pick a card, write your own words inside, and send it as a link by email or text. It suits the cousins, the aunts and uncles, the in-laws and the long-lost second cousin who has finally turned up. Send each person a different card if you can. In a family this size, everyone wants to be noticed, and most of them are too busy to say so.

5 things to write inside

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

  1. funny Merry Christmas, [first name]. We are eleven for lunch, four for dessert and one short on chairs. Come anyway. We will find you a stool. There is always a stool.
  2. sweet [first name], I love that there are so many of us. Every Christmas I look around the table and think how lucky I am. Thank you for being part of it. Merry Christmas.
  3. funny Dear [first name], I hope you are bringing the potato salad. Everyone is expecting the potato salad. Nobody has told Auntie, so please bring two. Merry Christmas.
  4. sweet [first name], a family this size has a lot of noise, and I would not change a minute of it. I am looking forward to seeing you. Save me a seat, even a small one.
  5. quiet [first name], with so many of us it is easy to miss a quiet word. So here is one. I am glad you are family. I hope the day is good to you.

Questions people ask

What should I write in a card to a big family?

Pick someone specific, like the cousin who always arrives late, and write to them. In a large family, the personal line is what stands out. Mention one thing you are looking forward to at the table.

Can I send a different card to each family member?

Yes. Pick a card for each person, write something different inside, and send them as separate links. It takes a little longer, but a family of fifteen can tell the difference between a copy and a card written for them.

Is a group card better than lots of single cards?

That depends on the family. A group card is quick and warm, and a set of single cards is more personal. A mix often works best: one for the household, then a few for the people you want to notice.