5 Tips to Writing a Great Holiday Letter

Tis the season for giving (and getting) gifts, enjoying our holiday traditions, and reconnecting with our loved ones once again. The month of December gives us an opportunity to catch up with our extended family whether through conversation or writing letters. In fact, according to the United States Postal Service, the mail load practically triples during this time of year. As such, it is important to make an impactful impression on Uncle Bill who is out of state for the holiday without coming off too smug. While finding this sweet spot may seem daunting, here are 5 tips to keep in mind when writing a perfect holiday letter.

Remind your relative about the time of year (but don’t mention Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa): According to writer Andy Simmons, stating the time of year in the letter helps ease our distant relative back into the family. “Starting your letter by saying, ‘Wow, it’s already December. Where has the time gone?’ will make the receiver feel more welcome and stress-alleviated. However, you want to avoid mentioning the Christmas season as the letter should be more synonymous with family”, says Simmons. Furthermore, the holidays are also synonymous with chaos and preparation which can certainly add some unnecessary stress on our relatives.

Mention positive events, not negatives: This one should be self-explanatory but, even so, as a family it’s easy and tempting to dwell on the negatives of the year. However, it is still the holiday season and no one wants to hear depressing news during this time of year. Save any negative events for January or February. “If you can’t think of any positive news in your immediate family”, says Simmons, “think of extended family. Any new additions to family or achievements? Even a new pet will make our distant relative smile. Everybody loves dogs”.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Witty: A strong holiday letter (or writing of any kind) makes the reader want to continue reading through purpose. As such, livening up the letter through witty remarks and silly jabs will help lighten the mood and captivate the recipient. Simmons provides one such example: “Teasing your spouse let’s everyone know that you haven’t followed through on your plans to leave him while making the reader smile in return. It’s like killing two birds with one stone!”. Other ways to be witty include remarks about our nieces and nephews and their jobs while not being too strong or offensive.

At Least Mention your Entire Immediate Family: Even if nothing is new in the immediate family, it is important to at least mention their names. According to psychologist Irene Samus, “seeing someone’s name written down instantly invokes feelings of joy and nostalgia. Even if said person is not famous, it makes the vibe feel more special”. Therefore, don’t be afraid to say “nothing is new with my son Nick but he’s still looking for a girlfriend” will keep our relative in the loop and make our letter all the more appealing.

Include a Post-note at the End: “Formal letters can seem a bit cold”, says Simmons. “So add a personal touch with a handwritten post-note to the recipient”. Examples Simmons provides include “P.S-you still owe me $20 dollars! Cough it up!” or “P.S it must be hot/cold over there. Hit me back!”. Again, including post-notes makes the letter more lively and special and the reader will certainly appreciate that.

Using these tips and wraparounds, a bland, humdrum holiday letter will become more exciting to read (and more exciting to write!). The holiday season is a time to be jolly so incorporating these aspects while avoiding the frustration and chaos will make the season feel as such. Happy holidays and happy writing everyone!