What to Say in a Holiday Video Greeting
“Merry Christmas from all of us!” is a perfectly good start. But when you want to say a little more, it can be hard to find words that sound like something you’d actually say across the dinner table.
A holiday video greeting can be as simple as saying hello, sharing one detail from your year, and sending your wishes. You might be recording on your own, sitting beside your partner, or trying to get the whole family into the frame before someone wanders off.
We’ve put together examples for each of those situations, along with openings for a year-in-review and messages for someone receiving a group video gift. Borrow the wording you like and change anything you wouldn’t normally say.
Short holiday video greetings you can use
If you’re sending a quick greeting, a few sentences are enough. Pick the holiday wording that fits you and the people watching.
“Merry Christmas! We wanted to send a quick hello and wish you a lovely day. Sending lots of love from our home to yours.”
“Happy holidays, everyone! We’re taking a little time to slow down and catch up with family. We hope you get some time to do the things you enjoy, too.”
“Happy Hanukkah! Sending love to you and your family as you celebrate. We wish we could join you around the table this year.”
“Happy New Year! It’s been lovely keeping in touch, even when we haven’t managed to see each other. Here’s hoping we get a visit on the calendar soon.”
You can stop there. Or add a detail that gives the greeting a little more of your personality, such as “We’re making Dad’s cinnamon rolls tomorrow” or “We’re heading out for our annual walk to see the lights tonight.”
Christmas messages from one person or a couple
When you’re sending the same video to several people, you don’t have to make the wording completely general. Your own plans, traditions, and updates give everyone something to connect with.
A greeting from you
“Merry Christmas! I’ve finally finished decorating, and I’m looking forward to a few days of baking and visiting. I wanted to send you my love and say how glad I am we’ve stayed in touch this year. Have a lovely Christmas.”
A message from a couple
“Merry Christmas from both of us! We’re spending this one at home, with a full fridge and no big plans. We’ve loved the visits and catch-ups we managed this year. If we didn’t get to see you, we hope we can change that soon.”
For your first Christmas in a new home
“Hello from our new place! We’re still figuring out where everything goes, but the tree has found its spot. We wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and give you a little look around. We hope some of you can visit in the new year.”
A greeting can feel personal to several people because it sounds like you and shares something from your life. You don’t need to record a separate version for every recipient.
If there’s something you want to say to just one person, add it to the text or email you send with the video.
Holiday greetings from the whole family
Decide who’ll start and who’ll finish. In between, each person can share a sentence or answer the same simple question.
You could ask everyone to name:
Something they enjoyed doing this year.
A holiday tradition they’re looking forward to.
Someone they’re excited to see.
Something they’d like to do in the new year.
A greeting everyone can join
“Merry Christmas from all of us! Before we send our wishes, everyone’s going to share one thing they’re looking forward to this Christmas.”
Let each person answer, then close with:
“We hope you have a lovely Christmas, whatever you’ve got planned. Sending lots of love from our family!”
A family update with one speaker
“Happy holidays! We’ve spent a lot of this year at the soccer field, teaching [Name] to ride a bike, and settling our new dog into the family. We’ve picked a few photos to show you what we’ve been up to. We hope you’re doing well, and we’d love to hear your news, too.”
Nobody needs a speaking part if they don’t want one. Someone can wave, help choose the photos, or join in for the final greeting. And if a child answers in their own words, there’s no need to correct it just to match the plan.
Here’s an example of a family holiday greeting made with VidDay.
What to say before and after a year-in-review video
Your photos and clips can do much of the explaining. Use the opening to welcome people, then close by speaking directly to them again.
An opening for a family recap
“Hi everyone! Looking through our phones, we found a few moments we wanted to share with you. There’s our summer trip, [Name]’s first day of school, and lots of time in the backyard. Here’s a little of our year.”
An opening for an everyday update
“We didn’t have one big event to sum up this year, but we found plenty we wanted to remember. A few visits, some new projects, and time with people we love. We thought you might enjoy seeing it, too.”
A closing after the photos and clips
“That’s a little of our year. Thanks for watching and being part of our lives, whether we see you every week or catch up from a distance. Wishing you a lovely holiday season. We’d love to hear what’s been happening with you.”
You don’t need to narrate every photo. A short caption can explain where you were or what was happening. For help choosing and arranging your material, see our holiday video ideas for greetings, family updates, and gifts.
When you won’t see each other over the holidays
You can say you miss someone without making them feel guilty for being away. Mention what you enjoy about being together, then leave them with a warm wish.
For one person or household
“Christmas dinner won’t be quite the same without you at the table. We’ll miss the stories that come out when everyone stays for one more cup of coffee. We hope you have a lovely day where you are, and we’ll look forward to our next visit.”
For friends and relatives in different places
“We’re sending this to quite a few different places this year. Some of you we’ve seen recently, and others we haven’t caught up with in far too long. We’re thinking of you and wishing you a happy Christmas from here.”
Only promise a call or visit if you intend to arrange it. “We’re thinking of you” is enough when you don’t know when you’ll next be together.
Gentle holiday messages after a difficult year
You can acknowledge a hard year without explaining private circumstances or trying to make everything sound cheerful.
When your household has had a difficult year
“This year has been a lot for our family, and we’ve really appreciated the calls, meals, and people checking in. We wanted to say thank you and send you our love this Christmas.”
When you’re recording for someone who’s struggling
“I know this Christmas may feel different. I wanted to send you some love and let you know I’m thinking of you. There’s no need to reply. I just wanted you to hear it from me.”
Keep personal details about someone else out of a greeting you’re sending widely unless they’ve agreed to share them. If you need more wording for a difficult situation, our thinking of you messages offer other starting points.
Messages for a group holiday video gift
If you’ve been invited to contribute to someone’s video gift, address that person directly. You can keep your message focused on one memory, a thank-you, or something you’re looking forward to doing together.
For grandparents
“Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa! I still think about making cookies in your kitchen and how you always let us decorate the last batch ourselves. I’m looking forward to doing that with you again. Love you both.”
For a parent
“Merry Christmas, Dad. I wanted to say thank you for all the Saturday mornings you spent helping us with the house this year. I loved having that time with you. Next visit, we’ll put the tools away and make you dinner.”
For a close friend
“Happy holidays, [Name]! Our Sunday walks have been one of my favorite parts of this year. Thanks for making time for them, even when we’re both busy. I’m looking forward to lots more next year.”
Use a memory or detail that’s true for you. If you’re still searching for a starting point, try these prompts for what to say in a group video.
A brief holiday greeting for clients or colleagues
For a work message, thank people for something specific and keep the greeting focused on appreciation.
“Happy holidays from all of us at [Company]. We’ve enjoyed working with you on [project] this year, and we appreciate the time and care your team put into it. Wishing you a good break and a happy new year.”
Use a project reference for a particular client. For a wider audience, choose wording that applies to everyone receiving it. Our guide to holiday videos for clients covers that use case in more detail.
Before you press record
Read your chosen message aloud once. Replace any phrase that feels too formal or unlike you. “Sending our warmest wishes” might become “Hope you have a lovely Christmas.”
You can keep the words nearby or use a few notes. If you lose your place, pause and continue. A small stumble or someone laughing beside you doesn’t have to mean another take.
Record somewhere quiet, face a window or another light source, and check that everyone can be heard. Look toward the lens as though you’re talking to someone you know.
Create and share your holiday greeting with VidDay
With the VidDay holiday video maker, you can combine your recorded greeting with photos, video clips, text cards, a theme, and music. Make the video yourself or invite others to contribute if you’re creating a group gift.
You could open with a message from your household, add a few moments from the year, and finish with everyone wishing the viewers a Merry Christmas. Then share the finished video with friends and relatives by link.
Choose the example closest to your situation, add one detail from your own life, and say it aloud. If it sounds like something you’d say to the people receiving it, you’re ready to record.
