christmas target training

Holiday Greetings: Quick Email Phrases

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Have you sent your holiday greetings to all your colleagues, suppliers, and customers?

It’s that time of year again. People keep dropping by my desk to ask what they should write in their emails they want to send out before the holiday period ahead of us. There isn’t really one set thing that you have to say, but it’s a good idea to consider cultural aspects when composing your text. It’s fine to say “Happy Christmas” to people you know celebrate Christmas, but is it the best message to send out across the company or to clients you don’t know well? Here we offer you some phrases which use the word “Christmas” and some which use alternatives – the main ones being “holiday period / season” or “festive period / season”.


Writing emails that people read: Free eBook downloadPhrases for holiday greetings

Less formal

  • We really appreciate the great teamwork this year and look forward to a repeat show in 2014! Thank you.
  • We wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and a smooth start to the New Year.
  • Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
  • Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

More formal

  • We would like to use this occasion to express our thanks for the successful cooperation this year, and we very much look forward to working with you again in 2014.
  • We wish a very happy festive season to you and all your staff.
  • We would like to wish you and all your staff a very happy festive season.
  • We wish you a very Happy Christmas, and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
  • Season’s Greetings!

An example email

Dear Ms Eisenmann,
We would like to say how much we enjoyed working with you this year. We very much look forward to continuing to work with you next year and wish both you and your team a very happy holiday period, and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Best regards,
The Target Team

Note: Happy Christmas / New Year  – each word starts with a capital letter.

Let us know if you have anything to add in the comments area below. If you post your holiday greetings email you want to write, we’d be happy to give you feedback on it.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you’re looking for phrases, tips and tricks and useful downloads related to this topic, start here. In a range of topics, here are some more links for you:

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2 replies
  1. Will
    Will says:

    In German it’s common to say ‘Guten Rutsch’ (not a good slide) – in English you can say Happy New Year, even before the event. This is not ‘bad luck’, it’s a normal phrase.

    *Note: Happy Christmas / New Year – each word starts with a capital letter.*

    Just for the pedants amongst you – in the standard phrase ‘Happy New Year’ the first letter of each word is capitalized (so Happy, not happy).

  2. Jennie Wright
    Jennie Wright says:

    Kate, these are some great points and really important at this time of year to maintain a healthy rapport with clients.

    A couple of points I always give to my learners are:

    1. If you are not sure, go for the more formal phrases and greetings

    2. To be completely politically correct, use the alternative phrases above (just in case)

    3. Don’t forget: look forward + to + ing verb (this is a tricky one)

    e.g. I look forward to working with you next year!

    4. Don’t forget to SAY some of these greetings when on the phone before xmas – you can use these at the end of meetings, conferences, telecons, etc.

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