Merry Christmas Wishes: Short, Personal and Traditional

Christmas is a time when you want to hug your family and send a few warm words even to people you haven't seen in a long time. Here are Merry Christmas wishes: traditional Ukrainian greetings and replies, short messages for a card, personal wishes, messages for family, loved ones, friends and colleagues, blessings, wishes for those far away, and a few short poems.

For the holiday's traditions, see Christmas in Ukraine on December 25, and for New Year messages, see Happy New Year wishes.

When is Christmas in Ukraine

Since 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church have celebrated Christmas according to the New Julian calendar, on December 25. That same year December 25 became a public holiday. The day before, December 24, is Christmas Eve (Sviatvechir), when the family gathers for a supper of twelve dishes.

Traditional Ukrainian Christmas greetings

The main Christmas greeting in Ukraine is "Khrystos narodyvsia!" (Christ is born!), and the reply is "Slavimo Yoho!" (Let us glorify Him!). People greet each other this way from Christmas until Epiphany. You can add a wish: "Christ is born! Peace, health and God's blessings to your family."

Short Christmas wishes

• Christ is born! Peace, warmth and blessings to your family.
• Merry Christmas! May your home be full of light and your heart full of peace.
• Happy holidays! May Christmas bring joy and hope.
• Merry Christmas! Peaceful skies and harmony in your family.
• May the Christmas star light your way. Merry Christmas!
• Christ is born! Warmth, comfort and a generous table.
• Merry Christmas! Health, love and faith in goodness.
• May the miracle of Christmas settle in your home. Happy holidays!
• Merry Christmas! May every dream come true and your loved ones be near.
• Christ is born! A bright holiday and a peaceful sky.

Personal Christmas messages

Christmas wishes feel warmer with a memory of holidays shared: kutia at grandma's, carol singing as children or your first tree together.

• I remember carolling down the whole street and counting our treats. May this Christmas bring you as much joy as back then. Christ is born!
• We have been through a lot this year, which makes every gathering at the festive table all the more precious. I wish we meet next Christmas together and in peace.
• May Christmas remind you that even on the darkest night, light is born. Hold on, dear, we are with you.
• I wish you quiet in your soul, warmth at home and people around you to share both kutia and joy with. Merry Christmas!
• Christ is born! May this holiday bring an answer to the question you have long carried in your heart.
• May your home smell of kutia and be filled with carols and children's laughter. A bright Christmas to you!

For family and loved ones

• Mum and Dad, Christ is born! Thank you for every Christmas Eve of my childhood. I wish you good health and that we get together more often.
• Merry Christmas, Grandma! Your kutia is the best in the world. Many years to you and God's protection.
• My dear family, may Christmas warm your home and your hearts. We will be together at the festive table soon!
• Merry Christmas, my love! You are my greatest miracle. May this be the first of many Christmases together.
• I want to celebrate every Christmas with you: with kutia, carols and your smile. Christ is born!

For friends

• Christ is born, my friend! Thank you for being there this year. May Christmas bring you peace and new beginnings.
• Merry Christmas! May your life hold more bright moments than there are stars in the Christmas sky.
• Happy holidays, friends! I'm waiting for you with carols and doughnuts.
• I wish this Christmas to be the start of a year full of good news. Hugs!
• Christ is born! May good luck come carolling at your window all year round.

For colleagues and partners

• Dear colleagues! Merry Christmas. We wish you peace, health and harmony in your families.
• Thank you for working with us this year. May Christmas bring warmth to you and your loved ones, and the new year bring success.
• Christ is born! We wish our partners stability, inspiration and bright holidays.
• Merry Christmas! May your work bring satisfaction and your days off real rest with your family.
• Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Peace, prosperity and new shared achievements.

Christmas blessings

• May the newborn Christ bring peace, love and hope to your home. God bless you and your family!
• Christ is born! May His light guide you through every trial.
• May Christmas night fill your heart with faith and your home with joy. Let us glorify Him!
• May the Lord protect your family and grant peace to our land. Merry Christmas!
• Merry Christmas! May faith strengthen you, hope warm you and love unite you.

For those far away or on duty

• Christ is born! Even though we celebrate apart, our prayers are with you. Come home safe.
• Thank you for making it possible for us to gather for Christmas Eve. Take care of yourselves; we are waiting for you at home.
• Merry Christmas! We are setting a plate at the table for you: you are always with us.
• My dear, may the Christmas star shine for you wherever you are and lead you home.

You can order flowers for family in Ukraine from abroad; here is how to send flowers to Ukraine from abroad.

Christmas poems

A star is shining bright above,
Christmas has come to every home.
May there be peace, and bread, and love,
And no one spend this night alone.

Christ is born, let's glorify Him!
May peace and kindness fill your home,
May carols ring and candles glimmer,
And joy be yours wherever you roam.

The Christmas night is calm and clear,
A candle flickers on the sill.
May you be blessed throughout the year
And may your home with joy be filled.

Flowers and gifts for Christmas

For Christmas, arrangements in warm winter colours work well: red and white roses, chrysanthemums, fir branches, pine cones and poinsettias. Flowers in a box are easy to bring as a gift on Christmas Eve because they don't need water right away. For the symbolism of the advent wreath, see advent wreath, and for how we keep flowers safe in frosty weather, see winter flower delivery.

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Ready-made options are in New Year arrangements, flowers in a box and gift baskets.

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FAQ

How do I reply to "Christ is born"?

The traditional reply is "Let us glorify Him!" (in Ukrainian, "Slavimo Yoho!").

When should I send Christmas wishes?

On the evening of December 24 and on December 25. The greeting "Christ is born!" is used until Epiphany on January 6.

Can I combine Christmas and New Year wishes?

Yes, especially in messages to colleagues and partners: "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" For New Year messages, see Happy New Year wishes.

What should I write in a Christmas card?

The greeting "Christ is born!", one wish and your name: "Christ is born! Peace and warmth to your family. Olena."

The winter holiday season opens with St. Nicholas — see our St. Nicholas Day wishes.

The winter holiday cycle ends with Epiphany — see our Epiphany wishes.

On the eve of Christmas: Holy Eve wishes (24 December).

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Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.