Merry Christmas quotes for family are lines you can write in a card, read before dinner or post under a holiday photo. This list has 45. The first 12 are famous Christmas family quotes from writers and public figures such as Marjorie Holmes, Burton Hillis, Andy Rooney and Norman Vincent Peale. Next come 15 classic lines from Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Calvin Coolidge and the Bible. The last 18 are short family sayings and card wishes.
Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25.
Quick picks: for a card, use Marjorie Holmes's "At Christmas, all roads lead home." For a toast, use "God bless Us, Every One!" from A Christmas Carol. For a family photo caption, use "Together is our favorite Christmas color."
Famous Merry Christmas quotes about family
- "At Christmas, all roads lead home." (Marjorie Holmes)
- "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." (Burton Hillis)
- "One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." (Andy Rooney)
- "Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends." (Margaret Thatcher)
- "Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving, and of families united." (Norman Vincent Peale)
- "From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas bring us closer to each other." (Emily Matthews)
- "Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." (Peg Bracken)
- "Christmas is a time for families." (Dorothy Koomson)
- "Christmas works like glue, it keeps us all sticking together." (Rosie Thomas)
- "Your children need your presence more than your presents." (Jesse Jackson)
- "Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create lasting memories." (Joel Osteen)
- "Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall." (Larry Wilde)
Classic Christmas quotes from books and the Bible
- "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843)
- "God bless Us, Every One!" (Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol, 1843)
- "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents." (Jo March, Little Women, 1868)
- "This is quite the season indeed for friendly meetings." (Jane Austen, Emma, 1815)
- "Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind." (Calvin Coolidge, Christmas message, 1927)
- "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." (Hamilton Wright Mabie)
- "The season for kindling, not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart." (Washington Irving, Old Christmas)
- "At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year." (Thomas Tusser, 1557)
- "Fine old Christmas, with the snowy hair and ruddy face, had done his duty that year in the noblest fashion." (George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, 1860)
- "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." (Francis P. Church, The Sun, 1897)
- "Love came down at Christmas." (Christina Rossetti, 1885)
- "Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Christmas Bells," 1863)
- "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14, KJV)
- "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." (Isaiah 9:6, KJV)
- "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." (Luke 2:10, KJV)
Heartfelt Christmas quotes for family
- Christmas was never about what is under the tree. It was always about who is sitting around it.
- All I want for Christmas is everyone home.
- The magic of Christmas is not in the snow or the lights. It is in the people who drive six hours to be here.
- Home for the holidays, and that is the whole gift.
- Together is our favorite Christmas color.
- Of all the things I have unwrapped, this family is the one I would choose again every year.
- Home is not a place in December. It is the sound of everyone talking at once.
- Some families are held together by tradition. Ours is held together by showing up, every December, no matter what.
- The best gift of Christmas is being surrounded by people you love.
Merry Christmas wishes for family cards
- Family makes Christmas truly magical—thank you for being mine.
- Our family is the best gift I could ask for this holiday season.
- May our family bond grow stronger with every holiday we share.
- Christmas is magical because of the love we share as a family.
- From our family to yours, have a wonderful season of celebrations!
- The holidays are brighter with family like you—Merry Christmas!
- Our family wishes you love, joy and peace… today, tomorrow, and always.
- Merry Christmas to the people who make every year feel like coming home.
- Merry Christmas to the family who knows all our worst habits and invites us back every year anyway.
Which Christmas family quote to use
| Where you will use it | Quote to try |
|---|---|
| Card for parents or grandparents | "Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." (Peg Bracken) |
| Toast at Christmas dinner | "God bless Us, Every One!" (Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol) |
| Note for kids or new parents | "Your children need your presence more than your presents." (Jesse Jackson) |
| Family photo caption | Together is our favorite Christmas color. |
| Card for relatives you see once a year | From our family to yours, have a wonderful season of celebrations! |
| Church card or grace | "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14) |
How to use these Merry Christmas family quotes
Write one quote inside the card, then add a sentence about something your family did together this year. Keep the author's name with any famous quote. Short lines such as "All I want for Christmas is everyone home" fit a photo caption or a gift tag.
For Thanksgiving cards, read our good Thanksgiving quotes. For a gift with family names stitched in, browse our Christmas embroidered gifts and personalized embroidered gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Merry Christmas quote for family?
"At Christmas, all roads lead home," credited to Marjorie Holmes, is short and fits any family card.
What should I write in a Christmas card to family?
Start with a quote or wish, then add one personal line. For example: "Merry Christmas to the people who make every year feel like coming home. We loved the lake trip this summer."
What is a short Christmas quote about family?
"Christmas is a time for families" (Dorothy Koomson) and "All I want for Christmas is everyone home" both work in one line.
What is a Christmas quote about family time instead of gifts?
"Christmas was never about what is under the tree. It was always about who is sitting around it."
What is a classic Christmas family quote from a book?
"God bless Us, Every One!" from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843).
When is Christmas in 2026?
Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026. Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24.
