Christmas and seasonal guides

Christmas, Easter, Valentine's, Mother's and Father's Day and the autumn run-in. There are 17 guides in this section, all free to read and copy from.

Every one is written for a specific moment rather than in general, so pick the closest fit and take the lines you need.

• Christmas jumper ideas: 45 outfits for Jumper Day and the office party
  Forty-five Christmas jumper ideas grouped by effort and audience, from DIY jumpers made in an evening to office-safe and family matching sets.
• Christmas card messages: what to write in a Christmas card
  Funny, heartfelt and short Christmas card messages you can copy straight in, plus Christmas cards designed and posted from the UK.
• Valentine's card messages: what to write in a Valentine's card
  Romantic, funny and rude Valentine's card messages you can copy straight in, plus Valentine's cards posted from the UK.
• Mother's Day card messages: what to write for mum
  Funny, heartfelt and short Mother's Day messages for mum, nan and stepmums, plus Mother's Day cards posted from the UK.
• Halloween card messages: what to write in a Halloween card
  Funny, spooky and short Halloween card messages and puns you can copy straight in, plus Halloween cards posted from the UK.
• What is Grandparents' Day? The UK date, where it came from and what to send
  Grandparents' Day explained: the UK date, how it differs from the American version, and what to write or send on the day.
• Elf on the Shelf ideas
  A hundred Elf on the Shelf ideas sorted by effort, from thirty-second moves to the big set pieces, plus arrival and farewell letters.
• Christmas Eve box ideas
  What actually goes in a Christmas Eve box, by age, plus budget fillers and the things that get thrown away by Boxing Day.
• World Book Day ideas
  Easy World Book Day costume ideas made from what's already in the wardrobe, plus ten-minute rescues and no-costume alternatives.
• Christmas quiz questions and answers
  A hundred Christmas quiz questions with answers, split into rounds you can read straight out at a family or office party.
• Advent calendar ideas
  Fillers by age and budget, non-chocolate options, easy DIY calendars and a 24-day kindness advent.
• Christmas traditions in the UK
  The origins of British Christmas customs, from crackers and cards to Boxing Day, pantomime and the King's speech.
• Eid card messages
  Eid Mubarak wording for family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, plus the difference between Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
• Diwali card messages
  Happy Diwali wording for family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, plus a short explanation of the festival.
• Chinese New Year card messages
  Chinese New Year greetings and wording for family, friends and colleagues, plus red envelope etiquette and what the zodiac year means.
• Halloween costume ideas: 50 outfits you can actually pull off
  Fifty Halloween costume ideas grouped by how much time you've got, from last-minute cupboard raids to couples and group outfits.
• Halloween party ideas and what to write in a Halloween card
  A one-evening Halloween party plan with themes, games and food, plus funny and spooky lines to write in a Halloween card.

Other guide topics

• Best of: cards and gifts
• What to write in a card
• Messages by recipient
• Sorry, etiquette and awkward moments
• How much to spend
• Jokes and humour
• Puns and wordplay
• Rhymes, poems and quotes
• Riddles and quizzes
• Games and activities
• Party planning
• Decorations and how-to
• Fancy dress and themes
• Celebrations
• Work and colleagues
• Speeches and toasts
• Cheering someone up
• Feel-good reading
• Secret Santa
• Festivals and world celebrations
• Christenings and faith milestones
• Charity and fundraising
• Badges and pins
• Card design and how cards work

Back to all guides

Where to shop next

• All guides
• Card ideas
• Browse all cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Gifts to make someone smile
• Thinking of you gifts

Frequently asked questions

How many christmas and seasonal guides are there?

There are 17 in this section, and the full directory has 267 guides across 25 topics.

Are these free to use?

Yes. Copy any message, joke or checklist straight into a card or a party plan. You do not need to buy anything.