A Christmas Greeting for Family Far Away: What to Say
Christmas is the holiday most likely to separate people from the table they grew up at. A phone call helps, but a greeting your family can replay on Christmas morning, with your voice or a story in the language you share, can sit beside the tree all day.
What to include
- A tradition you miss. Midnight Mass, a specific dish, the carols you sang off-key.
- A name for each person. One line for each, even if it is short.
- A promise. “Next year I will be at the table.” Only say it if you mean it.
Starter wording
Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad. I miss the smell of your plum cake on the stove and Dad's off-key carols. I will be on video at midnight your time, but until then I made you this.
Adapt it for your family and language. For Spanish speakers: Feliz Navidad. For Portuguese: Feliz Natal.
Make it a story
Type that note into ShareGreet and it writes a short script, illustrates each scene and narrates it in the language you choose. You can then upload a real photo, such as last year's tree or the street you grew up on, for any scene.
Prompts for different relationships
- To parents: “Wish my parents a Merry Christmas from far away. Mention the midnight Mass we go to every year and Mom's plum cake, and say I will be home next Christmas.”
- To grandparents: “Send my grandparents a Christmas greeting. Say I think of their house at Christmas, the lights and the carols, and that I am grateful for every one of those memories.”
- To siblings: “Wish my brother a Merry Christmas and tease him about the year he ate all the cake before dinner.”
Handling time zones
If you are twelve hours ahead of your family, your Christmas starts before theirs. Send the greeting when it will be seen first thing on their Christmas morning, and let them watch it before the day fills up. Generation runs in the background, so you can prepare it a day or two ahead without any pressure.
Make the greeting last
- Add one real photo, such as the tree you decorated or the view from your window.
- Keep the language the one you share, whether that is English, Spanish, Portuguese or a regional Indian language.
- Follow it with a call, so the greeting becomes the opening of the conversation.
Send it well
- Create it early. Generation runs in the background and notifies you when ready.
- Send on Christmas Eve or the morning of, depending on time zones.
- Consider one greeting per household so each feels personal.
More on long-distance connection in how to stay close to family abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Can I include a photo of our family?
Yes. You can upload your own photo or short video for any scene while reviewing the script.
Is it only for English?
No. Narration is available in 30+ languages.
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