I want to put some sort of topical message on my family's holiday card!

November 25, 2016 2:28 PM

My family (me, toddler, pregnant wife; we are all white US-ians) took some professional photos and are set to order holiday cards to send out to friends and family this year. But alongside a nice photo, the classically pithy "Happy Holidays" or "Happy New Year" greetings (and so on) aren't feeling quite right, as most of the people we're sending this to are as depressed about the state of our country as we are, and we'd like to acknowledge that people are afraid/uncertain/unbalanced/angry. What could we say instead?

We'd like to find some other message, ideally a phrase or quote that gives a nod to the scary times we are living through but maybe offers a bit of hope as well. One difficulty is: we thought about using a passage from the end of Hillary Clinton's concession speech, but some of these cards are going to people from our professional lives, and we work jobs where we are not really supposed to be political. I'm not totally against a quote from someone that could be deemed partisan because, well, fuck it, but I also want to explore quotes that won't get us in trouble.

Sorry this is vague; it's that way because I haven't quite formulated what I want. Essentially, I'd like to forego a classic holiday message in favor of something more "real." This came out of a joke card I made that simply said "Fuck Trump 2017!" and while many of our recipients would enjoy that, not all would.

Thanks...

posted by ORthey to Writing & Language (11 answers total)

It's traditional, but "peace on earth and goodwill to all" should get the message across to like-minded recipients without getting political.
posted by mama casserole at 2:44 PM on November 25, 2016

May the spirit of the season guide us in these challenging times.
posted by pixlboi at 3:04 PM on November 25, 2016

I'm not religious, but this prayer has always resonated with me; I don't know if you could take something from this that would work for you.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you,
May God give you grace never to sell yourself short,
Grace to risk something big for something good,
Grace to remember that the world is now too dangerous
for anything but truth; and too small for anything but love.
So, may God take your minds and think through them,
May God take your lips and speak through them,
May God take your hearts and set them on fire.
May God lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen
posted by Medieval Maven at 3:23 PM on November 25, 2016

What about: "Peace is our gift to each other"

- Eli Wessel

And then...

P.S. "Fuck Trump 2017!"
posted by Toddles at 3:29 PM on November 25, 2016

"Merry Christmas. I guess."
"Festivus for the white of us"
"Merrier together"

In reality, I would probably go with a generic message and hand write "F trump" to my friends. Just today, I purchased cards that read "Happy Holidays" because I know it will annoy some of my relatives.
posted by areaperson at 3:30 PM on November 25, 2016

We went with a simple "Peace" for very similar reasons.
posted by netsirk at 3:41 PM on November 25, 2016

I was just on this hunt and found cards that said "may the beauty of nature fill your heart with peace and joy throughout the year"
Maybe something along that theme?
posted by platypus of the universe at 4:13 PM on November 25, 2016

I'd skip it. People get enough reminders and have/see enough outlets for the current political climate and others' feelings about it. Let your holiday card just be a holiday card.
posted by ElectricGoat at 6:55 PM on November 25, 2016

"In solidarity 👊" (fistbump)
posted by hapax_legomenon at 7:04 PM on November 25, 2016

Love Trumps Hate.
posted by kate blank at 5:59 AM on November 26, 2016

My card usually just has pictures and says happy holidays, love us, or whatever, but this year it says

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

It's a very traditional Christmas verse. Isaiah 9:2.
posted by gerstle at 9:49 PM on November 26, 2016