Are you looking for the best Bible verses to write in your Christmas cards? I’ve got some great options for you!

Sending Christmas cards is a favorite holiday tradition. In fact, it’s estimated that Americans send 1-2 billion Christmas cards every year! It’s a wonderful way to send an update to family and friends with a meaningful or fun photo. Additionally, families can frame their photos, post them online, and keep them for many years to come.

But have you ever wondered where the tradition of sending Christmas cards comes from?

The History of Sending Christmas Cards in the U.S.

The tradition of sending Christmas cards is actually a more recent tradition in Christmas history. That’s because the printing press wasn’t invented until the 15th century, and the U.S. Post Office wasn’t established until the late 1700’s. On top of that, mass-market affordable color printing would take even longer to come into play.

The origin of Christmas cards began when British writer and editor Sir Henry Cole collaborated with a local talented artist and his personal friend, John Calcott Horsley, in the mid-1800s. Together, they produced the first Christmas card, and 1,000 were printed in England. Within two years, sending Christmas cards had become a popular holiday tradition amongst English families, and the British postal service had to hire more workers during the holidays to keep up with the surplus of beautiful Christmas cards flooding English mailboxes. By the mid-1850s, sending Christmas cards had caught on all across Europe.

In America, German-born printer and immigrant Louis Prang became the “Father of the American Christmas Card.” He produced America’s first mass-distributed Christmas cards in the late 1870s, and his cards became immensely popular across the U.S. But the person responsible for Santa imagery was Thomas Nast, who created the look of Santa for Clement Clark Moore’s poem, “The Night Before Christmas”. Pretty soon, Nast’s Santa images began appearing on Christmas cards and included jolly elves too–all unique to American Christmas cards!

Finally, it wasn’t until the 1900s that Christmas cards began to include religious imagery to drive home the true meaning of Christmas: “Images of angels, shepherds, and the nativity scene, as well as snow-covered churches, children in prayer, and carolers singing hymns, began to appear on Christmas cards. The ‘rediscovery’ of a biblical Christmas occurred when American and English churches finally began to fling open their doors and embrace Christmas as a time for joy and celebration” (See Collins, Chapter 7: “Christmas Cards”).

Today, creating, mailing, and giving Christmas cards is a favorite part of the holiday season. You can design and order your own Christmas cards or postcards on sites like Minted, Etsy, or Shutterfly, Simply to Impress, Or, shop from a great selection in person at Barnes & Noble, Hobby Lobby, or Michaels. Include personal photos and a photo collage is a popular option, and some people even include letters detailing recent family updates. My personal favorite is to include an original poem in your Christmas card!

You can send family photos and updates on your Christmas cards, send Christmas cards overseas to American soldiers or missionaries, send Christmas cards and letters to Santa, or even drop off Christmas cards at hospitals, nonprofits, retirement homes, and more. Don’t forget to write a personal word of encouragement and love for your recipients! There are so many people who could use an encouraging word this holiday season, and sending a heartfelt Christmas card is a great place to start.

Whoever you’re sending your Christmas cards to, adding a Bible verse in your Christmas card is a great way to incorporate the true meaning of Christmas and share God’s love with others who need healing and hope this Christmas season.

The Best Bible Verses for Christmas Cards

1. Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

2. Luke 2:12 (ESV)

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

3. Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call him Immanuel.” -Isaiah 7:14

4. John 1:29 (ESV)

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

5. Luke 1:35 (ESV)

“And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.’”

6. Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

7. Luke 2:7

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

8. Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

9. Luke 2:14 (NKJV)

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

10. Matthew 1:23 (ESV)

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”

12. Luke 1:30-32 (NIV)

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.’” -Luke 1:30-32

13. Luke 2:8-9 (NIV)

“And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”

14. Luke 2:11 (NIV)

“Today in the down of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

15. Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”

16. Luke 19:38 (ESV)

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

17. Luke 2:20 (NIV)

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” -Luke 2:20

18. 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”