Yes, it’s time for the inevitable ‘Christmas Blog’. This year, I thought we’d have a look at what to write if you want to send a card to an Italian friend, or perhaps you just want to impress someone with your amazing linguistic ability! The mass exchanging of cards isn’t as big a thing here in Italy as it is in some countries, a fact for which my husband Geoff is extremely grateful. In fact he told me that an unexpected card in the letter box fills him with dread! “Oh my God, who have I forgotten this year?”

In Italia, preferiamo fare una telefonata per augurare Buone Feste. (In Italy, we prefer to make a phone call if we want to wish someone ‘Season’s Greetings’). However, for friends and family that are far away, or whom we rarely see, we may send a card.

Here below are three examples of what to write in an Italian Christmas card:

N.B Remember to change the gender and number accordingly, e.g. Cara Luisa [fem.], Cari Marco e Luisa [masc.plural] … vi auguro (I wish you [plural]), ti auguriamo (we wish you [singular]), etc.

N.B. of these three types of greeting Buone Feste (season’s greetings) is the most neutral, avoiding as it does the use of the word Christmas. Santo Natale would be used by a strong follower of Christian beliefs and traditions.