106 Winning Christmas Email Subject Lines for Higher Open Rates

Do you feel it in the air?

Christmastime is here at last. While this is a period for family togetherness and putting the laptop down for a while, you can’t break for the end of the year without getting your Christmas email marketing campaign in order.

Through automation, you can send timely messages tailored to your audience segments without being in front of the computer.

The question is, where do you start with your holiday subject lines?

This feels like a million-dollar question, as the success of your subject lines can propel your Christmas email campaign forward or leave you ending the year on a sour note. It also doesn’t help that all your competitors will have Christmas email marketing campaigns planned.

In this blog post, we have 106 engaging Christmas email subject lines to help you craft the perfect campaigns this holiday.

let’s get started.

Table of Contents

The Anatomy of a Great Christmas Email Subject Line

What goes into the highest-performing subject lines around the yuletide season? Here are the various parts of an excellent subject line’s anatomy, if you will.

Meets the character limit

Did you know subject lines have a character limit? Internet service providers from Yahoo! to Google will cut off emails that exceed the limit, meaning your subject line will leave your readers in the dust.

I know that Christmastime has some suspense as family guesses what their gifts will be, but holiday email marketing isn’t supposed to be a guessing game. If your message isn’t straightforward and clear, customers and potential customers will move on to the next email in their inbox.

Okay, so what’s the limit? It’s up to 50 characters, giving you between seven and nine words to work with, depending on the length of the words.

Keeps the campaigns timely and seasonal

The Christmas season is exciting and jam-packed. Every day brings something new, presenting many email marketing opportunities. However, you have to be ready to capitalize on December as best you can.

For example, if there are only five shopping days left until Christmas, your email has to go out exactly then. Your readers don’t want to receive an irrelevant message, as you will only confuse them.

Even if you had a great offer inside, your customers might never know because they won’t even bother to read the email.

Another consideration is seasonality. It’s Christmas, a time of fun and yuletide cheer. Incorporate holiday vocabulary into your subject lines.

Here’s a list of phrases to get you started:

Yuletide
Jolly
Jingling
Christmas tree
Chestnuts
Cheer
Santa Claus
Holly
Jolly
Gifts/presents
Celebrate
Carols/songs
Yuletide
Elves
Festive
Joyous
Jack Frost
Holiday season
Saint Nick
Santa’s helpers
Tinsel
Stockings
Good tidings
Season’s greetings
Xmas

Includes emojis

Emojis are a divisive topic in email subject lines, as some people love them and think they’re great in emails, and others don’t.

I believe that it’s all about the type of email. For example, emojis aren’t appropriate for all professional business subject lines, but this is Christmas. It’s all about the shiny baubles, glittery tinsel, and extravagance.

So yes, your holiday emails warrant a few extra emojis. They help make your message stand out.

However, don’t go too crazy. One emoji counts as one character, so you can cut off your message if you add too many.

Here are some emojis associated with Christmas to use:

Bell 🔔
Baby angel 👼
Chestnut 🌰
Santa Claus 🎅
Claus 🤶
Present 🎁
Latin cross ✝️
Glowing star 🌟
Deer 🦌
Snowman ☃️
Tree 🌲
Christmas tree 🎄
Cookie 🍪
Snowflake ❄️

Uses numbers to quantify values

According to Campaign Monitor, as cited in Influence & Co., your subject lines can have 57% more opens if you have numbers.

Granted, that doesn’t mean you need to slap numbers in every subject line you write going forward, but use them where it makes sense.

Christmastime presents countless opportunities to incorporate numbers into your subject lines. For example, you can send daily emails for the Twelve Days of Christmas, counting down and offering discounts or freebies.

You can also count down the days ‘til Christmas, or at least the shopping days.

Has personalized subject lines

A personalized subject line doesn’t stop at including the recipient’s name. The message should be tailored to them, perhaps mentioning a product or service they’ve bought or looked at before abandoning their cart.

Your subject line personalization game needs to be airtight around the holidays as if you slip up, a competitor will jump in and steal your glory (and your customer).

Connects emotionally

Christmas is a sentimental time, so writing subject lines that tug on the heartstrings is more appropriate now than during other seasons.

Besides warm email content, your subject lines should also have a sense of urgency and even FOMO, especially as the holiday shopping season begins.

106 Examples of Christmas Email Subject Lines

Are you ready to see premium examples of Christmas email subject lines as you ideate what will go into your campaign? I’ve got you covered.

The following examples are divided into several categories, so you will have subject lines to inspire you no matter what type of festive email you deliver.

Holiday offer email subject lines

Celebrate the Season with Our Festive Holiday Offers!
Happy Holidays! 🎄 Dive into Exclusive Deals Just for You!
Wrap Up Your Year with Our Special Holiday Discounts
Cheers to Savings! Unlock Your Exclusive Holiday Deals Today
You’re on Santa’s Nice List! See Your Offer Inside 🎅
Jingle All the Way with Savings on Our Holiday Offers
‘Tis the Season for Savings: Your Exclusive Holiday Discounts
A Merry Christmas Deal Awaits! Explore Our End-of-Year Sale 🎄
Festive Finds: Our Christmas Gift to You 🎁
Season’s Greetings! Enjoy Special Holiday Savings
Unwrap Joy: Our Best Holiday Deals Inside 🎁
Get in the Spirit with Our Festive Holiday Specials
Jolly Good Savings: Your Ultimate Holiday Shopping Guide
Treat Yourself This Season with Our Exclusive Holiday Discounts
Glow Up Your Holidays with Our Limited-Time Deals! 🌟
Santa’s Secret: Holiday Offers Just for You 🎅
Santa’s Best Savings: Dive into Our Holiday Collection! 🎅
Warm Wishes and Hot Deals: Your Holiday Savings Await
Sleigh the Savings: Unwrap Your Holiday Specials 🎁
Holiday Happiness Starts Here: Exclusive Offers Inside
Snow Much Savings! Discover Our Holiday Deals Now ☃️

Last-minute reminder email subject lines

Christmas Countdown: Grab Your Last-Minute Deals ASAP!
Final Festive Frenzy: Can’t-Miss Christmas Rush Deals Are Here
Wrap It Up in Time: Last-Minute Christmas Savings Today 🎁
Santa’s Elves at Your Service: Christmas Deals Inside
Jingle All the Way to These Urgent Christmas Savings!
It’s Now or Never: Last-Minute Christmas Deals Await!
Hurry Down the Chimney! Limited-Time Christmas Savings 🎅
URGENT: Time’s Ticking on These Great Christmas Savings
Santa’s Express: Last Call for Christmas Deals! 🎅
Wrap Up Your Shopping Today: Limited Offers Inside
Final Dash for Gifts: Last-Minute Christmas Deals Are Here 🎁
Rudolph Says Hurry! Last Chance for Christmas Savings 🦌
Sleigh Bells Ringing – These Christmas Deals Are Going Quick 🔔
Don’t Miss Out! These Christmas Deals Will Be Gone
Urgent: Grab Your Last-Minute Christmas Deals Now!
Tick-Tock! 5 Shopping Days Left Until Christmas
Last-Minute Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Santa’s Countdown: Rush in for These Christmas Savings 🎅
Final Call for Christmas Cheer: Your Deals Inside

Christmas greeting email subject lines

Wishing You a Christmas Filled with Love and Joy
Merry Christmas from [company name]
Peace, Love, and Joy – Merry Christmas to You!
Sending Festive Cheer for a Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas: Embrace the Spirit of the Season
Wishing You a Merry and Bright Christmas!
Warmest Greetings from Us to You
May Your Christmas Sparkle with Love and Joy
Thank You for Another Amazing Year
Sending Warm Hugs and Christmas Blessings!
Happy Yule! We’re Grateful for You
Merry Christmas and Happy New Beginnings
Wishing You a Christmas of Peace and Happiness
Celebrate the Wonder of Christmas with Us! 🎅
Joy to the World: Merry Christmas
To You and Yours on Christmas
Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!
Wishing You a Christmas Filled with Smiles
May Your Days be Merry and Your Heart be Light
Cheers to Christmas Magic and Happy Memories!
Sending You Love and Light This Xmas
Season’s Greetings from [company name]
Christmas Blessings and Joyous Moments ✝️
Warmest Thoughts and Best Wishes for Christmas
Celebrate the Spirit of Christmas Today
Merry Christmas to You and Your Loved Ones
Wishing You Peace, Love, and Merry Moments
May Your Days Be Merry and Bright
Blessed Yuletide to You
It’s Time to Celebrate Christmas!

Happy holidays email subject lines

Warm Holiday Greetings for You
Umoja to Kuumba: Wishing You a Warm Kwanzaa
Festival of Lights: Wishing You a Happy Hanukkah!
Celebrate Kwanzaa with [company name]
Warmest Wishes for the Festival of Lights
Hanukkah Blessings and Joyful Celebrations
Warm Kwanzaa Greetings from [company name]
Shine Bright: Happy Hanukkah from [company name]
Celebrate the Miracle of Hanukkah
Warm Kwanzaa Blessings
Wishing You Eight Nights of Hanukkah Happiness!
Happy Kwanzaa from [company name]!
Celebrate Kwanzaa with Joy and Purpose
Illuminate Your Holiday Seasons – Happy Hanukkah
Best Wishes for a Beautiful Hanukkah

Christmas in July email subject lines

Tropical Tinsel: Kick off Christmas in July! 🌴
Frosty Treats and Christmas Beats: It’s July Jubilation!
Sunshine and Sleigh Bells: Christmas in July Extravaganza
Flip-Flops and Frosty Fun – It’s Christmas in July
Our Christmas in July Deals Starts Right Now!
Celebrate the Season Early with Christmas in July Deals
July Jollies: Our Xmas in July Sale Starts NOW
Ho Ho Heatwave: Christmas in July Deals to Cool You Down 🥵
Santa’s Vacation: Join the Christmas in July Fun! 🎅
Sizzling Savings to Heat Up Your July with Christmas Cheer
Tropical Tidings! Unwrap a Christmas in July Surprise 🎁
Sneak a Peek at Santa’s Summer Workshop
Chillax and Celebrate – Christmas in July Joy Starts Today!
Merry Midsummer: Christmas in July Celebrations Await You!
Santa’s Secret Escape – Christmas in July Deals Unveiled
Snowflakes in July? It’s Christmas Magic Unleashed! ☃️
Sunny Savings: Christmas in July Fun Begins!
Cool Yule Vibes: Dive into Christmas in July Delights
A Sneak Peek of Our Christmas in July Deals
Beat the Summer Blues with Xmas in July Deals
Santa’s Summer Stop: Unwrap Christmas in July Joy

5 Strategies for Crafting Effective Christmas Email Subject Lines

Christmas email happy holidays with Santa and snowman — *Image courtesy of* *Unlayer*

You’re ready to get writing, and there’s not a second to waste, as you need to launch your Christmas email marketing campaign shortly. The following pointers will help as you unveil your subject lines.

Apply humor to your subject lines

Although humor can be an iffy device to rely on when writing email subject lines, you have slightly more leeway when Christmastime comes around.

For example, try elf humor. Here’s a joke. Why do Santa’s elves go to therapy? They need more elf esteem!

I mean, that joke is over the character limit for an email subject line, but it gives you a good idea of the type of humor you can successfully incorporate into your messaging.

Keep away from off-color humor. Now is the time of year for goodwill toward people, so there’s no talking about religion, politics, or any sexual content. Also, don’t make fun of holiday characters like Rudolph or Santa; you don’t want to offend your audience.

Align the email content with the subject line

If your Christmas email subject line discusses a Christmas in July deal, but there’s no mention of it in your email body, the disconnect will throw off the reader. Maybe this kind of error is allowable once, but if you make it into a regular occurrence, you will lose email readership, subscribers, and even customers.

In that regard, don’t make false promises to your audience. If you can’t truly offer them 70% off, don’t mention it in your subject line just to get clicks and opens. This campaign will succeed, but your future ones won’t because your audience will feel duped.

Keep the messaging consistent to build and maintain trust and loyalty.

Incorporate elements of curiosity

Christmas is all about big emotions, especially curiosity and wonderment. Perhaps you offer your audience a mystery coupon where they have to do a virtual scratch-off to see how much they’ll get.

Another great way to get your audience curious? Use questions in your subject lines. This was mentioned once but bears repeating, as it’s a valuable tool in your subject line-writing arsenal.

Match your subject lines with your brand identity

You’ve long established your brand, including your voice or tone. When writing email subject lines (and body content, too, for that matter), you should always triple-check that your tone aligns with your brand identity.

If it doesn’t, it creates a dichotomy in what your reader expects versus what they get. This can erode trust and hurt the working relationship.

Always split test

I saved my best tip for last, as it’s the most important. You should always A/B test your subject lines, no matter what. I know you’re trying to get your Christmas email marketing campaign out the door ASAP, so you need to plan to test in advance.

Split testing experiments take at least two weeks to conduct and derive results, so give yourself that much time and a week extra to be on the safe side. Once you have the results, you can determine which subject lines and body content your audience will resonate with.

SEO and Research Tips for Better Holiday Subject Lines

The Christmas push is your last chance to bring in sales for the fourth quarter and end the year strong, so don’t miss opportunities to fortify your email marketing campaign as much as possible.

Use keyword tools to find trending Christmas-related search terms

Your emails target a specific keyword, so your Christmas email subject lines must do the same. Focusing on generalized keywords like Christmas, Xmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa this time of year is okay.

However, you’ll have to write inventive copy to branch away from your competitors and make a spot for yourself to bring in more revenue.

Try AI to get more ideas

Both free and paid AI tools can be an endless source of Christmas email subject line generation. Type what you want, then see what the AI generates.

Is it perfect? No. Does the AI often need finessing? You betcha. It can also sometimes be repetitive, but that’s okay.

Don’t think of these subject lines as final drafts, per se. Rather, consider them first drafts. You can use the structure of the subject line, finetuning it to match your brand voice.

Analyze competitors’ email subject lines for inspiration

Another great source for strong subject lines is your competitors’ inboxes. Subscribe to their services to see what kinds of emails they send out. Mark down the subject lines you like, then discuss them with your team.

What is it about your competitor’s subject line that won you over? Is it the structure? The inquisitiveness? The sharp wit or fun personality?

Whatever it is, make a list. Then, sit down with your team and brainstorm how your subject lines can touch on those qualities.

Don’t copy your competitor’s Christmas email subject lines. That will be as obvious as a sore thumb. Don’t even modify them. Instead, use them to inspire you.

Conclusion

Christmas email subject lines are a chance to usher in the joyousness of the holiday season. You can use your subject lines to promote a holiday sale, either at the start of the season or last-minute deals for people still wrapping up their shopping lists.

You can also write subject lines to wish your audience a happy Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or even all three!

Mastering the art of writing holiday subject lines will help you connect more efficiently with your audience, driving loyalty and conversions.

You’ll also increase sales and end your fourth quarter strong!

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer support software for small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs. You get email marketing, marketing automation, landing pages and email templates, segmentation, A/B testing, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do more people read emails on mobile or computer?

Echoing the popular trend, the answer is mobile. Data has found that the email open rate on mobile devices between Thanksgiving and New Year’s hovers at around 44.2%. Another 34.6% read on webmail and 19.6 on a desktop computer.

2. When is the best time to send holiday emails?

On the holidays themselves, or right before. If you have a general holiday email going out at some point in December, you can follow the standard logic of sending it on Tuesday or Thursday between 9 and 11 a.m. for the best engagement.

3. Is it okay to say Merry Christmas in a business email?

Not only is it okay, but your customers will appreciate it. Yours might be among the dozens or hundreds they receive, but it will make a mark. Foregoing this opportunity because you’re afraid of offending is a mistake.

4. What should I do if I don’t know what holiday my audience celebrates?

Well, first, you should learn that information, as it will be helpful moving forward. In the meantime, use general holiday language that doesn’t refer to any specific occasion. Don’t send emails on December 25^th or Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.