Holiday Recognition Messages to Spread Cheer Among Your Team

It’s that time of year when projects are coming to a close, 2025 planning is well underway, and we’re all excited to start saying, “Let’s circle back in the new year.”  

As eager as you might be to schedule your out-of-office email and shut down your laptop for the holiday season, there’s one last box to check and it’s not just your inbox.‍

Recognizing your team is crucial year-round, but sending recognition this time of year is extra special. Whether it’s celebrating important milestones, completed projects, achieved sales goals or just simply recognizing a job well done – now’s the time to let your team know you appreciate them.

Let’s dive into some recognition best practices and examples of holiday recognition messages (plus, AI prompts to help you!), so you can end the year on a positive note.

Best practices for holiday recognition messages

You should never hesitate to send recognition, but when your message is meaningful, it has the most impact.  

When sending recognition, it’s important to:  

1. Keep recognition timely: don’t wait until the new year to recognize your team. Make sure you give recognition before the holiday break.  

2. Make it personal: this ensures your message is more meaningful and has the most impact. Take the time to recognize each person on your team.  

3. Be specific: highlight specific contributions from the year and the work that really stood out and made a difference.  

4. Make it festive: now is the time to add a festive and heartfelt touch and remind your team to relax and enjoy the holidays.  

5. Be optimistic: perhaps there were a few goals that weren’t reached this year, but that doesn’t take away from the hard work your team does every day.  

Examples of holiday recognition messages

If you’re struggling to come up with the perfect holiday recognition message, here are some suggestions to get you started:  

Team-wide recognition messages:

Happy Holidays, Team!
This year has been filled with hard work, challenges, and many successes. Your dedication and teamwork have been truly inspiring. Enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones, and let’s come back even stronger in the new year!

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!
Your creativity, collaboration, and commitment have made this an exceptional year for [Company Name]. Thank you for everything you do, and may the holidays bring you joy, rest, and celebration.

Season’s Greetings, everyone!
As we wrap up the year, I want to express my gratitude for your hard work and relentless passion. You’ve helped us reach new heights, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the new year. Enjoy the well-deserved break! ‍

Individual recognition messages:

Happy Holidays, [Name]!
Your contributions have made a lasting impact on our team this year, especially your work on [specific project]. I hope you take this time to relax and recharge—thank you for being an integral part of our success!

Season’s Greetings, [Name]!
Your leadership and dedication throughout the year have not gone unnoticed. Your efforts have been pivotal to our growth, and I’m incredibly grateful to have you on the team. Wishing you and your family a joyful holiday season!

Merry Christmas, [Name]!
Your positive attitude and hard work have been a bright spot this year. Thank you for always going above and beyond. I hope the holiday season brings you joy and relaxation—you’ve earned it!

Light-hearted and funny messages:

Happy Holidays, [Name]!
May your holiday season be as bright as your Zoom backgrounds and as merry as our team meetings (minus the Wi-Fi issues). Thanks for bringing joy to our team all year long!

Wishing you a holiday season full of joy and… fewer emails!
You’ve worked hard, and now it’s time to relax. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, [Name]—enjoy some well-deserved time off!

Season’s Greetings, [Team Name]!
May your holiday season be filled with cheer, fewer video calls, and more time spent on the things that matter most—like cookies, naps, and family time! Thanks for an amazing year!

Formal and heartfelt messages:

Happy Holidays, [Name]!
Your contributions this year have been truly extraordinary, and I am deeply appreciative of the dedication you’ve shown. Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season with loved ones, and here’s to an exciting new year ahead.

Season’s Greetings, [Name].
Your hard work, resilience, and positive attitude have made all the difference this year. I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with happiness and relaxation. I’m looking forward to another great year working together!"

Wishing you a joyous holiday season, [Name]!
Your unwavering commitment and contributions to [Company Name] have been incredible this year. I’m grateful for your continued excellence and wish you and your family all the best this holiday season and in the new year.

Bonus! Light-hearted and funny messages:

Happy Holidays, Team!
Thanks for making this year one for the books! Here’s to a holiday season filled with as much relaxation as we put into those tight deadlines. Have fun, be merry, and let’s tackle the new year refreshed and ready to go!

Merry Christmas, [Name]!
May your holiday be filled with laughter, good food, and zero requests for 'a quick chat.' You’ve been amazing this year—now it’s time to kick back and enjoy the season!

Season’s Greetings, [Name]!
You’ve been a true rockstar this year, and now it’s time to rock the holidays. Wishing you all the best for a joyous season and looking forward to more victories next year!

AI Prompts to generate holiday recognition messages

In this era of AI technology, it’s no secret that AI tools can help assist in crafting customized messages that convey genuine appreciation. However, if not prompted correctly, AI tools can become timely and exhausting trying to get the response just right.  

Here is a list of AI prompts you can use to put a festive holiday-twist on your recognition message:  

1. "Generate a holiday-themed recognition message for an employee who has shown exceptional leadership in project management."

2. "Create a festive and light-hearted holiday appreciation message for a team that has consistently met their goals this year."

3. "Write a holiday thank-you note for an employee named [Name], recognizing their creativity and positive attitude throughout the year."

4. "Provide a Christmas-themed message to send to my remote team, emphasizing how much their work has been valued."

5. "Generate a warm and appreciative holiday message for an employee who has gone above and beyond to support their colleagues."

6. "Write a funny but appreciative holiday recognition message for an employee who has brought humor and positivity to the office."

7. "Create a formal holiday message for an entire department, acknowledging their contributions and wishing them a restful break."

8. "Draft a holiday recognition message that celebrates an employee’s contributions to our diversity and inclusion initiatives."

9. "Generate a message that thanks a team member for their behind-the-scenes work, with a festive Christmas twist."

10. "Write a holiday message for an employee who’s recently joined the team, recognizing their quick adaptation and positive impact."

Tips for delivering holiday recognition messages

Crafting a thoughtful holiday recognition message is just the beginning. How and when you deliver it matters just as much.  

Choose the right format

Depending on the nature of your team or organization, you can deliver holiday recognition in various ways.  

• Internal recognition platforms: an employee recognition platform like Kudos make sending recognition this time of year even more quick and simple. You can send individual and team recognition as well as private messages, all in one place.  

• Email: while more traditional, sometimes sending recognition in an email to your team members is the way to go, especially in a more formal setting. Emails tend to go unread as we get closer to the holidays, so make sure your recognition is timely.

• Communication channel: this is a great option if you know this is where your team is most active and will see your recognition message.

• During a holiday gathering: if your team is meeting in person or virtually, take a few moments during the gathering to acknowledge everyone’s hard work. Public recognition in a festive setting can create a shared sense of appreciation.  

The gift of recognition

Holiday recognition isn’t just a seasonal nicety; it’s a powerful tool that sets the tone for the year ahead. As the year comes to a close, these acts of recognition remind your team that their hard work and dedication hasn't gone unnoticed.  

Take the time to recognize them – they've worked hard and definitely deserve some relaxing time away from screens, deadlines, and meetings. It also helps reinforce the values of your organization, showing that you prioritize their well-being.  

When employees feel appreciated, they are more engaged and motivated to enter the new year with enthusiasm. So, as you wrap up the season, remember that recognition is the gift that truly keeps on giving, creating a positive ripple effect that can last long after the holidays have ended.