65+ Thanksgiving Card Messages

65+ Thanksgiving Card Messages

65+ Thanksgiving Card Messages

Thanksgiving is an extra-special opportunity to express gratitude to the important people in your life. If you have faraway friends or family, sending a card is a tangible way to show & tell them how thankful you are for them. 
Thanksgiving celebrations take place in the U.S. and Canada. The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 (401 years ago!) when Pilgrims from England and the Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast. The Plymouth colonists celebrated their first harvest after a period of food insecurity & starvation; the Native Americans had shared their agricultural knowledge to live alongside the European settlers.


Thanksgiving emphasizes gratitude for the harvest, life's blessings, and the interconnectedness of people & cultures. Even after the first Thanksgiving, colonial settlers & Native Americans struggled to coexist peacefully. Thanksgiving offers an opportunity to reflect on life's blessings & reminds us to make every effort to appreciate and care for our neighbors, even in hardship.


This year, Thanksgiving will be on Thursday, November 24, 2022. In the rest of this article, you'll find a treasure trove of Thanksgiving messages to write in cards for friends, family, and co-workers. We've also compiled some funny messages & jokes for Thanksgiving & Thanksgiving messages to help loved ones get through difficult times.

What to Write in a Thanksgiving Card?

Practicing gratitude can be challenging. Sometimes, adverse events & emotions are easier to focus on; they feel more pressing. However, practicing gratitude means focusing on the positive aspects of life despite the difficulties.
Gratitude helps you remember the good things in life & can be a reminder to others that there's always something to be thankful for. So, how can you compose a message of gratitude to someone special? Here are a few tips: 
  1. Name the recipient & tell them what you appreciate. Be specific. 

  2. Add how their action/friendship/kindness made you feel & how you feel now.

  3. End with gratitude, a compliment, and well wishes. 

Keep reading for beautiful expressions of gratitude, Thanksgiving card sayings, and messages for Thanksgiving cards. We recommend adding your thoughts, feelings, and well wishes to make your messages unique & personal.

15 Thanksgiving Messages for Cards to Send to Friends

Bring your besties’ cards to Friendsgiving. Or, if your closest friends live far away, they'll love a beautiful card, like this adorable Harvest pop-up Basket. We have some ideas: 

  1. Happy Thanksgiving to my BFF! Out of everything I have to be thankful for, your friendship is at the top of the list. 

  2. I hope your Thanksgiving table is surrounded by your favorite people & filled with your favorite foods. I'm so thankful for you! 

  3. We wish you peace, love, joy, and many blessings this Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see each other soon! 

  4. Just a reminder: we aren't counting calories today, just blessings. I hope your day is overflowing with blessings (and calories, too)! 

  5. Thanksgiving is perfect for reflecting on the people who mean the most. Thank you for being an extraordinary friend. You're the best!

  6. I hope your Thanksgiving is as wonderful as you are! 

  7. You're sweeter than pie, and I hope your Thanksgiving is too! I love & miss you. 

  8. I hope this Thanksgiving is as fun & bright as the colorful leaves outside. You deserve life's most brilliant blessings. 

  9. May every moment of your holiday sparkle with the light of friendship and love! 

  10. Thanks for your loyal, loving friendship! You mean the world to me, sweet friend. Happy Thanksgiving!

  11. You make me feel thankful all year, but I am spending extra time thinking about everything I love about you today.

  12. You always see the glass as half-full, and I admire your perspective—happy Thanksgiving to my dearest friend, who continually reminds me to be thankful.

  13. Friendship is a precious gift; yours is the most wonderful of all! Happy Thanksgiving, dear friend. I love you! 

  14. Your friendship gives me hope that there is always something beautiful, no matter what challenges life brings my way. Happy Thanksgiving to you, a bright light in my world! 

  15. I hope you find yourself seated at a table filled with delicious food & lavish love. You deserve the best of everything, sweet friend! 

12 Thanksgiving Messages for Cards to Send to Family

It can be easy to take family members for granted, perhaps because you've spent so much time together & know the most about them. You’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly! Yet, that actually makes your gratitude more meaningful. 

The fact that you know everything about your family members & still focus on the beautiful things about them is the true blessing of family. (Again, that doesn't mean ignoring hurtful actions; this only works in healthy relationships.) 

What Thanksgiving messages work best for cards to family members? Here are some that we love: 

  1. We've had our differences, but I love being your sister/brother. I wouldn't have it any other way! Happy Thanksgiving! 

  2. I'm so grateful for our incredible family. I don't know where I would be without you guys—sending you all my love this Thanksgiving!

  3. Remember the time we baked the turkey with the giblets inside? I still laugh out loud when I think of it. Happy Thanksgiving & good luck! 

  4. When I feel sad, the thought of you & our happy times together brightens my day. You've always made my life brighter & I'm forever thankful! 

  5. Of all the beautiful things in my life, I'm most grateful to belong to a loving, forgiving, and *usually* pleasant family. Thank you for being there for me. Happy Thanksgiving! 

  6. There's so much to give thanks for today, Dad. And you're second on my list, right after the pumpkin pie! Happy Turkey Day! 

  7. Although our homes are far apart, our hearts remain close. For that, I am ever so grateful! Happy Thanksgiving, Mama!

  8. May this season of Thanksgiving bring peace, abundance, and love to our family! 

  9. The gift of family is to love & be loved for your entire life. Thank you for being an incredible blessing in my life. Happy Thanksgiving! 

  10. Here's to catching up on time together, eating all day, and reminiscing about Thanksgiving memories passed. We have so much to be thankful for—mostly each other! 

  11. You're in my thoughts and prayers today and always. I'm forever grateful for you & hope you know how much I love you and thank God for you.

  12. Happy Thanksgiving to the people who love & support me unconditionally! I'm lucky to call you family, and I hope you know I feel that way. 

15 Thanksgiving Messages for Cards to Send to Co-workers

Expressing gratitude to family and friends on Thanksgiving may seem like a no-brainer, but who else can you wish a Happy Thanksgiving? Your co-workers are like your second family; you sometimes spend more time together than you do with your family. 

So you may wonder what to write in a Thanksgiving card for the people at work. Once you've hung your artsy pop-up Thanksgiving wreath on your office door, you're ready to gather Thanksgiving cards for your co-workers. Here are some thoughtful Thanksgiving message ideas for your colleagues: 

  1. You're a ray of sunshine in our office every day, and I want to take this opportunity to tell you how grateful I am for your radiating joy. 

  2. Thanks for all you do to help me at work. I am grateful for your friendship & the joy of working together! 

  3. It gets rough around here some days, but at least we've got each other! Thanks for having my back & being a dependable friend and co-worker. 

  4. Thanks for every question you've answered, every inside joke, and every minute we try to solve the world's problems over lunch. I'm extra thankful for you today! 

  5. This Thanksgiving, I want you to know how much I appreciate your presence in my life. I hope you have a beautiful, peaceful holiday.

  6. I am grateful that you are my colleague & even luckier to call you my friend. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving! 

  7. I feel so fortunate to be part of a team that enjoys working together & supporting each other. Thanks for being an awesome co-worker & friend! 

  8. When I started working here, you helped me figure things out & find my new favorite lunch spot. Now, you put up with my shenanigans on the daily. For both, I thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to my favorite co-worker. 

  9. Thanks for your encouragement, support, and laughter. I hope you have the best Thanksgiving! 

  10. I'm counting my blessings, and working with you is undoubtedly one of them. Thanks for being amazing! 

  11. Thank you for being a loyal client and a faithful friend. I appreciate you & hope you enjoy this lovely season of Thanksgiving. 

  12. You are the greatest gift this job has brought into my life. I hope your Thanksgiving is magical! 

  13. Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to our team. You deserve a restful & relaxing holiday filled with love, joy, and pumpkin pie! 

  14. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your day abounds with warm memories & sweet moments with your family. You deserve the best!

  15. I am grateful to work with someone as hardworking and professional as you. You inspire me every day & I am glad to work together! 

15 Funny Thanksgiving Wishes, Quotes, and Jokes

"Why did the cranberries turn red on Thanksgiving?" 

"Because they saw the turkey dressing!" 

That's just one of many jokes stuffed with Thanksgiving humor. Sending silly cards makes someone feel good because 1) you thought of them and 2) you're giving them something to laugh about! The jokes below are perfect for cards or keeping in mind in case things get awkward at dinner. 

Send a pop-up turkey 'Gobble til You Wobble' card or share a pop-up Darth Vader card's message to 'Never underestimate the power of the dark meat.' 

  1. You can choose from these or share your own: 

  2. "Stop, drop, and pass the rolls!" 

  3. "I wanted to wish you a Happy Turkey Day, but I was afraid I'd use fowl language."

  4. "My family told me to stop telling Thanksgiving jokes, but I couldn't quit cold turkey!" 

  5. "What kind of music did the pilgrims listen to?" "Plymouth Rock." 

  6. "Why didn't the cook season the Thanksgiving turkey?" "There wasn't enough thyme!" 

  7. "Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive?" "It had 24 carrots!" 

  8. "Why did the turkey cross the road?" "He wanted people to think he was a chicken." 

  9. "What's the turkey's favorite dessert?" "Peach gobbler." 

  10. "Why did the turkey bring a microphone to dinner?" "He was ready for a roast!" 

  11. "What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving?" "The g." 

  12. "I don't eat pumpkin pie. It's made from the guts of jack-o-lanterns, and that's just spooky." —Melanie White

  13. "After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations." —Oscar Wilde

  14. "Tomorrow, I guarantee you we will be standing on the Olympic platform, receiving our gold medals for eating." —Lorelai Gilmore

  15. "What sound does a limping turkey make?" "Wobble, wobble."

12 Thanksgiving Messages & Quotes to Deal with Difficult Times

All families go through different seasons in life. Sometimes, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to encourage loved ones when a family has experienced loss, grief, or difficulty. 

If you have a friend or family member struggling, you can send an encouraging message inside a Fall Candle pop-up card or a cheerful sunflower bouquet. You can also send a note of gratitude to someone who has recently helped you through a difficult time.

These encouraging messages will help you decide what to write in a Thanksgiving card. Gratitude & encouragement are priceless gifts! 

  1. The last few months have been a difficult time for us all. Thank you for sticking by me & helping me through this. I am so thankful for you! 

  2. Life brings us happy times, sad times, and friends who walk us through them all. You can count on me. I'm not going anywhere! 

  3. "Real friendship is shown in times of trouble; prosperity is full of friends." —Euripedes

  4. "I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me, but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss." —Rita Mae Brown

  5. "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." —Melody Beattie

  6. "At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." —Albert Schweitzer

  7. "Thanksgiving reminds us that no matter what befalls us in life, we can take the charred remnants, and we can reconstruct a life unimaginably richer than that from which the shards and pieces fell." —Craig D. Lounsbrough

  8. I will remain by your side through life's ebbs and flows. I treasure your friendship & think you're simply amazing. 

  9. Some say life doesn't give us more than we can handle. I say that's BS, but I am here to help you take it on. Happy Thanksgiving, love! 

  10. It's your first Thanksgiving without [name], and I know it's not easy. So please remember I'm here if you need a shoulder to cry on, a hug, or an entire pie & a fork. Just say the word. 

  11. I hope that Thanksgiving will bring a glimpse of sunshine during a gloomy time in your life. I'm so glad to know you & hope you feel the warmth of my love and gratitude this Thanksgiving. 

  12. I pray that time to rest, a delicious meal, and the presence of people you love will be rejuvenating & bring you joy. Happy Thanksgiving! 

  13. Whether you want to say Happy Thanksgiving to family or friends, the best approach is to share a heartfelt, personalized, caring message. 

Send a beautiful pop-up Turkey centerpiece, an adorable turkey pop-up card, or any other unique, artsy pop-up card from Lovepop's Thanksgiving Collection. We hope these messages & tips are helpful as you spread your love & gratitude this Thanksgiving!
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