14 creative December newsletter ideas for the holidays
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 7:22 am
‘Tis the season for holidays. From religious celebrations like Hannukah to minor observations like National Cookie Day, December offers organizations many engagement and sales opportunities.
The year is winding down, and your marketing creative drive is dwindling. Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
Let’s unwrap 14 December newsletter ideas to telegram database deck your email campaigns with the spirit of the holidays and delight email subscribers. We’ll also share attention-grabbing subject lines to create email newsletters that stand out in the holiday deluge.
Planning your December newsletter calendar
December is undoubtedly the busiest marketing time of the year, with numerous one-day events and week-long celebrations.
Here are some celebrations and occasions to target for your December 2024 newsletter ideas:
December 3: Giving Tuesday
December 4: National Cookie Day
December 6: St. Nicholas Day
December 9: Green Monday
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 14: National Free Shipping Day
December 20: Ugly Sweater Day
December 21: Winter Solstice
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 26: Boxing Day
December 31: New Year’s Eve
Week-long celebrations:
Hanukkah: December 25, 2024 to January 2, 2025
Kwanzaa: December 26, 2024 to January 1, 2025
You shouldn’t celebrate all these holidays. Relevance is crucial for campaign success. Therefore, choose the holidays that resonate with your target audience and align with your brand.
It is vital to plan your weekly or monthly newsletters, so your campaigns align with key dates. You can section the month in pre-holiday, holiday, and post-holiday categories to better align your newsletter with the season’s activities.
1. Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a global event that celebrates and encourages generosity to local communities and causes.
Non-profit companies can capitalize on the holiday to drive donor campaigns. However, you don’t have to be a charity or community organization to participate. Companies with social values or CSR (corporate social responsibility) strategies can demonstrate their commitment with a giving campaign.
Here are a few newsletter ideas for December with a giving theme:
Sharing 31 acts of kindness subscribers can do in December.
Highlighting your volunteer projects and community work.
Holding polls for causes your business can donate to.
Giving is a part of TOMS’ brand story. For every shoe purchased, a pair is given to a disadvantaged child.
Tom's december newsletter titled "Give warmth.Give Hope" stating that for every shoe purchased, a pair is given to a disadvantaged child.
This email encourages customers to buy Nepal boots so a pair can be given to a needy child in a cold-weather climate.
2. National Cookie Day
National Cookie Day is a fun December newsletter idea for food-related businesses. It falls during the holiday season, allowing you to tap into various themes – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, and more.
Sweet newsletter ideas include:
Special offers or discounts on cookie-related products
Share recipes from around the world
Customized cookie box giveaways
Highlight or collaborate with local bakeries
Offer free cookies with purchases
Ask subscribers to share their favorite recipes (with photos)
Start promoting your National Cookie Day email marketing campaign early to create buzz. Moreso, if you’re featuring subscriber input in your newsletter.
Data privacy and security firms can also participate in the unofficial holiday with newsletters educating customers about cyber cookies.
3. Fun winter engagement
Even though rollercoasters and outdoor water parks are closed during the holiday season, people can indulge in various winter activities. These include:
Skate parks
Bowling alleys
Indoor water parks
Ski resorts
Moreover, target audiences in warm climates might be looking for the winter wonderland experience.
Check out this example from a property management company.
Vacasa's Newsletter titled "Treat yourself to a winter wonderland"
It leans into the winter theme to promote winter vacation homes. Using email newsletter tools like GetResponse with location segmenting capabilities allows the business to target customers in tropical or desert climate zones who would enjoy a snowy paradise.
4. Green Monday
If you haven’t heard of Green Monday, it’s because Cyber Monday has eclipsed it. This event takes place a week after Cyber Monday.
Green Monday is an online retail event on the second Monday of December. Coined by eBay, it describes one of the busiest online shopping days of the year when shoppers rush to get last-minute orders in before holiday delivery cutoffs.
Green Monday offers significant discounts and free shipping like its more popular counterpart. However, to distinguish it, you may emphasize shipping deadlines.
See the example below.
Green Monday newsletter example titled "Last day for holiday shipping"
Another angle you can use is to offer deals on eco-friendly products.
5. Winter solstice
December solstice is the longest night of the year and marks the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere. It was a time for reflection, with many cultures celebrating the day with unique rituals. However, with the Christianization of pagan cultures, this holiday has fallen by the wayside.
Still, a winter solstice email calling readers to slow down and reflect stands out against a barrage of newsletters telling them to act fast. The unfamiliarity of the observance might, at least, get newsletter subscribers to open your email and see what it’s about.
Share the history and significance of the day, emphasizing reflection and renewal. Wellness brands can share meditation techniques. Music streaming apps can recommend soothing playlists. Cafes can promote their calming tea beverages.
6. Practice winter wellness
Don’t let the Christmas lights and jingle bells fool you. The festive season is stressful for many shoppers, not to mention the winter blues and cases of flu that come with decreased sunlight and cold weather.
A winter survival guide works well for a health and wellness December newsletter. You can share:
Products that combat dry skin
Video or audio meditation techniques
Tips to boost immunity with nutrition
Warm and hearty food recipes
Indoor alternatives to outdoor activities
Mental health resources
Your newsletter can be educational and engaging with a wellness challenge around your product to increase engagement.
7. Winter fashion
Fashion retailers can capitalize on two December newsletter ideas: cozy winter clothes and holiday party style.
However, don’t just display the newest coat or woolen pants. Show customers how to style various items. They’ll most likely buy them when they can imagine wearing your clothes.
Winter fashion newsletter titled "It's how you wear it"
American Eagle’s outfit builder allows users to mix and match collections, prompting more purchases.
8. Christmas Day
Despite the aggressive red-and-white marketing, Christmas isn’t just about sales and promotions. It is a cultural and religious holiday where family and friends gather to connect, exchange gifts, and share meals.
Sending warm wishes to your customers or employees is a great way to build and cement relationships.
Christmas day newsletter from J Jill wsihing recipients happy holidays
Your Christmas newsletter may include:
Christmas traditions from around the world or employees
Festive Recipes
Holiday hacks
Christmas trivia
The specific messaging will differ depending on your business. December newsletters from faith-based organizations will look different from those from secular companies.
9. Secret Santa games
The holiday season means parties with colleagues, friends, and family. Party games make these gatherings fun and foster camaraderie, making them ideal December newsletter ideas for work environments. There are hundreds of games, but in the season of givin,g Secret Santa games rule them all.
Secret Santa Claus is a Western tradition in which participants give each other gifts, but the giver’s identity is kept a secret.
Your newsletter can share how-to guides for Secret Santa games staff can play with their department team members or family. These include white elephant gift exchanges, handmade gift challenges, Guess the Secret Santa, and more. You can also include trivia employees play to win prizes.
10. Holiday season promotions
Shoppers expect deals during the holiday shopping season. Businesses can get customers excited about holiday sales with promotional emails.
There are two effective December newsletter ideas for retail campaigns.
The first is having a different offer for each day of the campaign (discounts, free shipping, bundle deals, etc).
That’s what Brooks Brothers did with its six one-day-only offers.
Brooks Brothers holiday season promotional newsletter
The promotion created buzz and a sense of urgency, encouraging shoppers to act.
If your newsletter is monthly, outline what deals are available on what days. Follow up with reminders as each sale deadline approaches.
The second idea is a gift guide. Finding the perfect gift for different people can be stressful. Gift guides curate products by various categories, making the buying process easier. At the same time, business owners promote best sellers.
11. Incorporate Hanukkah facts
Hanukkah (also called the Jewish Festival of Lights) is a holiday that celebrates and reaffirms Judaism ideals. Friends and family mark the occasion by lighting menorah candles each night of the eight-day festival. Children also receive money to reward dedication to Torah study.
How can you incorporate Hanukkah into your December newsletter?
Dive into tradition and educate readers with trivia and games.
Ask Jewish community members or leaders to share the history behind the holiday and what it means to them.
Share a traditional Jewish recipe typically enjoyed during Hanukkah.
Here’s an example.
Hannukah newsletter titled "Wishing you light and love"
The newsletter shares ten ways people, regardless of religious belief, can spread light and holiday cheer during the festive season.
12. Gratitude note
Loyal customers like to feel valued and appreciated. What better way to thank them for their support and loyalty than with a note of gratitude?
The year is winding down, and your marketing creative drive is dwindling. Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
Let’s unwrap 14 December newsletter ideas to telegram database deck your email campaigns with the spirit of the holidays and delight email subscribers. We’ll also share attention-grabbing subject lines to create email newsletters that stand out in the holiday deluge.
Planning your December newsletter calendar
December is undoubtedly the busiest marketing time of the year, with numerous one-day events and week-long celebrations.
Here are some celebrations and occasions to target for your December 2024 newsletter ideas:
December 3: Giving Tuesday
December 4: National Cookie Day
December 6: St. Nicholas Day
December 9: Green Monday
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 14: National Free Shipping Day
December 20: Ugly Sweater Day
December 21: Winter Solstice
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 26: Boxing Day
December 31: New Year’s Eve
Week-long celebrations:
Hanukkah: December 25, 2024 to January 2, 2025
Kwanzaa: December 26, 2024 to January 1, 2025
You shouldn’t celebrate all these holidays. Relevance is crucial for campaign success. Therefore, choose the holidays that resonate with your target audience and align with your brand.
It is vital to plan your weekly or monthly newsletters, so your campaigns align with key dates. You can section the month in pre-holiday, holiday, and post-holiday categories to better align your newsletter with the season’s activities.
1. Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a global event that celebrates and encourages generosity to local communities and causes.
Non-profit companies can capitalize on the holiday to drive donor campaigns. However, you don’t have to be a charity or community organization to participate. Companies with social values or CSR (corporate social responsibility) strategies can demonstrate their commitment with a giving campaign.
Here are a few newsletter ideas for December with a giving theme:
Sharing 31 acts of kindness subscribers can do in December.
Highlighting your volunteer projects and community work.
Holding polls for causes your business can donate to.
Giving is a part of TOMS’ brand story. For every shoe purchased, a pair is given to a disadvantaged child.
Tom's december newsletter titled "Give warmth.Give Hope" stating that for every shoe purchased, a pair is given to a disadvantaged child.
This email encourages customers to buy Nepal boots so a pair can be given to a needy child in a cold-weather climate.
2. National Cookie Day
National Cookie Day is a fun December newsletter idea for food-related businesses. It falls during the holiday season, allowing you to tap into various themes – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, and more.
Sweet newsletter ideas include:
Special offers or discounts on cookie-related products
Share recipes from around the world
Customized cookie box giveaways
Highlight or collaborate with local bakeries
Offer free cookies with purchases
Ask subscribers to share their favorite recipes (with photos)
Start promoting your National Cookie Day email marketing campaign early to create buzz. Moreso, if you’re featuring subscriber input in your newsletter.
Data privacy and security firms can also participate in the unofficial holiday with newsletters educating customers about cyber cookies.
3. Fun winter engagement
Even though rollercoasters and outdoor water parks are closed during the holiday season, people can indulge in various winter activities. These include:
Skate parks
Bowling alleys
Indoor water parks
Ski resorts
Moreover, target audiences in warm climates might be looking for the winter wonderland experience.
Check out this example from a property management company.
Vacasa's Newsletter titled "Treat yourself to a winter wonderland"
It leans into the winter theme to promote winter vacation homes. Using email newsletter tools like GetResponse with location segmenting capabilities allows the business to target customers in tropical or desert climate zones who would enjoy a snowy paradise.
4. Green Monday
If you haven’t heard of Green Monday, it’s because Cyber Monday has eclipsed it. This event takes place a week after Cyber Monday.
Green Monday is an online retail event on the second Monday of December. Coined by eBay, it describes one of the busiest online shopping days of the year when shoppers rush to get last-minute orders in before holiday delivery cutoffs.
Green Monday offers significant discounts and free shipping like its more popular counterpart. However, to distinguish it, you may emphasize shipping deadlines.
See the example below.
Green Monday newsletter example titled "Last day for holiday shipping"
Another angle you can use is to offer deals on eco-friendly products.
5. Winter solstice
December solstice is the longest night of the year and marks the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere. It was a time for reflection, with many cultures celebrating the day with unique rituals. However, with the Christianization of pagan cultures, this holiday has fallen by the wayside.
Still, a winter solstice email calling readers to slow down and reflect stands out against a barrage of newsletters telling them to act fast. The unfamiliarity of the observance might, at least, get newsletter subscribers to open your email and see what it’s about.
Share the history and significance of the day, emphasizing reflection and renewal. Wellness brands can share meditation techniques. Music streaming apps can recommend soothing playlists. Cafes can promote their calming tea beverages.
6. Practice winter wellness
Don’t let the Christmas lights and jingle bells fool you. The festive season is stressful for many shoppers, not to mention the winter blues and cases of flu that come with decreased sunlight and cold weather.
A winter survival guide works well for a health and wellness December newsletter. You can share:
Products that combat dry skin
Video or audio meditation techniques
Tips to boost immunity with nutrition
Warm and hearty food recipes
Indoor alternatives to outdoor activities
Mental health resources
Your newsletter can be educational and engaging with a wellness challenge around your product to increase engagement.
7. Winter fashion
Fashion retailers can capitalize on two December newsletter ideas: cozy winter clothes and holiday party style.
However, don’t just display the newest coat or woolen pants. Show customers how to style various items. They’ll most likely buy them when they can imagine wearing your clothes.
Winter fashion newsletter titled "It's how you wear it"
American Eagle’s outfit builder allows users to mix and match collections, prompting more purchases.
8. Christmas Day
Despite the aggressive red-and-white marketing, Christmas isn’t just about sales and promotions. It is a cultural and religious holiday where family and friends gather to connect, exchange gifts, and share meals.
Sending warm wishes to your customers or employees is a great way to build and cement relationships.
Christmas day newsletter from J Jill wsihing recipients happy holidays
Your Christmas newsletter may include:
Christmas traditions from around the world or employees
Festive Recipes
Holiday hacks
Christmas trivia
The specific messaging will differ depending on your business. December newsletters from faith-based organizations will look different from those from secular companies.
9. Secret Santa games
The holiday season means parties with colleagues, friends, and family. Party games make these gatherings fun and foster camaraderie, making them ideal December newsletter ideas for work environments. There are hundreds of games, but in the season of givin,g Secret Santa games rule them all.
Secret Santa Claus is a Western tradition in which participants give each other gifts, but the giver’s identity is kept a secret.
Your newsletter can share how-to guides for Secret Santa games staff can play with their department team members or family. These include white elephant gift exchanges, handmade gift challenges, Guess the Secret Santa, and more. You can also include trivia employees play to win prizes.
10. Holiday season promotions
Shoppers expect deals during the holiday shopping season. Businesses can get customers excited about holiday sales with promotional emails.
There are two effective December newsletter ideas for retail campaigns.
The first is having a different offer for each day of the campaign (discounts, free shipping, bundle deals, etc).
That’s what Brooks Brothers did with its six one-day-only offers.
Brooks Brothers holiday season promotional newsletter
The promotion created buzz and a sense of urgency, encouraging shoppers to act.
If your newsletter is monthly, outline what deals are available on what days. Follow up with reminders as each sale deadline approaches.
The second idea is a gift guide. Finding the perfect gift for different people can be stressful. Gift guides curate products by various categories, making the buying process easier. At the same time, business owners promote best sellers.
11. Incorporate Hanukkah facts
Hanukkah (also called the Jewish Festival of Lights) is a holiday that celebrates and reaffirms Judaism ideals. Friends and family mark the occasion by lighting menorah candles each night of the eight-day festival. Children also receive money to reward dedication to Torah study.
How can you incorporate Hanukkah into your December newsletter?
Dive into tradition and educate readers with trivia and games.
Ask Jewish community members or leaders to share the history behind the holiday and what it means to them.
Share a traditional Jewish recipe typically enjoyed during Hanukkah.
Here’s an example.
Hannukah newsletter titled "Wishing you light and love"
The newsletter shares ten ways people, regardless of religious belief, can spread light and holiday cheer during the festive season.
12. Gratitude note
Loyal customers like to feel valued and appreciated. What better way to thank them for their support and loyalty than with a note of gratitude?