15 Other Ways to Say "Compliments of the Season"
Holiday greetings get stale fast. You've said "Compliments of the Season" a hundred times, heard it a thousand more, and somewhere along the way it stopped meaning anything. The words became autopilot—something you say because it's expected, not because you actually feel festive warmth when saying it.
I get it. Tradition matters, but so does genuine connection. When every interaction defaults to the same phrase, you miss chances to make moments memorable. People remember the greeting that stood out, the one that felt personal instead of formulaic. So I've gathered fifteen alternatives that preserve the sentiment while injecting some actual personality into your holiday exchanges.
What Does Compliments Of The Season Mean
The phrase traces back to 17th century England when greeting cards were becoming popular. People needed quick, polite ways to acknowledge the festive period without writing lengthy personalized messages. "Compliments of the season" became shorthand for seasonal goodwill.
The word "compliment" here doesn't mean flattery—it comes from "complement," as in something that completes or enhances. These compliments add to the season's warmth and cheer. They augment what's already present during Christmas and New Year: generosity, reflection, celebration.
Is It Compliment Of The Season Or Complement Of The Season?
Complement with an E means something that completes or enhances something else—like how a scarf complements your outfit or wine complements dinner.
Compliment with an I means an expression of praise or approval—telling someone they look great, for example.
The correct phrase is "compliment of the season" with an I. It functions as a courteous expression of goodwill during festive occasions like Christmas, New Year, or Eid. It's similar to "best wishes" or "season's greetings."
"Complement of the season" would only make sense if you're describing something that literally enhances the season itself—decorations, gifts, special dishes. You could say "This cake is the perfect complement of the season," but that's a different usage entirely.
15 Other Ways to Say Compliments of the Season
Wishing You A Wonderful Holiday Season
Generic but functional. This works for mass mailings or situations where you need something safe and universally acceptable. It covers all bases without committing to any specific celebration.
The downside is its blandness. It's the greeting equivalent of beige—inoffensive but forgettable. Use it when familiarity matters more than intimacy.
Hopes For Joy And Happiness During This Festive Time
This goes deeper than surface-level well-wishing. You're emphasizing the festive spirit itself rather than just acknowledging the calendar date. It suggests you genuinely hope meaningful connections will uplift whoever receives this message.
It works across different celebrations without assuming everyone marks the season the same way.
Best Regards For The Holidays
More formal, better suited for professional contexts. "Best regards" carries respect and polish without excessive warmth. Paired with "for the holidays," it acknowledges the season while maintaining appropriate professional distance.
Perfect for colleagues, clients, or business associates where casual familiarity would feel out of place.
Season's Greetings And Goodwill To All
Classic and warm, ideal for personal correspondence. "Season's greetings" alone works fine, but adding "goodwill to all" expands the sentiment beyond just the recipient. You're expressing hope for broader peace and kindness.
It reminds people the season isn't just about individual happiness but collective generosity and community spirit.
Wishing You Warmth And Cheer This Holiday Season
Emphasizes coziness and happiness. When you wish someone warmth, you're acknowledging that winter can be cold and harsh—physically and emotionally—and expressing hope they find comfort despite that.
The phrase creates atmosphere. It suggests gathering with loved ones, shared meals, laughter around fires. It's sensory in a way most greetings aren't.
Here's To Celebrating This Joyous Time Of Year
Framed as a toast, which adds energy and excitement. You're not just acknowledging the season—you're actively celebrating it, inviting the other person to join that enthusiasm.
It works especially well at actual gatherings or parties where the celebratory mood is already present. The phrase amplifies existing festive energy rather than trying to create it from scratch.
May Your Season Be Bright And Merry
Traditional imagery of light breaking through darkness. "Bright" suggests hope, clarity, joy cutting through winter's gloom. "Merry" keeps things cheerful without being overly serious.
This phrase works well for close friends and family. It shows care for both their external holiday experiences and internal wellbeing.
Hope You Find Magic In Each Holiday Moment
Taps into childlike wonder. Instead of focusing on specific traditions or religious aspects, it highlights small pleasures and unexpected surprises that can appear anywhere during the festive season.
This greeting acknowledges both the sweetness and the stress that often accompany holidays. It gently encourages finding joy even when circumstances aren't perfect.
Sending Festive Thoughts Your Way
Inclusive and unpresumptive. You're acknowledging shared cultural season without assuming how someone celebrates or what they believe. Festive thoughts can encompass both merriment and quiet reflection.
Works well for distant acquaintances, multicultural workplaces, or any situation where you want to express basic human connection without making assumptions about personal traditions.
Celebrating You During This Festive Season
Shifts focus from the season itself to the specific person receiving the message. You're acknowledging their unique qualities and contributions, making them feel valued and appreciated.
Perfect for close friends, family, or colleagues who've made significant impacts on your life throughout the year. It's personal in a way generic seasonal greetings can't match.
Cheers To The Holiday Festivities Ahead
Forward-looking and enthusiastic. You're expressing excitement about upcoming events and traditions rather than just acknowledging the current moment.
Good for casual acquaintances or colleagues when you want to convey genuine anticipation for the season without being overly intimate.
Sending Smiles And Goodwill Throughout The Festive Season
Warm and uplifting. "Sending smiles" has gentle, caring tone that emphasizes kindness and generosity. It spreads positivity without demanding anything in return.
Use this when you want someone to feel cared for and special, when emphasizing compassion feels more important than excitement or celebration.
Bright Blessings Throughout All Your Celebrations
Radiant and all-encompassing. This phrase appreciates the diversity of celebrations happening during this period—cultural, religious, personal. It wishes positivity across every aspect of someone's festivities.
The word "blessings" carries spiritual weight without being tied to any specific tradition, making it broadly applicable while still feeling meaningful.
May Your Holiday Bring Pleasant Surprises
Infuses wonder and anticipation. You're wishing for delightful unexpected moments that create lasting memories. It acknowledges that the best parts of holidays are often unplanned.
Perfect for people who appreciate spontaneity and the enchantment that comes when things don't go exactly as scripted.
May Your Heart Be Light As The Season's Blessings Unfold
Poetic and contemplative. This greeting wishes for unburdened joy while acknowledging that blessings reveal themselves gradually throughout the season rather than all at once.
Particularly resonant for people going through difficult times. It reminds them that the season holds transformative power, that even amid hardship, moments of grace can appear.
Repeating the same greeting year after year drains meaning from what should be genuine expressions of goodwill. These fifteen alternatives give you flexibility to match your message to the relationship, the context, and your actual feelings in the moment. The best holiday greeting isn't the most traditional one—it's the one that makes someone feel seen, valued, and genuinely wished well. Next time you're about to default to "Compliments of the Season," pause and pick something that actually reflects what you hope for that specific person. That's when seasonal greetings become meaningful instead of mechanical.
