Holiday and Christmas voicemail greeting examples
Here are 16 holiday and Christmas voicemail greeting scripts you can copy and adapt for any seasonal closure. They cover Christmas and New Year, bank holidays, greetings that include your reopening date, and versions with an emergency line. Each one tells callers you are closed and when you will be back. Replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details before recording.
What makes a good holiday voicemail greeting?
A holiday greeting does two things at once: it tells callers you are closed and it leaves a warm impression of your business. The festive season is a natural time to sound friendly, so it is fine to wish callers well, as long as you still give them the practical details they need.
A good holiday greeting:
- Opens with the company name and a seasonal greeting.
- Says clearly that you are closed for the holiday period.
- Gives the exact date you reopen.
- Invites a message for a callback when you are back.
- Adds an emergency line only if someone is genuinely on call.
Christmas and New Year closure greetings
Use these over the festive break. They wish callers well, confirm you are closed, and tell them when you reopen.
"Thank you for calling [Company name] and a very merry Christmas to you. Our office is now closed for the festive period and we reopen on [reopening date]. Please leave your name and number and we will get back to you then."
"Season's greetings from all at [Company name]. We are closed over Christmas and the New Year and will be back in the office on [reopening date]. Leave a message with your name and number and we will return your call as soon as we reopen."
"Hello and happy holidays from [Company name]. Our team is taking a well-earned break over Christmas. We reopen on [reopening date]. Please leave your details after the tone and we will be in touch in the new year."
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. We are closed for Christmas and New Year and reopen on [reopening date]. Leave your name, number and a short message, and a member of the team will call you back when we are open again. Wishing you a wonderful festive season."
"You have reached [Company name]. Our office is closed over the festive period. We will be back and ready to help from [reopening date]. Please leave a message and we will return your call then. Merry Christmas and a happy new year from all of us."
Bank holiday greetings
UK bank holidays often catch callers out, so a short closure message keeps everyone informed. Tell callers you are closed for the day and when you reopen.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is closed today for the bank holiday. We reopen on [reopening date] at [opening hours]. Please leave your name and number and we will get back to you on the next working day."
"You have reached [Company name]. We are closed for the bank holiday. We will be back in the office on [reopening date]. Leave your details after the tone and we will return your call as soon as we reopen."
"Hello and thanks for calling [Company name]. It is a bank holiday and our office is closed. We reopen on [reopening date]. Please leave a message with your name and number and we will be in touch on the next working day."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are enjoying the bank holiday and the office is closed. Normal hours resume on [reopening date]. Pop your name and number in a message and we will call you straight back when we are open."
Greetings with a reopening date
If you want to keep the message simple and practical, lead with the reopening date. These versions suit any seasonal or scheduled closure.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. We are currently closed and will reopen on [reopening date]. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and we will return your call as soon as we are back."
"You have reached [Company name]. Our office is closed until [reopening date]. Leave your details after the tone and a member of the team will get back to you on our first day back."
"Hello, you have come through to [Company name]. We are closed for the holiday and reopen on [reopening date]. Please leave a message and we will be in touch then. Thank you for your patience."
Greetings with an emergency line
If someone is genuinely on call over the holiday, give callers a clear way to reach them. Only include this if the number really will be answered.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is closed for the festive period and reopens on [reopening date]. If you have an emergency that cannot wait, please call [emergency number]. For everything else, leave a message and we will get back to you when we reopen."
"You have reached [Company name]. We are closed for the holidays until [reopening date]. For urgent matters only, please call our emergency line on [emergency number]. Otherwise, leave your name and number and we will return your call in the new year."
"Hello and happy holidays from [Company name]. The office is closed and we reopen on [reopening date]. If this is a genuine emergency, please ring [emergency number] where someone is on call. For all other enquiries, leave a message and we will be in touch when we are open."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are closed over the bank holiday and reopen on [reopening date]. For emergencies, please call [emergency number]. For all other matters, leave your details after the tone and we will call you back on the next working day."
Frequently asked questions
What should a Christmas voicemail greeting say?
It should wish callers a happy Christmas, tell them you are closed over the festive period, and give the date you reopen. Invite them to leave a message if they would like a callback when you are back. A friendly closing line such as we wish you a merry Christmas adds warmth without making the message too long.
Should I mention the exact reopening date?
Yes. Telling callers the exact date you reopen, for example we reopen on [reopening date], stops them wondering whether anyone will pick up over the break. It also reduces repeat calls and reassures customers that you will deal with their enquiry promptly once you are back in the office.
Do I need a separate greeting for bank holidays?
A short bank holiday greeting is worth setting up because UK bank holidays often catch callers out. Tell them you are closed for the bank holiday and when you reopen. Many cloud phone systems let you load bank holiday dates in advance so the right greeting plays automatically on each one.
Should a holiday greeting include an emergency number?
Only if you genuinely provide cover over the holiday. If someone is on call, add one short line such as: for emergencies, please call [emergency number]. If nobody is available, do not offer a number that will go unanswered. Direct everyone to voicemail and a callback when you reopen instead.
Can my holiday greeting switch on and off automatically?
Yes. With business-hours and holiday routing in a cloud phone system, you can schedule your Christmas or bank holiday greeting to start and end on set dates. It plays automatically over the closure and switches back to your normal greeting when you reopen, so nobody has to remember to change it.
Put these scripts to work
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