If you close for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, your voicemail greeting is the first thing many customers hear that week. A clear one tells them when you're closed, when you'll be back and what to do if it can't wait. Below is a free builder that writes one with your details, plus examples you can copy.
Free holiday greeting builder
Read it out loud once before you record it. If it feels long, drop the website line first.
Holiday dates for 2026 and early 2027
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
- New Year's Eve: Thursday, December 31, 2026
- New Year's Day: Friday, January 1, 2027
Several of these land next to a weekend, so say clearly whether you're open the Saturday after.
Copy-ready examples
Swap the bracketed parts for your own details.
Thanksgiving (friendly)
Hi, thanks for calling [Business]! We're closed on Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving. We'll be back on Friday, November 27 at [time]. If this is a medical or safety emergency, hang up and call 911. Leave your name, number and a quick message, and we'll call you back as soon as we reopen. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving weekend (home services, with an on-call line)
Thanks for calling [Business]. Our office is closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving. If you have no heat, a leak or another urgent problem, please call our on-call line at [number]. For anything else, leave your name, number and address, and we'll call you back on Monday, November 30. Happy Thanksgiving!
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Thank you for calling [Business]. Our office closes at [time] on Thursday, December 24 and is closed Friday, December 25. We will reopen on [day and date]. Please leave your name, phone number and a brief message, and we will return your call when we reopen. Thank you, and merry Christmas!
Closed between the holidays (offices and practices)
Thank you for calling [Business]. Our office is closed for the holidays from [first day] through [last day], and we will reopen on [day and date]. If this is a medical emergency, hang up and call 911. To request an appointment, visit [website] or leave your name, number and the best time to reach you. Happy holidays!
New Year's Day
Hi, you've reached [Business]. We're closed on Friday, January 1 for New Year's Day, and we'll be back on [day and date]. Leave your name, number and a short message, and we'll get back to you as soon as we reopen. Happy New Year!
Restaurants and shops with holiday hours
Thanks for calling [Business]! Our holiday hours are [hours] on [date] and [hours] on [date], and we're closed on [date]. For reservations or orders, please call back during those hours or visit [website]. Happy holidays!
What every holiday greeting should cover
- Use dates, not "today" or "tomorrow". People hear the greeting on different days, so "Friday, November 27" is clearer than "tomorrow".
- Say when you'll be back. A reopening day and time tells callers whether to wait or look elsewhere.
- Give urgent callers a path. If you offer on-call or emergency service, say the number slowly. If you don't, point real emergencies to 911.
- Ask for what you need to call back. Name, number, and one detail, like an address or the reason for the call, saves a round of phone tag.
- Keep it short. Callers want the hours and the next step. Holiday wishes go at the end.
- Set a reminder to switch it back. An old holiday greeting playing in February is a common slip. Put "change voicemail back" on your calendar for the day you reopen.
- Test it. Call your business from another phone after you record it, and once more after you switch it back.
Calls during the holiday rush
The weeks around the holidays can be busy for restaurants, shops, salons and home-service companies, and short-staffed for everyone. If you'd rather have calls answered than sent to voicemail when you can't pick up, conditional call forwarding sends only unanswered calls to a backup, like a teammate, an answering service or an AI receptionist. Here's how to forward calls when you're busy.
RaheemAI sets up Ava, an AI receptionist who answers when you can't, follows the holiday hours you give her, books or takes messages, and emails you a summary. She tells every caller she's an AI. Start a free trial or talk to Ava first.
This guide is general information. Check your own phone system's instructions for recording and switching greetings.