With Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Winter Solstice, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, and more (Oh My!), December can be busy. Hopefully the following holiday writing prompts can facilitate a couple of storytelling sessions for you and your loved ones.
Prompts for Multiple December Holidays
I wrote about Christmas prompts in Christmas Traditions: 12 Writing Prompts. The following are meant for any holiday.
- Favorite Holiday Memory: Preserve the story, including what makes it special!
- Food: What foods do you associate with the holiday? Who cooks or bakes? What foods do you like the most?
- Ornaments and Decorations: What keepsakes and heirlooms have been passed down through the family? Who owned them first? How did it come to be in your possession? What was the occasion? Does it reflect your culture? Family Tradition? (See examples at Deck the Halls with Memories and Stories.)
- Family Idiosyncrasies: Does your family put their own spin on the holiday? What’s different? How did your tradition start? What makes you proud of it?
- Enthusiasm: Which family member is the most into the holiday? How do they express that (decorating, baking, shopping, going to church or synagogue)?
- Cultural Influence: Does your celebration have a flair that reflects your culture? A blend of cultures? Your family’s experiences? An intertwining of your individual pasts?
- Family Gathering: Who gets together during the holiday? Is there a central meeting place? Who makes the plans in your family? How do you connect with family members living far away? What’s the best part about being together?
- New Family Members: How have new family members (kids, daughter-in laws, son-in-laws) assimilated into the family traditions? What have they added?
- Blended family traditions: How has your family developed their own rhythms and traditions? What was that process like?
- Non-Christmas Holidays: How do keep the commercialism of Christmas from overwhelming your celebrations?
St. Nicholas Day Writing Prompts
St. Nicholas Day traditions vary place to place. In addition, celebrations in Eastern countries are different than in Western countries.
- How does your family celebrate? Who puts out their shoes? How generous is St. Nick?
- Does your family have a special meal? What do you eat?
Chanukah Holiday Writing Prompts
- Gifting: Who do you give gifts to? Who gives you gifts? Are there themes among the gits?
- Menorah: Do you or your family have a special menorah? Describe it? What do you like most about it? Who in your family lights the candles?
Kwanzaa
- Which of the principles of Kwanzaa resonate the most with you? What do you teach your children about the importance of Kwanza?
- In what year did your family begin celebrating Kwanzaa? If recently, how has it enhanced your Christmas traditions?
- How does Kwanzaa reflect how you feel about your heritage? Does it impact how you connect to your ancestors?
More Introspective Holiday Writing Prompts
- How do you keep the busyness of December and the popular, secular celebration of Christmas from interfering with more meaningful traditions?
- Explain your holiday in terms of your faith. What does it mean to you? How does your celebration reflect your beliefs? Strengthen your faith?
- Write about a formative holiday moment. How did it color all other holidays to follow?
- Missing someone during the holidays: Not everything is jolly, especially when the Holiday’s deepen grief and feelings of loss. Write about your loss and the ways that your loved one made your life (and the holiday) special. (See also Missing Loved Ones during the Holidays.)
Your Turn
Surely, I’ve missed some good December holiday writing prompts. If you have an idea, comment below and I’ll add it (and credit you)!
Nice prompts! I will write on one this month. And I appreciate your last one. Holidays can be sad times for many.
This year will be the first year my sister-in-law (hubby’s sister) faces the holidays without her husband. I’m so aware of her being surrounded by joyful people and putting on a brave face.
A lot of great ideas here!
I love all the prompts covering all of the holiday season. Elizabeth’s blog party provides so many ideas for me.