Write a story in which a character is stuck reliving their worst Christmas ever, over and over again.

Posted in Christmas on Dec 15, 2023

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✍️ 35 stories

“The Gingerbread Cookies” by Aaron Chin

🏆 Winner of Contest #229

The Gingerbread Cookies Let’s go downstairs and bake some cookies, like mother used to make. The warm smell sits right at home in your nostrils, invading them like wild ax-murderers hacking and slashing their way through endless miles of human bodies that stand in the way of their inhumane, carnal desires. Shhh, shhh, but that’s too dark. It’s Christmas after all. So let’s go downstairs and bake some cookies, like mother used to make. One step… then two… Ooooohhhh, isn’t this great? You’ve never baked gingerbread cookies before, oh no, b...

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“All I Want For Christmas” by Elisa Skoett

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #229

It was a long way to Ezra’s parents’ vacation home. The road was narrow and winding, the switchbacks crawling up the snow-laden mountains. Darkness seeped over the horizon and the shadows of trees stretched and receded as the car’s headlights cut through the inky blackness. The falling snow was reflected in the sickly yellow beams, the tunnel of white reminding Ezra of the opening of a Star Wars movie. All I Want For Christmas Is You was playing and Ezra sang along, his voice high and off-key. He put his feet on the dash despite the n...

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“Stargazy Pie” by J. I. MumfoRD

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #229

With rumblings of war rolling along the coastline, the knock startled Cecil. His grip tightened on the pewter plates as a sense of foreboding took hold. Opening the door revealed a handsome stranger, with refined features as if carved from marble. He had jet black hair and eyes that glinted like cold steel. “Good evening, and happy Christmas” said the stranger in a rich baritone. “My apologies for the intrusion, but it seems my carriage has lost a wheel just up the road. Might I trouble you for some shelter from the cold while my man f...

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“A period in time ” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #229

It was Christmas Day, 1990 at 'Mount Farm' in North Cornwall and thirteen-year-old Jemima was sure she had heard her parents stir from their slumber. She always knew it was her dad going into the bathroom because he had a knack of letting the whole household know. He couldn't do anything quietly including lock the door. He was a champion wrestler taking on ‘The Lock’. He had a multitude of other opponents including furniture which hadn't done anything to him, gadgets, even DIY projects usually lost the fight. Then the familiar sounds of fart...

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“Did Jesus Eat Bacon For Christmas? ” by Clara 'CC' Carlyle

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #229

A bombshell revelation from the man formerly known as Jesus. It took many years, but he has reinvented himself- yet again. Josh, as he is known today, has a worldwide base of followers who call themselves Joshers. Few others can say they have two million followers. Josh the influencer. Josh the activist. Josh the criminal. Josh the great polarizing figure. Exactly who is Josh? ________ Clara Carlyle: Good to see you. Josh Christmas: Thank you for having me. Hey everyone out there. CC: I thought we'd start with you intro...

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“Echoes” by Erika Darling

Submitted to Contest #229

“Merry Christmas,” the voice whispers. “I’m just here to check your vitals.” Opening my eyelids feels like trying to lift a shovel with two feet of wet snow on it. Please let it be shorter. From the glow of the heart rate monitor, my stomach drops as I see it looks longer, if anything. The red line runs from the infected cut in my swollen hand up my arm tracing its way a few inches past my elbow. I’m too frightened to ask what will happen when the red line finishes connecting the dots between my hand, elbow, and heart. “Vitals are the same: ...

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“"Echoes of Redemption: A Christmas Resonance"” by Ellys Watts

Submitted to Contest #229

Cold wind whipped through the desolate street, swirling snowflakes in a dance of bitter nostalgia. Charlie stood frozen, his breath visible in the frosty air. The neon lights of a flickering sign nearby spelled out "Bing's Diner," casting an eerie glow on the deserted sidewalk. The air was thick with an unsettling quietness, broken only by the distant wailing of sirens. Without warning, a surge of memories flooded Charlie's mind, dragging him back to that fateful Christmas Eve. The laughter, the warmth, all shattered like fragile glass. He...

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“The Twelve Christmases” by Madelyn Grace

Submitted to Contest #229

Nana’s dropped the applesauce. “Oops!” She laughs, tipping in her seat ever so slightly, one meaty hand pressed to her even meatier bosom. “Oh, my old girl hands. Oh, the applesauce!” Iris continues to stare at her untouched plate of food, growing ever colder as time passes. She doesn’t move as her mother brings over the dustpan and brush, a roll of paper towel under one gold-bangled arm and a tense smile beneat...

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“It's Over - Over and Over Again” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #229

He sat back in his Lazy Boy chair listening to the crackle of the fire. He closed his eyes thinking, “Damn, life is good.” In a few hours the kids would be arriving for Christmas dinner, the first time the gang was all together in what felt like forever. Click, click, click in walked Marilyn all dressed and ready for the festivities. She looked … well, she looked spectacular. “Honey, is that a new dress? I don’t remember seeing that one before?” He asked, looking at her appreciatively. She sta...

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“The Commune” by Kelita Sim

Submitted to Contest #229

These days, I avoid drama, crowds, and confrontation. I avoid them like the plague.Because here, drama, crowds and confrontation only ever lead to either a fight or what I call a “rush”.All lead to injury. And I’m terrified of being injured - again.The last and only time I was injured was the worst time of my life. The injury itself and the memory of what happened before and after still haunts me. I’m terrified that if I get caught up in another rush or brawl, and get hurt again, I’ll have to relive that day over. It’ll kill me. It’s only a ...

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“Assault on Workshop 13” by Craig Scott

Submitted to Contest #229

“Three hundred and sixty-four days worked, to one day off!”…Mergle hadn’t known he was going to speak until he already was, his voice broken and hot as he stood upon the crate. He had yet to articulate within himself the reasons that prompted him to action, yet he knew they were informed by a long dormant rage which moved internally like a geologic force. Tears welled in his eyes and slid down his green face. Yes, rage. That all-consuming fire that burnt low and idle in the soul until some catalyst set it loose in a torrent that engulfed all...

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“Did that Christmas really suck?” by S370-Zhiyan Guo

Submitted to Contest #229

(Sensitive content: The male protagonist is a bit abusive to his mother) Shop——Heartfelt Soup "Welcome, welcome, Merry Christmas Merry Christmas, welcome..." The door buzzer sounded, and a young man who seemed to be in his twenties walked in. “Hey man, nice to meet you, are you worried? "To be honest, Christmas is coming, and few people have worries anymore. Every household is decorating Christmas with their families. It's so beautiful and warm." A middle-aged man came from behind the curtain with a cat in his arms. " "Oh, are you no...

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“Merry Christmas Go Round” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #229

Andy wears an expression of puzzlement, but he doesn’t know what to do with it. Shifting it seems like the best option, but it’s a stubborn stain that will take more than a light touch. Doing something tangible is the only way as far as Andy is concerned, he expresses himself with his physicality, and so he propels himself forth and walks through the open gate to the front door, knocking on it before he registers that this was what he was going to do. Using the knocker is complicated by the green border of a Christmas wreath. His han...

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“Thirteenth Christmas” by Allan Bernal

Submitted to Contest #229

The day Jesse was supposed to finish his novel just happened to be the day the power went out overnight, leaving his laptop at a measly seventeen percent power. With the power still out too, Jesse cursed under his breath, whispering despite living in an empty apartment. His editor, Mr. Kaplan, told him to give him an update after New Year’s, but Jesse took it upon himself to finish by Christmas. It had to be by Christmas, Jesse thought, gripping his laptop and remembering the last good Christmas he had. When he was twelve, his parents got...

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“Beneath the Christmas Tree: A Haunting Memory” by Nava Weiser

Submitted to Contest #229

The front door groaned open, and Anna stepped into the house. She had come back from the most wonderful party. Reds and greens were still stuck in her head as she smiled. Christmas was the most wonderful holiday in her opinion, it was beautiful and jolly. The carolers carol, kids unwrap toys, and the Christmas trees are decorated with a star on top. She closed the door behind her and a curious expression appeared on her face; the lights were off. She had come home slightly more early than planned, so her father should have been awake. “...

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Title: The Gingerbread Cookies

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Write a story in which a character is stuck reliving their worst Christmas ever, over and over again.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 35 stories

“The Gingerbread Cookies” by Aaron Chin

“All I Want For Christmas” by Elisa Skoett

“Stargazy Pie” by J. I. MumfoRD

“A period in time ” by Rebecca Detti

“Did Jesus Eat Bacon For Christmas? ” by Clara 'CC' Carlyle

“Echoes” by Erika Darling

“"Echoes of Redemption: A Christmas Resonance"” by Ellys Watts

“The Twelve Christmases” by Madelyn Grace

“It's Over - Over and Over Again” by Hannah Lynn

“The Commune” by Kelita Sim

“Assault on Workshop 13” by Craig Scott

“Did that Christmas really suck?” by S370-Zhiyan Guo

“Merry Christmas Go Round” by Jed Cope

“Thirteenth Christmas” by Allan Bernal

“Beneath the Christmas Tree: A Haunting Memory” by Nava Weiser

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a festive party gone wrong that’s saved by some holiday magic.

Write a story in which a cynical character gets amnesia on Christmas Eve.

Write about a character who visits their hometown for the holidays and reconnects with a former love interest.

Start or end your story with a character finding out the love of their life is actually royalty.

Contest #229

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

172

Contest entries

64

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: