Write a story about an unconventional holiday tradition.

Posted in Holiday on Dec 23, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 52 stories

“Round the World at the Holidays” by Wendy Kaminski

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #178

Today is the Friday before Christmas. This would normally be relevant news to at least one of us, because I have Fridays off and I’d have the time to shop for traditional Christmas dinner – you know: ham and turkey, side dishes, pie, the works. I may be a little late to the scene on that, but if you put off something long enough, you avoid the rush of the better-prepared, is my motto. Only, it snowed last night, and I can’t get out of the driveway now. The door of my car is frozen shut, even. Good grief… I don’t have a motto for this! W...

93 comments 93

Read story

“How to Win an Unwinnable War” by Zack Powell

Submitted to Contest #178

This year it's my turn to host our family's annual war. That's why we're doing 75 along the highway now, me and Mom and Dad, who's sitting in the back seat loading our guns. It's one of the reasons, anyway.The timing couldn't be better; there's nothing I need more than a diversion from my own war with Jasper last month. That was messier than anything will be today. The way we turned the living room into a battleground, hurling books and words like live grenades. The way he packed what was left of his stuff and screeched off in the dead of ni...

53 comments 53

Read story

“The Summoning Bell” by Rebecca Miles

Submitted to Contest #178

-The Cutter’s Inn, 1844Winter trees reach with long dark fingers into an unresponsive sky as the figure strikes the match, eagerly bringing the hungry flame to the paper’s edge. Clouds mask the moon as they did a year ago and no reflection from the inky waters mirrors the man’s face, shaggy brows knitted in fervid concentration. He is alone, only thoughts and fears for company.The canal carves its quiet way through the night, secrets flowing through each of the 105 locks, linking this backwater to the smog and skulduggery of London. Th...

55 comments 55

Read story

“New Year's Eve Annual Streaking Race” by AnneMarie Miles

Submitted to Contest #178

TW: Strong language, allusions to sex, and nudity.Kissing Jamie’s knuckles, Willy said, “You do not have to do this.”Her smile begged his lips to linger. “If I knew what this was, it would be a lot easier to say no to,” she flirted.Willy chuckled. Keeping a hold on her hand, he cupped her cheek in his other, stroking his thumb over her freckles. “Ah, ah, now, that, I cannot reveal,” he teased, pulling her in for a kiss. Their lips moved slowly, but Jamie could feel the passion building, their tongues growing more inquisitive with each touch....

40 comments 40

Read story

“Toure de Waffle” by N.M. Stech

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #178

The horror of the thing overwhelmed me. It was a monstrosity; an unholy union if ever there was one. What kind of psychopath was responsible for this abomination? I looked across the table at my friends, and I could see my feelings echoed in their faces. Neal looked down at his plate with the furrowed brow of man looking at a mortally wounded ally on the battlefield. Jordan, on the other hand, wore a look of pure disgust; eyes open, mouth agape, and lips curled. &nbs...

35 comments 35

Read story

“Moccasins with blue and red beads” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #178

Forced by her Mother to wear a dress and rain boots, Nina was miserable. The line outside the glass doors of the big building was long and full of adults dressed in pants and dresses and nice shoes. Nina, waist high to most of the people standing, focused on their shoes, some red, some blue, mostly white and black. Nina did not understand why anyone would wear the high-heeled, pointy shoes or the sandals with only thin straps holding them on. How could they run in them? And the thick leather shoes some of the men wore looked ...

16 comments 16

Read story

“Labyrinth ” by Roxanne J. Black

Submitted to Contest #178

The holidays.The time of crowded streets, Christmas music, hot drinks by the fire, and shops full of people. A period that always smelled of sweets and love, and traditions... but not for us—well, except for the traditions part. The Hamilton family was always considered different-the freaks living in the old house, the error in an otherwise perfect system of white houses and neatly manicured yards, the wrinkle on a perfectly ironed shir...

2 comments 2

Read story

“All a Good Night” by Kyle Bennett

Submitted to Contest #178

Wooden men and animals never seen on Earth, celestial ephemera, and shapes with meanings known only to their designers rose up from the salt and the dust in the false twilight of Annabelle's glow. The lighting would take place at midnight, at Charlie's signal. The littlest ones were excited, not least because it was the only time all year they could stay up so late. Annabelle, the lesser, further, and dimmer of the two stars that lit our not-quite barren world was the reason we never had full night nine months of the year. Just a kin...

22 comments 22

Read story

“THE CHRISTMAS POEM” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #178

Every year for as long as I can remember, my family had a tradition of taking the year before and writing a poem about what we'd treasured most. Then, following the gift giving and prior to Christmas breakfast, we’d sip chocolate and take turns reciting what we had written. But what I will forever remember, going forward, is the year that family tradition came to a screeching halt, all because of me. Well, I’ll just tell it and you be the judge.First, let me say I had no idea that not all families partook in this exercis...

22 comments 22

Read story

“Love at Winter Festival ” by Veronica D

Submitted to Contest #178

“So tonight, I’ll pick you up for our date, right?” Dante repeated and Dominque nodded and blush “I can’t wait for ourrr d..d..d.date Dante she said nervously, her hair puffy like an afro with leggings and a shirt that showed her muscles. What time is our date her lips curve upwards when she asked him? “At six o'clock. Both agreed to meet at six to go to the Winter Festival together. It's been a long time coming for Dante. He had a crush on Dominque for the longest time and finally got his chance to ask her out since both were in Weigh...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Great Roaring” by Joshua Copus - Oxland

Submitted to Contest #178

Winston climbed up the country road, braving the blizzard as he clutched his walking stick with a death grip. His gloved hands were numb. His lips were cracked dry. His feet stung. He had walked for nearly two hours, getting back home from the meat packing factory at Whitburg. Even if buses ran through this dump, aptly named Brink Village, he couldn’t afford it.They certainly cut to the quick, making him work the day after Hornhallow. Then again, Hornhallow was hardly a festive time for him, and yesterday was no exception. His family – two a...

8 comments 8

Read story

“Girl in Shadow” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #178

Anna Bailey looked up at the towering office building briefly before entering. The afternoon sunlight glinted off of windows that didn’t open, warming the indifferent glass-and-steel exterior just enough to make anyone passing by feel uncomfortably warm. Anna wasn’t passing by, but she still felt uncomfortable, and it wasn’t because of the heat. The elevator ride to the seventeenth floor was a trial; it would invariably stop innumerable times to let people on and off. Today, though, the elevator didn’t stop until it got to the floor of her c...

19 comments 19

Read story

“A Christmas Feast” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #178

It’s the week before Christmas, and people rush to do their last-minute shopping. The plaza’s décor is bright with festive colors. The parking lot lamps are decorated to look like giant jingle bells and candy canes. Christmas carols blare from the speakers mingling with the constant chatter of the shoppers. Eight-year-old Cody misses Massachusetts at Christmas. There it would be snowing, and you would have to wear a heavy winter coat and snow boots. The temperature would be slightly above freezing, causing ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Beautiful Ornaments” by Jacob Brown

Submitted to Contest #178

In a town not too close yet not too far—what would best be described as an inconvenient drive away—I experienced the distinct misfortune of meeting a couple by the name of Fella and Darling Collins. They are in their house right now; I am safe in a hotel room. In the interest of maintaining my safety, however, I shall not name the hotel nor its location until my second draft. It is not my intention to disparage them, as it is not my place to speak ill of another’s, let’s say, tradition, but it is my duty to recount the events as they occurre...

8 comments 8

Read story

“Not a Creature was stirring...” by Laura Ethington

Submitted to Contest #178

**Trigger Warning - This story has themes that involve kidnapping, murder, and child death** “I can’t wait to meet her!” Jane said to her son with genuine excitement in her voice. She wasn’t one of those moms who thought no one was good enough for her son. In fact, she had prepared him his whole life to trust his gut in everything he did so that when he brought someone into the family, no questions or fears popped up. “Me too! I think she is too. A little nervous, of course.” Brian looked at his mom as they rolled the homemade past...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a family (biological or found) coming together for Christmas.

Christmas – 44 stories

Write a story that takes place over the eight nights of Hannukah.

Holiday – 5 stories

Set your story at a work holiday party,

Holiday – 35 stories

Write about a cynical character realizing they do have something to celebrate after all.

Character – 47 stories

Contest #178

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Happy Holidays

$250

Prize money

183

Contest entries

62

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 30, 2022 EST

Won by Molly Kelash 🏆

Title: Marie Antoinette

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story about an unconventional holiday tradition.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 52 stories

“Round the World at the Holidays” by Wendy Kaminski

“How to Win an Unwinnable War” by Zack Powell

“The Summoning Bell” by Rebecca Miles

“New Year's Eve Annual Streaking Race” by AnneMarie Miles

“Toure de Waffle” by N.M. Stech

“Moccasins with blue and red beads” by Marty B

“Labyrinth ” by Roxanne J. Black

“All a Good Night” by Kyle Bennett

“THE CHRISTMAS POEM” by Susan Catucci

“Love at Winter Festival ” by Veronica D

“The Great Roaring” by Joshua Copus - Oxland

“Girl in Shadow” by Delbert Griffith

“A Christmas Feast” by Ralph Aldrich

“Beautiful Ornaments” by Jacob Brown

“Not a Creature was stirring...” by Laura Ethington

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a family (biological or found) coming together for Christmas.

Write a story that takes place over the eight nights of Hannukah.

Set your story at a work holiday party,

Write about a cynical character realizing they do have something to celebrate after all.

Contest #178

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

183

Contest entries

62

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: