Write about a family with a long-standing tradition, whose members all have conflicting origin stories for it.

Posted in Thanksgiving on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 58 stories

“The Birdfeeders” by James Falcone

Submitted to Contest #98

Uncle Jack Jahodnik was bald - the top of his head looking like a strawberry that is just slightly over-ripe. At the annual Jahodnik family BBQs, the nephews would always purposely don bright green and sit, surrounding Uncle Jack. It tickled him pink to think he was the favored uncle. In truth, Jack was fairly vile and had never been anyone’s favored anything. Even his wife had never really seemed fond of him. The devious plan, however, was to fool a berry-eating bird or two that Uncle Jack’s noggin was, in fact, the biggest, juiciest,...

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“The Flannelly Family Famous Friday Fun Night, and how it all began” by Mariana Del Rosal

Submitted to Contest #98

1) Kathy Flannelly “Class, today we are going to keep sharing stories about our families and our traditions. Today is Katherine Flannelly’s turn. Kathy, please come to the front and tell us!” A young girl, no more than seven years old, with red hair and freckles, stands up. She smiles and skips towards her teacher. She is holding a big bag full of boxes. “What have you got for us, Kathy?” “Well, Mrs. Thompson, I brought some games!” she takes out a set of chess, some dominoes, three or four card games, puzzles, and a huge box with colorful...

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“the dinner party ” by Dann Jamal

Submitted to Contest #98

Mr. and Mrs. Donner being unable to procreate and never resolved on adopting felt out of company in holidays. They had a happy life; they were deeply in love, both with a great sense of humor and many hobbies to fill their free time. However, in holidays they felt under the pressure of being lonely when two were very scarce which led them to invite their two nephews and the daughter of their intimate friend, who passed away ten years ago, the three with a more diabolic sense of morals than their aunt and uncle . 9 pm, dinner...

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“Magic Shoebox ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #98

Paul rang the doorbell and said , “Follow my lead. It’ll be fine.” His mother opened the door and cried out, “Paul! It’s so good to see you!” Ada embraced him. “Too long, Ma. Too long.” He introduced his girlfriend, Abigail. Ada sized her up and smiled. “Wonderful! Come in! Meet my Dad, and the others. You’re right on time. We’re about to sit.” “Something smells good!” Ada whispered, “She’s so petite, Paul. I thought you liked the tall ones.” “Cut it out, Ma…” They entered to see family gathering around the table. The smell of ...

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“The Origin Debaters” by Aiyana Henderson

Submitted to Contest #98

Jennifer was rolling her eyes again at her family arguing once again at Thanksgiving.It was the same old story.Her mother and grandmother were technically the culprits at hand here.It started on the magical date of January 17, 1984, exactly two years before Jennifer was born. Scratch that. That was her birthday. It was actually two years, three days, and seven hours before the only child had been born. So technically speaking, the date was January 14, 1982 at the time of 10:32 pm.January 14, 1982 was the infamous date that allowed her loved ...

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“The Valko Family Dinner” by Sophie Penafiel

Submitted to Contest #98

On the fifteenth of every July, the Valkos gather from glamorous ruins and wretched sewers alike to hold a pleasant family dinner. The familial gathering was less than enjoyable, yet the food was exceptional, and no one could deny that Grandmother Valko’s mystery stew was the perfect way to prepare all the unpleasant parts of the human anatomy. If there was anything the Valko family could agree upon, it was that on that July night, they feasted on delectable meals unmatched by the finest chefs in Europe, or the mediocre ones located around t...

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“Midsummer” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #98

MIDSUMMER The three sisters were sitting together on the couch, a photo album open on the middle sister’s lap. Yes, an honest-to-goodness photo album with old colour and black and white photos held in place with a sheet of clear acetate. They were all smiling, and pointing, an air of nostalgia surrounding them. Or maybe it was melancholy. Their mother, Esmeralda — Esmy to to one and all — had died last solstice, and this was their first celebration without her. The three sisters still lived in their fami...

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“The Festival of Lights” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #98

The Festival of Lights has been a tradition in my family for generations. It's a tradition that began a hundred years ago when the first lights when up during the beginning of the fall season and lasts all the way to spring. The Festival of Lights is an annual tradition in which my family lights up our house and the entire town of Cape Royal with rows upon rows of light. This year it is my turn to light up the town, but this tradition is not without controversy. My mother and half the town believes the Festival of Lights began as a way t...

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“Laughter on a Night of Misery” by Naomi Hairston

Submitted to Contest #98

By nature, humans are attracted to the forbidden. As if guided by the magical string of misery; people can’t resist anything that could be described as dark, dangerous, or taboo. We worship pain and heartbreak, basking in their shadows while sobbing and begging for more. Make a story sad enough and someone might just attempt to leap through the pages and heal the characters themselves. Don’t believe me? Well, pull up a chair and listen closely. I’ll make it a game to keep your mind from straying too far from the story. Don’t worry it...

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“A Contested Family Tradition” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #98

A Contested Family Tradition A Family Get-Together on June 12th “Well Barb, before grandad and grandma arrive, I think it is time to tell you about a long-standing ritual we have in this family. Although maybe I should call it a long kneeling tradition – ha ha. It is one experience that everyone in this room shares. It just wouldn’t be a complete family get-together without it. You might think that it is a little strange. But it has a good story behind it.” As Dave uttered those last words of his announcement to...

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“Happy Thanksgiving” by Hope Rivers

Submitted to Contest #98

My family seems pretty normal, normal last name, normal first name, and normal house. Except for the fact it’s always dirty, but that's besides the point. Every year we have a tradition, like a holiday. Instead of gifts we kill one another. It might seem rather abnormal to others, but it’s not like they’d find out, right? Today is November 25th, also known as Thanksgiving. It was a typical day, with the wind swaying the trees and the sun blocked off by the grey clouds. Jill Murphy, my mother, brought out a huge plate of turkey and placed i...

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“River Run” by David Zasloff

Submitted to Contest #98

Lucas was nine years old when he first asked about the annual visits to the riverbank. “Why do we do that?” he asked his mother. “I don't really know, honey,” she sighed. “I've heard a bunch of stories, but I can't remember them, it's been so long. I go because it makes the family happy.” She went back to preparing the picnic for the trip. “Why don't you ask Grandpa?” Grandpa was taking a nap, so Lucas went to Aunt Sophie. Sophie nibbled on her bottom lip. “Your grandfather told me that the river trip started back when he was a teenage...

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“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” by Chacha Jaramillo

Submitted to Contest #98

🔅🔆🔅 It’s the most wonderful time of the year! For some is magical, with a beautiful white snow covered surroundings, where the wind stops and birds sing, where reindeers graced in the deep green coloured grass, the sun brights like a diamond and the clouds at the fluffiest point and bouncy, yes, I’m talking about Christmas season. This is a time for forgiveness and love and caring and sharing. Hate is forbidden here. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, the lonely neighbour next door, all become one ...

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“The Full Moon Mystery” by Euge Fernández Hayón

Submitted to Contest #98

That night, like it happened every month, the full moon lit up the whole neighbourhood. For the Blackmill family, that meant sleeping in the backyard right under the stars with nothing but a few blankets. The strange tradition had been present in the household generation after generation and, even though its origins remained unknown, no one dared to break it. During dinner, the five members of the family discussed the issue like they used to do. “He was drunk”, seventeen-year-old Kattia pointed out. “I won’t get tired of saying...

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“The Legend of Ellemeno Beach” by Gabriela Wels

Submitted to Contest #98

Ellemeno Beach isn’t the most picturesque of beaches. It’s rocky and covered in crushed seashells from years of waves crashing onto the shoreline, carrying with them centuries worth of shells and seaweed. Years of tramping feet ground those into smaller and smaller pieces, which made walking barefoot a rather uncomfortable experience. Not to mention, the roaring of cars as they pass the causeway often rattles your eardrums. So why on earth do we faithfully pack hamburgers to drive out and grill dinner there each week? It’s a family trad...

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Write about a family with a long-standing tradition, whose members all have conflicting origin stories for it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 58 stories

“The Birdfeeders” by James Falcone

“The Flannelly Family Famous Friday Fun Night, and how it all began” by Mariana Del Rosal

“the dinner party ” by Dann Jamal

“Magic Shoebox ” by John K Adams

“The Origin Debaters” by Aiyana Henderson

“The Valko Family Dinner” by Sophie Penafiel

“Midsummer” by Tricia Shulist

“The Festival of Lights” by Melinda Madrigal

“Laughter on a Night of Misery” by Naomi Hairston

“A Contested Family Tradition” by John Steckley

“Happy Thanksgiving” by Hope Rivers

“River Run” by David Zasloff

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” by Chacha Jaramillo

“The Full Moon Mystery” by Euge Fernández Hayón

“The Legend of Ellemeno Beach” by Gabriela Wels

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character having a premonition, but no one believes them.

Write about someone who’s desperately trying to change their luck.

Set your story on (or in) a winding river.

Write a story involving a character who cannot return home.

Contest #98

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

751

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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