365+ ‘Holiday’ Writing Prompts
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Parallel Christmas
Create a story about Christmas in a parallel universe, where the holiday’s history, traditions, or purpose might be completely different.
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Post-Apocalyptic Christmas
What if Christmas happened in a post-apocalyptic world? How would survivors celebrate it?
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Alien Christmas
Imagine if Christmas was celebrated by an alien civilization. How would they interpret and celebrate the holiday?
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Cherished Christmas Traditions
Detail your favorite holiday traditions and why they hold such importance to you.
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Gift of the Magi Remake
Rewrite ‘Gift of the Magi’ using modern holiday decor as the sacrificed objects.
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Hopping Holiday
What if Christmas was run by kangaroos instead of Santa and his reindeer? How would Christmas night look then?
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Holiday Mix-Up
Write a story where two holiday characters from different celebrations are mistaken for each other.
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The Ghost of Christmas Past
Analyse a past holiday celebration that didn’t live up to your expectations.
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Around the World In Holidays
Choose a holiday from a culture different from yours and write about how you think you might feel participating in it.
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Seasonal Sentiments
Write about how the changing seasons and their correlated holidays make you feel.
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Christmas Wish List
Write about the top three gifts you would like for Christmas this year and why you want each one.
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A Forgotten Tradition Revived
Write a story around your character discovering and reviving a lost holiday tradition.
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Lost in Holiday Wonderland
Create a narrative where your character somehow gets physically lost during the holiday rush.
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Unexpected Holiday Hero
Construct a tale of an everyday person who becomes an unlikely holiday hero.
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The Mythical Gift
Write a tale where your character receives a mysterious, perhaps magical, holiday gift and the adventures that unfold.
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Holiday Homecoming
Create a story about a character who must return home for the holidays, only to find everything has irrevocably changed.
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Holiday Reinvention
Describe one holiday when you or your family had to creatively reinvent the holiday traditions and what it taught you.
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Through the Holiday Markets
Write about a visit to a holiday market, painting a vivid picture of the sights, sounds, and experiences.
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The Spirit of Giving
Detail a noteworthy gift exchange you’ve had during the holidays, recounting not just the physical gift but the emotions tied to the moment.
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The Holiday Recipe
Write about a specific holiday dish, recipe, or a meal that holds huge importance for you.
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Reflecting on Holiday Traditions
Pen down your most noteworthy family tradition that is intrinsic to the holidays, and portray its significance in your life.
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The Evolution of Holiday Symbols
Investigate the evolution of a pervasive holiday symbol in a particular culture.
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Celebrations Across Borders
Write about a cultural or national holiday celebration that you’ve participated in outside of your own culture.
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The Lost Ornament
Imagine that you found a mysterious holiday ornament, write about the magical adventure it leads you on.
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Holiday Traditions Around the World
Research and write about a unique holiday tradition that is celebrated in another part of the world.
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The Magic of Snow
Write about your first memory of seeing or experiencing snow and how it adds magic to the holiday season.
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Santa’s Helpers
Write a tale from the perspective of an elf working in Santa’s Workshop.
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The Spirit of Giving
Create a short story about a child who discovers the real meaning of giving during holiday festivities.
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The Empty Chair
Describe a holiday feast where there’s an empty chair at the table, symbolizing a loved one who can’t join.
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Forgotten Feast
Imagine a traditional holiday feast from a century ago, and describe what might be on the table.
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Trouble in Paradise
Write about a couple’s romance that is put to the test during a holiday getaway.
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Winter Cabin Romance
Create a cozy, heartwarming tale where two strangers find themselves sharing a cabin during a winter holiday.
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Nostalgic Family Histories
Write about a memorable family event or tradition that has been passed down through generations.
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An Unexpected Gift
Narrate a holiday experience when you received a highly unexpected but surprisingly meaningful gift.
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Holiday Traditions
Write about one holiday tradition in your family that has remained constant over the years.
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The Haunted Hearths
Describe a haunted Christmas house and the spirits that dwell there, instead of a typical Santa Claus visit.
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Haunting on Halloween Street
Write about a made-up residential street where every house has a unique supernatural entity.
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Embracing the Autumn Essence
Compile a list of things engrained in November that you’re grateful for.
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Secret Santa Mix-Up
Write about a situation where a Secret Santa gift gets mixed-up and ends up revealing a unexpected secret.
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Interplanetary Vacation
Imagine what a family vacation might be like in a time when interplanetary travel is commonplace.
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Operation Family Vacation
Write about a meticulously planned family holiday that ends up being a series of comedic disasters.
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Born on the 4th of July
Write a story about a character born on the Fourth of July and explore how this coincidence shapes his/her life.
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Festive Foodie Travels
Recall a holiday where you tasted a traditional festive dish from another culture or region.
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Culinary Childhood Memories
Recount a memory from your childhood where you either helped prepare a special holiday meal or simply enjoyed it.
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Holiday Cocktail Creation
Write about creating the perfect festive drink, whether it’s a sweet hot chocolate or a spicy mulled wine.
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Valentine’s Victory
Start your story with the phrase, “She didn’t believe in Valentine’s Day, until…”
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Sensational Summer Stories
Narrate a memorable incident or exciting outing from your last summer holiday.
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Holiday Explorer
Describe how your family celebrates a favorite holiday and why it’s special to you.
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The Accidental Match
Write about two strangers who accidentally bump into each other only to find themselves under a mistletoe.
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Holiday Heartbreak
Explore a situation where a character is trying to forget a heartbreak but falls in love under the mistletoe.
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Elves After Christmas
Narrate the story of Christmas elves during their off-season, when it’s not Christmas.
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Miracle of Light
Imagine a world where the Hanukkah oil miracle is needed again in a contemporary setting.
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Maccabean Time Travel
Marry past and present by writing a time-travel story that involves characters from the original Hanukkah story arriving in the present day.
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Thanksgiving Miracle
Write about a time when a Thanksgiving disaster turned into a memorable family moment.
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Cacophony of Voices
Write a dialogue-heavy scene about a family gathering, possibly a holiday, where multitudes of conversations intertwine.
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Foreign Holiday Fusion
Imagine you are stranded in a foreign country during a December holiday you don’t normally celebrate. Write a journal entry on how you learn and participate in that culture’s festivities.
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Mawlid al-Nabi Celebration
Narrate a day in the life of a child experiencing the celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi for the first time.
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Festivus for the Rest of Us
Write a humorous account of a family’s holiday disaster and how they turn it into a fun, non-traditional celebration.
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Christmas Around the Globe
Describe a Christmas day in a country whose customs are different from yours.
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Holiday Dish Harmonies
Write about a unique or traditional Christmas dish from a culture different from your own that you’d love to try.
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Exploring Culture, Exploring Self
Write about one cultural tradition your family observes. How does this tradition contribute to your understanding of your identity?
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Festive Tale Retelling
Retell a well-known holiday story from the perspective of a historical figure.
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Parade of the Past
Describe a historically significant holiday parade you have been a part of, witnessed, or learned about.
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Holiday Ritual Insights
Explore a ritual that your family practices during the December holidays that seems unusual to outsiders.