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15 Prompts for Talking and Writing About the Holidays and the New Year

Share your traditions, weigh in on a seasonal debate, write a creative story or reflect on the year behind you while preparing for the one ahead.

By Natalie Proulx

Merry Christmas , happy Hanukkah , joyous Kwanzaa and happy New Year.

To celebrate the season, we’ve rounded up 15 prompts we’ve written over the years that you can use for writing or discussion in the classroom, among your friends or at your holiday gatherings. You might talk about your beloved family traditions, weigh in on a seasonal debate, write a holiday-themed short story or poem, or reflect on the year behind you and prepare for the one ahead.

Each of these prompts was inspired by a New York Times article, essay or image, and many of them are still open for comment for students 13 or older.

For more writing prompts and conversation-starters, see our related column .

1. What Holiday or Holidays Are You Celebrating This Month?

Hanukkah? Christmas? Kwanzaa? A combination? Something else? Use this prompt to talk or write about your own holiday celebrations — or those that other families have that you wish you could be a part of.

2. What Are Your Family Traditions?

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Essays About Holidays With Family: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

Looking for an interesting topic for your next essay? Check out our top essays about holidays with family and a list of prompts for inspiration. 

Holidays with family can create memories of a lifetime – some for good reasons and some for unpleasant incidents. Aside from giving the weary a break from work, holidays also provide an opportunity for families to gather, enjoy and make new, lasting memories together. Many cultures celebrate holidays differently and have holidays unique to their cultures and countries.

If you’re writing an essay about holidays with family, here is our list of essays that will keep you glued and reflect on your holidays. 

1. A Guide To Navigating Food And Family During Holidays by Katherine Speller

2. forgiveness perfect gift for the holidays by käri knutson , 3. everything that went wrong on our family vacation (and why it was still totally worth it) by michelle weisenberg, 4. consumerism culture is dangerous to the true meaning of christmas by frank portillo, 5. holidays away from home: an ofw christmas by beatrice del rosario, anakin loewes garcia, ronald manuel laylo, 1. your most memorable holiday with family, 2. why are holidays with family important, 3. an eco-friendly family holiday, 4. planning the best holiday destination, 5. camping for the holidays, 6. holidays on the beach, 7. history of spending holidays with family, 8. avoiding covid-19 while on holidays, 9. how to ensure a stree-free family holiday, 10. budget-friendly tips for holiday travels.

“The confidence you bring — from listening to your body and being sure that you are allowed to feel however you want about your food choices — will do wonders for dealing with any criticism, comments or plate-policing from (mostly) well-meaning family members or people with their own food hang-ups.” 

Planning what to bring or cook for a family holiday dinner may come with many anxieties and pressures, especially if you have critical family members. The article presents the thoughts of a psychotherapist and eating disorder expert who advises readers on how to best respect their own dietary needs and boundaries while embracing those of their families. 

“During the holidays, people who otherwise avoid each other can be thrown together in family or social situations that force the issue. It can be painful to ask for forgiveness and risk rejection… but it’s something we sometimes have to accept.” 

There’s no better gift to present to your family on holidays than forgiveness. In this article, psychology professor Robert Enright is interviewed to talk about the process of forgiveness, why people hold back from forgiving, and what helps people let go of their anger.

“Our vacations are NEVER dull. They usually entail at least one sick child/trip to the ER and one major catastrophe. It’s gotten to the point where we simply expect these things. As our pediatrician says, ‘I wish you people would just stay home.’”

Family holidays for this author cannot be complete without a disaster, from water-submerged diabetes testers to stolen backpacks and a kid getting wounded by a knife. Yet, despite these incidents, Weisenberg still sees the beauty in their travels, with its indelible memories outweighing any unfortunate event happening in all their family holiday travels.

“Instead of buying gifts for one another, we should be focused on creating memories with each other — an immaterial gift that will last far longer than this year’s Apple Watch.”

Instead of strengthening family bonds, many look forward to holidays to get a hand at things they’ve been meaning to buy. The article laments how the culture of consumerism and materialism has engulfed us, spoiling the true meaning of family holidays, wherein making memories together should suffice. 

“OFWs sacrifice quality time with their loved ones by providing for them from afar. Each family has their own way of coping with that absence. Every shared moment, be it physically or through the aid of technology, encapsulates the spirit of Christmas for loved ones near and far.”

The article interviews overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) or those who sacrifice their time with loved ones to bring more income to their families. As Christmas has a special place in the hearts of all Filipinos, OFWs’ nostalgia is at its peak during this holiday when they cannot be home with family. OFWs in the article talk about their homesickness and how they cope at Christmas time.

Writing Prompts  on Essays About Holidays With Family

Here is our round-up of creative prompts for your essay:

Describe your most memorable holiday with your family. Put in as many elements that made this holiday profoundly impact you. Then, for a more powerful effect, make the narration as vivid as you can, from the dining table filled with delectable food to how your siblings stifled a laugh upon seeing the neon sweater your aunt gave you as a present.   

Aside from creating new memories that strengthen relationships, holidays with family can help you immerse in new cultures and experiences. Collate studies that investigate the impact of family holidays on one’s well-being. Summarize their findings and provide your analysis.

Environmentalists lambast the overindulgence that comes with holiday merry-making. Enumerate the holiday practices that are dangerous to the environment. Next, encourage families to strive for a green holiday instead of resisting the strong temptation of excess. Then, provide tips on how one can step up to reduce carbon footprint and care for Mother Nature.

Deciding which destination is best for your family will largely depend on the preference of each family member and your budget. Provide tips on how one can choose their destination and how one should prepare for this. Remind readers that they don’t have to spend too much for the “best” holiday destination. As long as families are together on this special day, that should mean more to them than anything else. 

Camping is the best way to get close to nature while creating a stronger bond with parents, siblings, and relatives. Enumerate why camping is the best way to spend your holiday with family. You may also provide a list of essential things to bring when going on a camping trip. 

Frolicking on the beach is not just the best way to beat the heat. It’s also an excellent way to spend the holidays with your family, especially if you have kids who love water activities — but who doesn’t? For this prompt, you can narrate your holiday spent on the beach with your family. You can also provide your reader with a list of the best beach spots in your country.

There are several national holidays around the world. The origin of each has its unique story that makes them all interesting and worth experiencing. Pick one or a few holiday celebrations, particularly those best spent with family. First, write about their history and how they earned the designation as holidays. Then, detail the family traditions that come with their celebration. 

While many countries are now mask-free, COVID-19 remains to infect like wildfire in some places. List a few tips on how families can enjoy the holidays and be safe from COVID-19 or any raging virus. Examples could be encouraging readers to avoid COVID-19 hotspots, bringing antigen tests, and placing alcohol bottles within easy reach. 

What makes one full of fidgets when a holiday with relatives is fast approaching? Is it the critical aunt who might notice your added weight or the thought of celebrating the holidays in a remote place without internet access? First, cite the most common sources of holiday stress. Then, offer recommendations on how to put aside the nervous energy before and during the holidays.

You may also interview some friends to know their major sources of family holiday anxieties. Then, find out how they overcome them. 

Holidays can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Write a list of tips on how one can spare extra cash for accommodation, public transport, and more. Remind your readers that holidays can be fun without pumping out a lot of cash. If you’re not into travel, you can focus on budget tips for holiday shopping.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers . If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

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BEST HOLIDAY WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 54 prompts reset

The write stuff, set your story on new year's day., write about a character who visits their hometown for the holidays and reconnects with a former love interest., write about a festive party gone wrong that’s saved by some holiday magic., write a story where someone shares a cup of hot chocolate with a friend., write a story in the form of a list of new year's resolutions..

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Write a story about an unconventional holiday tradition.

Set your story at a work holiday party,, write a story that takes place over the eight nights of hannukah., write a story that includes the phrase “thank you it’s just what i wanted.”, write a story starring a store cashier, during the busy pre-holiday season., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

Never miss a prompt! Get curated writing inspiration delivered to your inbox each week.

Write about a character setting an unusual New Year’s resolution.

Write a story about two people who don’t know each other but bump into one other on new year’s eve (either once or every year)., start or end your story with one or more characters shouting “happy new year”, write about someone who goes to great lengths to avoid being pranked on april 1st, only to realize they had the date wrong and it’s already april 2nd., start your story with a big company pulling an april fools’ prank that ends up going horribly wrong., write about someone who hates pranks and spends april fools’ day doing good deeds instead., start your story with one character making a vow that they never would have made the year before., write about someone who is given a bird for the holidays but doesn’t know how to take care of it., write about a family’s first holiday after a parent has gotten remarried, and now there are new faces at the table and new traditions to be honored., write about a family adapting a holiday tradition to take place over video chat., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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The best holiday writing prompts

Friends and family gathering. Running around and completing errands. Hours in the kitchen. Dinners, celebrations, parties. Holidays of all kinds come with their fair share of drama, emotion, and story-fodder. Narratives of all kinds can unfold during these busy times. That’s why this list of creative writing prompts includes the theme: holidays.

We’re not just talking about reindeers, turkey, and stringing lights on the tree. Our prompts cover all manner of holidays, from Easter to April Fools to Groundhog Day. And whether the holidays are a time of joy and happiness for your characters, or more difficult, you get to decide the mood.

There’s a lot to choose from, so if you need help deciding, here’s our top 10 holiday writing prompts:

• You own a Christmas Tree stall. One evening, a young boy comes in and picks the smallest, scrawniest tree you have.
• Write a story that only consists of New Year's Resolutions.
• Write a story that only consists of letters to Santa.
• It's the night before Christmas. You are a stirring mouse in an otherwise totally quiet house.
• Write a story about a "chosen family" dinner, where no one is related by blood, but they still feel like family.
• Create a holiday of your own and write a story about it.
• Write a short story about someone with unconventional New Year's traditions.
• Write about the best April Fool's Day prank that you could ever pull.
• You’re stuck in a time loop with the same holiday happening over and over — the only rule is that it can’t be Groundhog Day.
• An advertising firm lands a huge contract to make Easter the year’s most popular holiday.

Looking for some more tips for writing for your holiday story? You’ve come to the right place. Here are some resources that you may find helpful — consider them a holiday gift, from us to you:

• How to Master the 'Show, Don't Tell' Rule (free course) — Twinkling decorations, frosty weather, the smell of delicious food cooking — the holidays are a treat for the senses, and those kinds of details help evoke the right mood for your story. The best way to make your story as immersive as possible is to master the golden rule of Show, Don’t Tell.
• Character profile template (free resource ) — A lot of holiday stories are driven by emotion, just like the holidays themselves. Perhaps your character has fallen on hard times, and is having a crisis of faith. Maybe they’re returning home after a long stretch away, just in time for the holidays. Or perhaps your story is less emotional, but nonetheless character driven — our hero is a serial procrastinator, on the hunt for the perfect gift. Either way, you’ll need to know your character inside and out, and that’s where the character profile template comes in.

Want more help learning how to write a holiday short story? Check out How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest , for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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Holidays Essay Examples and Topics

Christmas and easter: two contrasting holidays, fourth of july (america independence day).

• Words: 1762

Chinese New Year Foods: Chinese Culture and Traditions

• Words: 2150

Thanksgiving History and Significance

• Words: 1471

Origin of Easter Celebration

Christmas celebration in new york city.

• Words: 1174

The Food of Easter Holidays: The Roots of the Easter Tradition

• Words: 1217

The Surprises of a Dutch Birthday

Celebration of racial harmony day in singapore.

• Words: 1138

The Day of the Dead

Spring festival gala event.

• Words: 1108

Impact of Technology on the Way People Celebrate Christmas

• Words: 1341

Wedding in the UAE

St. patrick’s day.

• Words: 2708

Lunar Vietnamese New Year’s Event: Flower Festival

• Words: 1684

The Dragon Boat Festival on Qi’ao Island

Hari merdeka event in malaysia, the global festival of halloween or hallow eve, american federal holidays: essential knowledge for kindergarten.

• Words: 1189

The Mexican Holiday of Day of the Dead

Halloween: ancient religious roots and traditions, the importance of holidays for the british people.

• Subjects: Hospitality Industry
• Words: 1194

The Significance of Celebrations for Black People

Celebrating easter in the family during the covid-19 pandemic, thanksgiving dinner preparations, christmas celebrations in spanish culture.

• Words: 1142

Day of the Dead: History and Cultural Aspect

• Words: 2234

Music Festivals and Chinese Students’ Attendance

• Words: 14445

American and Israeli Festivals and Celebrations

Halloween celebration in the united states.

• Words: 1110

Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos Celebrations

The meaning of anzac today & young people’s interest, thanksgiving’s day history: from showing gratefulness to god to national holiday, why halloween celebration is bad.

Home / Essay Samples / Culture / Holidays

Essays on Holidays

Should columbus day be a national holiday in the usa.

Columbus Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1937. It commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. However, in recent years, the holiday has become a subject of controversy and debate. In...

A Celebration of Friendship: My Friend's Birthday Party

Celebrating the milestones in our friends' lives brings joy and warmth to our hearts. One such memorable occasion was my friend's birthday party, an event filled with laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. In this essay, I will recount the delightful experience of my friend's birthday...

The Magic of Holiday: Why I Love Christmas

Christmas, a cherished holiday celebrated around the world, holds a special place in my heart. This essay explores the reasons why I hold a deep affection for Christmas, examining the joyful traditions, the spirit of giving, and the sense of unity that make this season...

Establishing Columbus Day as a National Holiday

Columbus Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. While it has been recognized as a federal holiday in the United States for decades, the observance of Columbus Day has become a subject of controversy and...

The Reasons Against Celebrating Columbus Day

Christopher Columbus is a historical figure celebrated for 'discovering' America in 1492. The national holiday, Columbus Day, commemorates his voyage and has been celebrated in the United States since the early 20th century. However, there's a growing consensus against this celebration, as many view it...

The Most Iconic Holiday of Autumn Season: the Halloween

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31st, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is a time of year when people of all ages dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and attend spooky parties. As a long-time lover of...

The Making of "Day of the Dead": Analysis of the Horror Classic

"Day of the Dead" is a 1985 American horror film, directed by George A. Romero, who is famous for his contribution to the zombie genre. I want to make an analysis of the "Day of the Dead" movie in this essay. This film is the...

The Historical and Cultural Significance of 4th of July

The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the country's declaration of independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. This day has been celebrated in the United States for over 200 years, and...

Spring: Describing a Season of Rebirth and Renewal

Spring is the season of new beginnings, where the world wakes up from its long winter slumber and comes alive once again. The weather warms up, the days get longer, and the world explodes with color as flowers bloom and trees bud. This spering essay...

Spring Break: Finding a Time for Fun and Relaxation

Spring break is a time of year that many students eagerly anticipate. It's a week-long break from classes and a chance to unwind and have some fun. Whether you're planning to travel or stay at home, there are plenty of ways to make the most...

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• Chinese New Year
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• Winter Break
• Day of The Dead
• Thanksgiving
• Holi Festival
• Spring Break
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