Do you like holiday stories? Do you watch Christmas movies or read Christmas stories? Do you like holiday romances or mysteries? What is it about holiday stories that make them so popular? Is it just Christmas and Hanukkah or do you like to read or watch stories set during other holidays?

I believe that Christmas stories especially have certain elements that put us into a holiday mood:

1. Setting: Whether set in a big city or small town, snow-covered or tropical, they are all adorned with holiday decorations and give the audience a sense of coziness.
2. Meet-Cute: A charming or unexpected encounter between the main characters.
3. Romantic Tension: The build up of attraction between the main characters that usually involves a series of obstacles, misunderstandings, and/or personal challenges.
4. Theme: Especially during Christmas and Hanukkah the focus is on the importance of family, friendship and love. These stories often focus on character growth: fresh starts, second chances, forgiveness, or connection…
5. Festive Elements: To be a true holiday story it should incorporate holiday traditions, decorations, and events. These elements enhance the romantic atmosphere and create a sense of nostalgia. The best stories use our senses bringing nostalgia with memories of scents, sounds or events.
6. Character Arcs: Personal growth is usually central to these holiday stories from overcoming past traumas or misconceptions to achieving some physical or emotional challenge.
7. Supportive Side Characters: Whether friends, family, quirky neighbors or an animal friend, supportive side characters provide comedy, guidance or a mirror for the main character to see what’s truly important on their romantic journey.
8. A Happy Ending: It isn’t a true romance without a happy ending, but other genres set during the holiday season often lean on a heartwarming resolution. Part of our love of Christmas stories is the redemption, the feel-good ending that leaves readers or watchers with the warmth and joy of the holiday season.

Popular Tropes

1. Snowed In: Characters trapped together usually by a snow storm but there could be other reasons as well.
2. Second Chances: Old flames reconnecting often seeking forgiveness.
3. Fake Dating: Pretending to be a couple for family, events or career.
4. Small Town Charm: Even if not set in a small town, there is still a feeling of community.

Writer’s Digest Gives Three Tips for Writing a Holiday Romance Novel; number one is to make the holiday a character. “You’ve got to feel it.” Holidays are filled with a lot of emotional baggage, memories, traditions, and regrets. Wrapping your holiday story in layers of feelings, events and traditions that evoke the holidays plays on the readers’ memories and emotions giving them a bit of nostalgia or wistfulness.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/3-tips-for-writing-a-holiday-romance-novel

The holidays aren’t perfect, at least they’ve never been at our house, adding the reality of the holidays: the stress, the anxiety, the added pressure, gives the reader another layer and a realism that is both comforting and a backdrop for change. Over the years, I’ve learn that some of my favorite gatherings have been the ones that didn’t come off the way they’d been planned. A little spice, a bit of a shake-up, a change in direction can add the perfect twist to a traditional holiday story.

What is it you love about holiday stories? Do you read or watch holiday movies? What are some of your favorites?