December Journal Prompts

When scrapbooking December pages, the first place to get ideas for your journaling is from the photos you took in December. December is a festive month whether you observe one of the many religious holidays or you’re all about Santa, there is something for everyone. For the last decade I’ve been making a December Daily album which is a fun way to celebrate the busy month of December. As you look at your photos/events from December what stories are emerging?

In this post I’ll share some journaling prompts with you for December layouts. You may be current or you may be working with photos from the 1960’s … it’s ok, just jump in where you’re at. I’ll be posting journal prompts every month until I have the whole year covered with journaling ideas. (You can find the other monthly prompts HERE.)

Besides photos, another place to get journaling ideas is from the current Sticker Packs and Variety Mat Packs you are using. Some of my December Journal Prompts are from my photos and some are from Creative Memories Joy to the World Sticker Pack and Variety Mat Pack.

December Journal Prompts

Here are some journaling prompts to help you tell your stories from the photos you took in December (any year). Of course we all have different events and life circumstances but if you are stuck and not sure what to write about in your journal or in your scrapbook albums, I hope these prompts help jumpstart your journaling!

Season’s Greetings…saying “Merry Christmas!” has come under fire in the last several years as we are trying to be more inclusive and sensitive by not assuming someone’s religion. How do you feel when someone wishes you a Merry Christmas? Are you offended? Are you appreciative? Are you unbothered? Journal about some greetings you enjoy hearing or giving while you are out and about … have these changed over the years? Why or why not?
Deck the Halls…do you decorate your home for the holidays? Certain rituals can be passed down from generations and if you ever married someone, you quickly find out that some of these rituals are downright sacred! Such as….our tree always goes up the day after Thanksgiving vs our tree always goes up the first weekend in December! Personally, I love having our Christmas tree up as early as possible so we can enjoy it all month long. I could not imagine some cultures where they put up their Christmas tree on Christmas Eve! Although I can imagine that first sight on Christmas morning would have been breathtaking (and since they used real flame candles, it was probably wise to only have it up for Christmas Day)!
I’ll Be Home for Christmas…that famous verse from a favorite holiday carol really hit home the year my husband was deployed overseas and not home for Christmas. Who in your life is missing this December? Who is coming home this December? Have you ever missed a Christmas with a loved one? This December was the first ever in my oldest daughter’s life that she wasn’t home on Christmas morning. I say “home” meaning my home…her childhood home. She now has a new home in another state.
Favorite Recipes…December tends to be one of the months where lots of goodies are being given either at work or at the various parties and festivities going on. Do you have a favorite recipe you like to serve during the holidays? Now that we get a lot of our recipes online, we may not think to write them down. It can be something special for the next generation to find some of your favorite recipes in your own handwriting. Keep these in a recipe book, journal or even incorporate them into your scrapbook album or Christmas album.
Giving Gifts…are you a gift giver? Do you enjoy the process of shopping, wrapping and gifting? Does your family have any traditions around gift giving? Some families like to draw names and spend a little more on just one person. Other families expect a gift from and for everyone who is present on Christmas Day. Some people like to give tangible gifts, homemade gifts, expensive gifts, regifts (!) or experiences. Which do you prefer to give? Which to you prefer to receive? I like to keep my kids’ Christmas Wish Lists in our albums. I think it’s cute to look back and see what was on their list at various ages. How about you? Do you like lists? Or do you prefer to give what you think someone would like?

I hope these writing prompts and ideas are helpful to you as you write in your scrapbooks, planners and journals. (For a whole year’s worth of writing prompts, check out this tab: Writing Prompts). If you would like weekly encouragement with your writing, join my Wednesday Writers Club on Instagram or Facebook!

Thank you for being part of a Dash of Story community. I appreciate you and it’s so nice to be on this memory keeping journey together. DL