There’s something about the holidays that makes us seek out the comfort of the familiar. At least, that’s my theory about why literary clichés tend to run rampant this time of year. You know the ones I’m talking about: the plot devices and character archetypes that always seem to find their way into any story that revolves around the holidays. If you pick up a novel with snow, woods, or a Christmas tree on the cover, chances are you’ll run into at least a few of these.

1. Snowy setting

Nothing says winter holidays like a blanket of white snow, preferably in a cabin in the middle of the woods. Or a bustling downtown filled with skyscrapers—usually New York City, but only the trendy, really expensive parts, of course. Or perhaps a foreign country with beautiful natural beauty, like rolling hills filled with vineyards or snow-capped mountain peaks. Regardless, it has to be covered in a blanket of snow—the thicker the better!

2. Snowed in

Because this blanket of snow is just so heavy/unexpected/part of the storm of the century, everyone just has to stay where they are. There’s no escape, people! Our protagonist will be forced to stay in one place, with any and every conceivable means of transportation becoming useless in the face of those treacherously snowy roads.

3. Busy career person

The protagonist must have a career that they absolutely love but that takes up all their time—I’m talking sixty-, seventy-hour workweeks here. Bonus points if their parents/kids/spouse/best friend begs them to take some time off for the holidays. They ignore their loved one, all in the pursuit of success. They completely miss the whole point of Christmas, because there is some looming deadline ahead of them and nothing will stop their climb up the corporate ladder. Especially not Santa!

4. Return to a small town

Often this busy career person begrudgingly makes their way back to their quaint little town for the holidays. There they run into old friends and old flames, all the while grumbling to themselves how backward everything is there. There’s no culture! There’s no ambition! They can’t wait to get back to work and put these simple yokels behind them. Then, for some reason (see cliché #2), they are forced to stay longer than they planned.

5. Family secrets

Inevitably, some big dark family secret is revealed. Does the protagonist have a secret half sibling they didn’t know about? Guess who’s coming to dinner! Are the protagonist’s parents divorcing after four decades of marriage? No one could have guessed! Sometimes the secrets are horribly tragic, but more often than not these secrets cater to the emotional gut punch of relationships gone wrong.

6. Physical hijinks involving holiday decorations

The holidays are basically one giant setup for slapstick comedy. The ladders, the ornaments, the giant tree . . . so many things to trip over or fall off or knock down. The possibilities for hilarity are truly endless. These little mishaps usually happen after it’s been established that the protagonist is a klutz (an adorable one, of course). It can take the form of anything from sliding into a giant snowbank while ice skating to breaking a living room window while trying to fit the Christmas tree inside. As long as it’s physical and involves decorations, it counts.

7. Ironic mistletoe

Mistletoe is so romantic. At least, that’s what the books tell me. (Does anyone actually hang mistletoe anymore except in holiday novels or Hallmark movies?) But this isn’t regular mistletoe. This is ironic mistletoe—under which the protagonist finds themselves standing next to someone they absolutely Can. Not. Stand. Eww, no way are they going to kiss! But they have to, right? It’s mistletoe! From that first reluctant kiss, a spark is born and the rest is holiday history.

8. Grouchy family member

This is probably the most realistically rooted holiday cliché out there: the grouchy and/or wildly inappropriate family member who says things that make everyone extremely embarrassed. Perhaps where literary tropes stray from reality, however, is that in the novels, these curmudgeonly outbursts are often accompanied by a pearl of true wisdom. The protagonist will, of course, ignore that pearl of wisdom—that is, until they suddenly remember it in a flash of realization that will change the course of their life forever.

9. Detailed food descriptions (preferably baking)

So much of the season revolves around food, so it’s no surprise that it tends to become almost a character itself in holiday literature. Whether it’s descriptions of the sumptuous Christmas Day dinner (that may or may not go horribly wrong) or the intoxicating scents of gingerbread and nutmeg, readers must be privy to all the festive food stuffs. Bonus points if the protagonist owns—or knows someone who owns—a bakery, since it’s the perfect setting for both serious conversations and serious sweets.

10. Royalty

I must confess that I have no idea why royalty and the holiday season so often go hand in hand. Maybe falling in love with a prince or princess is the adult version of believing in Santa Claus? Regardless, you can be sure that the attractive, mysterious stranger the protagonist meets and promptly falls head over heels for is hiding the fact that they are a runaway royal (see cliché #5).

11. Rediscovering the spirit of Christmas

Finally, all of the above clichés are for naught if the main character doesn’t rediscover the magic of Christmas. Which they will! And just in the nick of time to prevent some family disaster/permanent breakup/hilariously awkward misunderstanding. After all, everyone needs to be reminded of what the holiday season is about from time to time.

While these clichés aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s hard to deny that they have their own unique place in the pantheon of literature. Cheesy? Perhaps. Delightfully reassuring in a season of nonstop hustle and bustle? Most definitely.

Andrea Moran lives outside of Nashville. She’s a professional copywriter and editor who loves all things books. Find her on LinkedIn.