Christmas can be a moment when positive feelings take center stage, a reunion of all the people who shape a life, a time to recall what has happened and to acknowledge those who are no longer present. The aim is peace and solidarity, to let go of what harms the spirit. It is the season to consider moving toward a state of absolute goodness, a path that harms no one and acknowledges the enduring pull of desire and attraction that can surface at any time, including during Christmas.
More than two decades ago, a literary project began to take shape, bringing together a group of established writers who agreed to contribute two stories each. The central pairing of themes—Christmas and sexuality—has long been seen as unlikely bedfellows. The result was a collection of erotic Christmas tales, published by a respected house and its distribution partners, with a foreword that captured the spirit of the project and its playful struggle to balance festivity with adult topics.
What emerges is a set of thirteen stories told largely through first-person narration, each presenting a crafted voice that carries its own signature style. The anthology spans a broad spectrum—from lyrical, almost poetic formulations to traditional, straightforward storytelling. The stories explore traditions, social and political commentaries, critiques of family dynamics, and resonant historical touches. Three threads unite them all: first, they conform to the compact structure of a short story with a clear setup, progression, and ending that often delivers a twist; second, they are anchored to a specific moment in time—Christmas; and third, they foreground a candid, sometimes provocative, exploration of sexual desire. The collection becomes a mosaic of approaches to erotic subject matter, always filtered through the personal perspective of the writer.
Within these pages, readers encounter a range of sexual encounters and awakenings that challenge conventional boundaries. Various scenarios are presented, including intimate scenes with a mother’s friend, or a private tutor, or explorations that involve ex-partners and social networks. There are one-night encounters with unpredictable consequences, explorations of same-sex relationships across different ages, collaborations with a hired partner, and intimate moments among family members and in-laws. The themes also touch on sexual impotence and lifelong erotic exploration. A recurring observation underlines the idea that eroticism does not equate to love, and it is not always a guarantee of lasting happiness. Some passages describe a haunting memory that pulls a person back to earlier days, while also warning of a life that can be condemned by its own choices. In short, the anthology uses sexuality as a narrative force that reveals character and motive, sometimes driving the plot and at other times deepening the emotional texture of the stories.
Sex, in this collection, is portrayed as a facet of humanity that can illuminate identity and memory. It appears in varying degrees of emphasis, sometimes as a bold external act and at other times as an inner reflection that colors a character’s sense of self. When used to serve the plot, the sexual elements are presented with sensitivity to tone and emotion, ensuring that physical sensation and narrative purpose complement one another rather than merely sensationalize. The distinct contributions come together to form a cohesive whole where desire serves as both driver and mirror for individual experience.
Why should a reader engage with these stories? From a testimonial standpoint, the collection offers a broad snapshot of late 20th-century literary currents in the Spanish-speaking world, illustrating how diverse authors approached themes of festivity and sexuality in a single, cohesive volume. It demonstrates how two seemingly incompatible ideas can coexist within art, producing a provocative and reflective experience. Christmas remains, in this context, a backdrop for human complexity, memory, and longing. The work invites readers to reflect, question, and perhaps revisit familiar holiday narratives with a more nuanced lens.