del Castillo, Maria Emilia

In this essay will try to give my opinion about traditions which I consider the dominant element in
Val McDermid’s short story entitled “A traditional christmas”. The concept of dominant was
developed by the Russian Formalist Schoolars and make reference to the element that imposes itself
in the short story and dominates it.

The story is about a murder on Christmas night. Edmund's body is found by Jo under a birch tree
near the house where Jo, Diana and her family are celebrating Christmas. everyone believes that
Edmund died after being struck by lightning during the storm the night before and after the
discussion they had had about the idea of selling the house. but after a while, the narrator of the
story informs Detective Maggie that there is a murderer in the family because birch trees are not
conductors for electricity. After all, it is discovered that Edmund and Diana's mother had killed her
child by modifying the plug on the Christmas tree and her motivation was her belief in traditions.

For some people, Christmas traditions are very important. In this story it seems to be the most
important thing along with the house. That is the reason why Evangeline (Evie) murders her son
when he decides to sell the mansion to be able to follow his dream with his friends and with their
Jazz band, recording albums and playing in different places. Another tradition for this family is that
the last one to go to bed must turn off the Christmas tree and it is this tradition that his mother uses
and leads Edmund to death.

In short, I think traditions are good as long as they don't interfere with people's wishes or lives.
Because when we let traditions manipulate our way of life in some way, the consequences can be
serious.