Compassion would be a key element. Just as in Buddhism the idea of compassion towards all beings is central, in a Buddhist Christmas story, a character might show great compassion to those in need during the Christmas time. For example, helping the poor get food or shelter.
One of the main cultural elements could be the celebration of Las Posadas. It's a big part of Mexican Christmas. Also, traditional food like tamales is likely to be mentioned.
The journey of Joseph is also a bit hidden. He had to deal with the situation of Mary's pregnancy, his own doubts perhaps, but still followed God's guidance. He protected Mary and Jesus, and his role as a foster father was vital. He took them to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath, which shows his resourcefulness and commitment to his family, which was an important part of the Christmas story.
Characters with good hearts, like kind children or friendly neighbors. For example, a child sharing their Christmas treats with others. Also, acts of giving, such as donating toys or food. And of course, the Christmas spirit, which could be shown through decorating the house or singing carols together.
Family for sure. Given that he is a family man, family gatherings and the joy of spending Christmas with his loved ones would likely be in the story. His kids opening presents and the excitement around that.
There are often DIY projects gone wrong. For instance, building a sleigh for Santa out of old car parts and plywood. But when they try to test it out, it falls apart. Also, the food can be a great element. Maybe they try to make a gingerbread house but use cornbread instead because that's what they have on hand. And animals can play a part too. A redneck might try to train their hunting dog to pull a small sled with presents on it, but the dog just runs off with the presents instead.
One possible main element could be the Christmas spirit. The story by Leanne Guenther might tell about how the whole town or community gets into the festive mood. There could be descriptions of the snow - covered streets (if it's a story set in a place where it snows during Christmas), the carol singers going from house to house, and how the simple act of giving a small gift can bring so much joy to someone. It could also feature a character learning an important lesson about love and forgiveness during the Christmas period.
The separation of families due to war can also make Christmas a war story. Usually, Christmas is a time for family reunions, but in a war story, families are split apart, with soldiers far from home and civilians in danger or displaced. The emotional turmoil caused by this separation during the Christmas period is a significant element in making it a war story.
There is no traditional "Buddhist Christmas story" in the pure sense as Buddhism and Christmas come from different religious and cultural backgrounds. However, in a modern and inclusive world, one could imagine a story where a Buddhist monk shows kindness and compassion during the Christmas season. For example, a monk might visit an orphanage on Christmas day, bringing gifts of food and words of wisdom, sharing the Buddhist values of loving - kindness and generosity with those who are celebrating Christmas.
A fun Christmas story might have a family doing something out of the ordinary. Such as a family who instead of having a traditional Christmas dinner, they have a picnic on the snow. They bring hot chocolate in thermoses and sandwiches. And they build snowmen right there next to their picnic spot. There could also be children finding a hidden Santa's workshop in the woods and helping the elves for a day.
Family time. Just like people, dogs in Christmas stories often enjoy the time with their families. They might sit by the fireplace with the family or go for a walk in the snow together. There could also be a big Christmas dinner where the dog gets some scraps under the table. And of course, there could be Christmas decorations everywhere in the house which the dog might be curious about or accidentally knock over in a funny way.