A seed crystal holder used in a crystal pulling apparatus operated in accordance with the Czochralski method. In the seed crystal holder, a heat-resistant cushioning material is provided between the surface of a seed crystal and the contact surface of claws of the holder or between a cutaway surface of the seed crystal and a contact surface of an insert of the holder. The heat-resistant cushioning material is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber felt, glass fiber felt, metallic fiber felt, or selected from materials that cause plastic deformation such as Al.