Holidays & traditions
How to host a family holiday-themed book club that promotes discussion and shared tradition-centered reading.
A family holiday book club nurtures connection by balancing shared readings, open dialogue, and inclusive activities that honor traditions while inviting new voices into the circle.
Published by
Jerry Jenkins
August 04, 2025 - 3 min Read
Hosting a family holiday book club can become a treasured tradition that grows with each season. Start by selecting a flexible reading plan that honors different ages and interests, from picture books for the youngest readers to thoughtful novels for adults. Establish a shared calendar with a single, predictable meeting each month during the holiday season, giving families enough time to read without feeling overwhelmed. Decide on a comfortable venue, whether it’s a living room, kitchen table, or a cozy library corner. Gather lightweight discussion prompts, seasonal snacks, and a simple rotation system so every member feels seen and heard during gatherings.
The first meeting should set the tone for collaboration and curiosity. Invite everyone to bring a favorite passage, character, or line that resonated with them, then encourage explanations in a calm, respectful manner. Emphasize listening as a core value, and model how to bridge differences in opinion with kindness. Consider a light activity that ties reading to tradition—perhaps a family memory card game, a quick craft, or a holiday-themed trivia round. These small touches help participants feel connected, while reinforcing the idea that the book club is as much about shared moments as it is about pages.
Fostering inclusive discussion through shared responsibility and creative input.
As the club continues, expand the reading slate to include short stories, essays, or seasonal poems that spark discussion without requiring long commitments. Create a rotating facilitator system, so each member leads a discussion once every few meetings. Provide optional audio versions for members who prefer listening, or for long travel evenings when everyone is in a car together. Encourage members to draw connections between the stories and their family traditions, such as recipes, songs, or seasonal rituals. By tying readings to everyday life, you reinforce the relevance of literature to family culture.
To keep momentum, set gentle expectations and flexible timelines. Offer a neutral, accessible list of titles with short summaries and reading recommendations, making it easy to choose collaboratively. Allow members to swap titles if something doesn’t fit their household. Maintain an inclusive atmosphere by inviting guests of different ages and backgrounds to share insights. Keep the conversation curiosity-based rather than verdict-driven, focusing on themes like gratitude, resilience, and community. End each session with a light recap and a preview of the next gathering’s read.
Balancing tradition and new voices with gentle, structured guidance.
One core strategy is to rotate roles beyond reader participation. Assign a timekeeper to ensure balanced speaking turns, a note-taker who captures memorable quotes, and a host who coordinates the snacks and setting. These assignments cultivate accountability and teamwork, mirroring real-life family collaboration. When possible, involve children in simple tasks, such as helping select a picture-book excerpt or designing a holiday-themed bookmark for the group. Small responsibilities give younger participants ownership and pride, reinforcing a sense of belonging that strengthens the family’s cultural fabric.
Incorporate ritual elements that make each meeting feel special. Start with a brief gratitude moment, inviting each member to share one thing they appreciated from the day. Include a seasonal photo prompt or a memory lane question, like “Which family tradition has evolved most since you were young?” Keep the tone warm and playful, inviting laughter and stories as a regular feature. End with a shared reflection, asking what book or passage stayed with them the longest and why. Documenting these reflections creates a living archive families can revisit across holidays.
Practical, family-centered planning that respects time and energy.
To ensure accessibility, provide multiple formats for selections, including large print, audiobooks, and e-books. Encourage members to borrow from libraries or swap titles within the group, reducing cost barriers. At each gathering, offer a brief context about the author’s background and the historical setting of the work. Encourage discussion prompts that probe character motivations, moral dilemmas, and the choices characters make during festive moments. Together, explore how different generations interpret the same theme, uncovering surprising parallels between remembered customs and contemporary life.
When tensions arise, steer conversations toward curiosity rather than confrontation. Develop a simple ground rule set: listen actively, pause before responding, and ask clarifying questions. If disagreements surface, acknowledge diverse perspectives and pivot to reflective questions like, “What would you do in that character’s position?” or “How does this reading relate to your own family experience?” Providing a framework helps families navigate conflicts respectfully, turning potential friction into meaningful insight that deepens understanding rather than widening gaps.
Creating a lasting family tradition through reflection and continued growth.
Practical planning is essential for sustainable success. Use a shared digital calendar or a family bulletin board to track meeting dates, book selections, and snack themes. Prepare a simple, consistent menu that can be traded among households to minimize effort. For recipe ideas, tie snacks to the book’s setting or era, offering a tactile link between reading and heritage. Encourage members to contribute a short reading-related ritual, such as a toast or a quick storytelling warm-up, which can be repeated each session to create comfort and anticipation.
Celebrate the reach of reading by inviting extended family and neighbors to occasional, optional gatherings. Rotate guest readers who bring different cultural perspectives, seasonal poems, or short folk tales. These additions enrich the club’s tapestry and reveal that literature is a shared human journey. Make a point of acknowledging milestones—completing a challenging title, reading a long-selection aloud, or simply showing up consistently. Acknowledgments reinforce belonging and sustain enthusiasm for the next holiday season’s discussions.
Over time, assemble a lightweight family book club journal. Include prompts about favorite quotes, scenes that felt magical, and ideas for future readings tied to upcoming holidays. A journal provides a tangible archive for children who will value it later, and it offers a sentimental bridge across generations. Periodically invite adult members to add their own notes about how a book shaped a holiday memory or tradition. This living document becomes the heart of the family’s literary legacy, encouraging ongoing reading and discussion long after the season ends.
Finally, cultivate a sense of playful exploration alongside meaningful reflection. Encourage families to pick a “holiday theme” each year—such as generosity, courage, or gratitude—and select books that explore that theme from different angles. Emphasize shared reading experiences over competition, making space for everyone’s pace. By nurturing curiosity, respect, and collaboration within a relaxed, festive framework, a family holiday book club grows into a cherished tradition that families revisit with warmth and anticipation, year after year.
