5 Holiday Reading Rituals That Help You Slow Down

December 8, 2025•6 minute read read

Because the Best Part of the Holidays Might Just Be the Quiet

The holidays sparkle with excitement: twinkling lights, gatherings, gifts, and endless to-dos. But in between the bustle, there’s something sacred about slowing down.

When the world outside feels busy and bright, a book can offer stillness. It can be your warm escape, your gentle pause, your daily reminder to breathe and just be.

This season, create space for yourself with five simple reading rituals that bring calm, comfort, and a little bit of magic back to the holidays.

1. The “Candlelit Chapter” Ritual 🕯️

When the sun sets early and the world grows quiet, light a candle and read by its soft glow.

There’s something timeless about this small ritual, the flicker of light, the scent of pine or spice, the warmth of a story unfolding. Choose a book that feels like it belongs to the moment, something atmospheric, romantic, or quietly haunting.

Try this:
Curl up with Whisky Business. A cozy slow-burn rom-com set on the windswept Isle of Skye or The Floating World, with its lyrical writing and stunning design. Both bring a sense of calm that’s perfect beside a candle flame.

✨ Bonus tip: Keep your candle and book together on a small tray so it’s easy to set the scene every evening.

2. The “Morning Escape” Ritual ☕

Before the day begins, before the messages, the errands, and the noise, give yourself ten quiet minutes with a book and a warm drink.

There’s no need to rush through pages. Let the words wake you up gently, the same way light slowly fills the room.

Try this:
Pour your coffee (or cocoa!) and open Bookshops & Bonedust, a story that celebrates the quiet magic of bookshops, friendship, and finding joy in unexpected places.

✨ Bonus tip: Keep your current read near your mug so it’s easy to reach for the first thing in the morning, before you reach for your phone.

3. The “Gift to Yourself” Ritual 🎁

The holidays are full of giving, but when’s the last time you gifted something to yourself?

Treating yourself as a reader is one of the kindest things you can do. Maybe that’s a new edition of a favorite book, or maybe it’s creating a small reading corner that’s yours and yours alone.

Try this:
Choose something beautiful like one of our LitJoy Classics, such as Pride and Prejudice or The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Tales, and wrap it for yourself. Write a note inside: “To me, from me. A reminder to slow down.”

✨ Bonus tip: Pair it with your favorite blanket and a playlist that feels like winter nostalgia.

4. The “Chapter Countdown” Ritual 📖

Advent calendars don’t have to be about chocolates.

This season, count down to Christmas one chapter at a time, or one mini book at a time! Our Mini Book Ornament Advent turns reading into celebration. Each tiny ornament opens to reveal a miniature book, perfect for readers who want a little literary joy each day.

Or, if you’re reading through a longer story (like The Sea Witch or Dream Girl Drama), try one chapter per night leading up to the holidays. It turns reading into a simple, grounding ritual, and gives you something to look forward to daily.

✨ Bonus tip: Keep a cozy notebook nearby to jot down your favorite quotes as you go. Reflecting on them later becomes part of the joy.

5. The “Quiet Night In” Ritual 🌙

Some nights are made for silence, the kind that feels comforting instead of lonely.

Make a night of it: dim the lights, silence your phone, and spend the evening with a story that sweeps you away. A “quiet night in” is your chance to unwind, reflect, and let yourself sink into another world.

Try this:
Choose a book that fits your mood.
✨ Craving a romantic escape? Pick up The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold, a wintry rom-com filled with charm and spark.
✨ Want something nostalgic and magical? Ella Enchanted never loses its enchantment. It’s a perfect comfort read for cozy nights.
✨ Or, if you want something lush and immersive, lose yourself in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, where myth and beauty intertwine.

Each one offers a different kind of stillness, the kind that makes you forget about the clock and remember why stories matter.

✨ Bonus tip: Make it tactile, pour tea into your prettiest mug, wear your coziest socks, and turn the simple act of reading into a sensory experience.

Because Reading Is the Gift You Give Yourself

Every ritual, no matter how small, says:

“I’m allowed to pause.”

And in the middle of a season that often asks us to do more, that pause becomes powerful.

So light the candle. Pour the cocoa. Open the book.
Let the world slow down, page by page.

Because sometimes the most magical part of the holidays isn’t the sparkle—it’s the stillness.

Shop the Stories Mentioned

Whisky Business – A cozy, slow-burn rom-com set on the windswept Isle of Skye. Signed edition with tartan-inspired edges and Scottish charm. Perfect for curling up on cold nights.

The Floating World – A stunning, lyrical story that invites reflection and calm, beautifully designed for those who read to feel inspired.

Bookshops & Bonedust – A tender, heartwarming tale about bookshops, friendship, and finding joy in small moments. The perfect companion for slow mornings.

Pride and Prejudice – A romantic classic that never goes out of season: timeless love, wit, and warmth wrapped in a gorgeous LitJoy Classic design.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow & Other Tales – Hauntingly beautiful and steeped in nostalgia, this LitJoy Classic captures quiet winter evenings perfectly.

Mini Book Ornament Advent – Celebrate the season with a whimsical countdown of tiny books that bring stories to your tree. Proof that the best gifts come in small packages.