What Is Jolabokaflod & Why Try It This Christmas?

For many of us, Christmas is a time of cosy evenings, twinkling lights, and mugs of hot chocolate. But in Iceland, there’s one particular festive tradition that captures the true spirit of literary joy: Jólabókaflóð.

Far from being a quirky custom, Jólabókaflóð is a national celebration of books, reading, and togetherness – a tradition that turns the quiet, candlelit hours of Christmas Eve into a festival of words.

So, what exactly is Jólabókaflóð, and why might it be the perfect new ritual to try this holiday season?

What does ‘Jólabókaflóð’ mean?

The term Jólabókaflóð (pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot) directly translates to “Christmas Book Flood.”

The name comes from Iceland’s long-standing love affair with books, one that dates back to World War II.

At the time, imported gifts were scarce due to wartime restrictions, but paper was not rationed. Books became the go-to Christmas gift, and over the years, the tradition flourished into a nationwide celebration of reading.

Today, every household in Iceland receives a Bókatíðindi, a catalogue of all new books published that year, inspiring the public to select books as gifts for friends and family. By Christmas Eve, homes across Iceland are flooded with books, hot drinks, and quiet reading time by the fire.

How Jólabókaflóð works

While each family celebrates differently, the heart of Jólabókaflóð remains the same: books, chocolate, and togetherness.

On Christmas Eve, Icelanders exchange books and spend the night reading. It’s a beautifully simple ritual that combines the comfort of a good story with the warmth of shared company.

Here’s how you can recreate the experience at home:

1. Choose your gifts thoughtfully: Pick a book for each person in your household that matches their interests. Here are some of our most recent book reviews to help you find ideas for books to give this Christmas.
2. Wrap it up: Presentation is part of the fun. A simple paper wrap with ribbon can be both sustainable and heartfelt.
3. Add baked goods or hot cocoa: Icelanders traditionally pair reading with sweet treats or hot drinks.
4. Switch off screens: Create a digital-free environment for reading, relaxing, and reconnecting.
5. Read together: Whether quietly side-by-side or aloud by the tree, it’s about slowing down and soaking in the story.

Why you should try it this Christmas

In a world where the festive season can easily become overwhelming, Jólabókaflóð offers something rare in the busy modern world: a moment of calm, reflection, and connection through literature.

Here are a few reasons why it’s worth embracing:

1. It celebrates the simple joy of reading

Unlike most modern traditions that focus on consumption, Jólabókaflóð is about time well spent. It reminds us that reading is one of life’s most rewarding slow pleasures, and one that can be shared.

2. It creates the perfect mindful moment

After weeks of preparation and gift shopping, a quiet evening reading by candlelight offers real rest. It’s a way to slow down, reset, and end the year on a peaceful note.

3. It reconnects us through stories

Books have always brought people together, sparking conversation, empathy, and shared experience. Gifting someone a book you’ve loved (or think they’ll love) is an intimate gesture that goes beyond the ordinary. When done well, it shows that you’ve spent time thinking about them and what they’d like to read.

4. It supports authors and publishers

In Iceland, Jólabókaflóð is not just a holiday tradition but an economic cornerstone for the publishing industry. Embracing it elsewhere helps support writers and small, independent bookshops during the busiest retail season of the year, and more importantly, at a time when they need it most.

Some ideas for your own Jólabókaflóð evening

If you’d like to introduce Jólabókaflóð into your own Christmas traditions, here are some simple ideas to make it extra special:

Celebrate the season with books

We’ve always believed that reading can transform the way we experience the world, and what better time to share that magic than at Christmas?

Whether you’re curled up alone with a favourite classic or introducing your loved ones to the joy of Jólabókaflóð, this Icelandic tradition is a reminder that the best gifts don’t have to be loud, shiny, or fleeting. Sometimes, they’re bound in pages. So, this Christmas Eve, skip the chaos, and let your own book flood begin.

Not sure where to start? Explore Victoria Freudenheim’s latest reviews, discover top-rated titles, or browse by genre to inspire your Jólabókaflóð gift-giving.

For more bookish content, like why do people read books or cosy fiction, head to our blog.