Jólabókaflóð: The Christmas Book Flood

If you could bottle the spirit of a perfect Christmas Eve, what would it look like?

For the people of Iceland, it would be this: books wrapped in crisp paper, a mug of hot cocoa in hand, a warm blanket, and a night spent reading beside the glow of a tree or a fire.

It’s called Jólabókaflóð, or the Christmas Book Flood—a tradition that celebrates not just the giving of gifts but the giving of stories. And honestly, I can’t imagine a cozier way to end the year.

So let’s dive into how this charming custom began, how it’s celebrated today, and how you can bring a bit of its magic home this holiday season.

(And just so you know, it’s pronounced “yo-lah-book-uh-float.”)

Long before Jólabókaflóð became a symbol of Icelandic culture, it began as a simple solution to a very real problem.

During World War II, many goods were rationed or restricted, but there was one thing Iceland had in abundance — paper.

Books became the perfect gift: practical, personal, and lasting.

And because Icelanders already loved reading, it wasn’t long before that necessity turned into something far more meaningful.

Each year, as Christmas approached, publishers released a flood of new titles.

Families eagerly awaited the Bókatíðindi [“boh-kah-tee-thin-dee”] — a national book catalog sent to every home. It was more than a catalog; it was a celebration. Parents and children alike flipped through its pages, circling favorites, debating choices, and planning their holiday book-giving.

Soon, the “Book Flood” wasn’t just about buying books — it became a shared anticipation of what stories would enter their homes that year.

By the late 1940s, the tradition was fully rooted. Icelanders exchanged books on Christmas Eve, wrapped them carefully, and spent the night reading together by firelight.

What started as wartime creativity grew into one of the world’s most beautiful tributes to literature and community.

There’s something timeless about the image of a family gathered around a stack of books, laughter mixing with the rustle of pages.

It reminds us that stories have always been — and always will be — a source of light in dark times.

Even now, the Book Flood remains one of Iceland’s most cherished holiday customs.

It’s not a commercial rush or a frantic hunt for the perfect gadget — it’s quiet joy, slow moments, and shared warmth.

On Christmas Eve, after dinner, families exchange books — each one chosen with care. The wrapping paper is often simple, the gifts humble, but the meaning behind them is rich.

People curl up in armchairs, sip hot chocolate or mulled wine, and lose themselves in their new stories. The streets outside are still, the houses glow softly, and for one night, an entire nation chooses imagination over hurry.

It’s easy to see why the world has fallen in love with this tradition. I think it’s a beautiful one myself, forcing us to slow down and unplug.

It feels like an antidote to the chaos of the modern holiday season — a reminder that the best gifts are the ones that linger long after the wrapping is gone.

Maybe that’s the real magic of Jólabókaflóð: It turns reading into celebration, and silence into connection.

It reminds us that books, at their heart, are meant to be shared experiences.

You don’t have to live in Iceland to experience the magic of a Christmas Book Flood. In fact, this might be the perfect year to start your own.

Think of Christmas Eve as an invitation to slow down — to trade noise for narrative, and busy for bliss.

Here are a few ways to bring a little Jólabókaflóð spirit into your home:

The beauty of this tradition lies in its simplicity. It isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence (not presents).

Whether you read a novel, a devotional, or a children’s bedtime story, you’re creating a memory that connects you to centuries of readers before you.

If you’re looking for something special to read or gift this season — and if you don’t mind a shameless plug — you might enjoy my novels Unconditional Love or The Adventure in the Magical World.

They’re two very different journeys — one’s a spicy romance, the other’s a kids’ fantasy adventure — that celebrate the same spirit of hope, faith, and imagination.

So this Christmas Eve, instead of rushing through the day, let stories slow it down. Let words become your decorations and pages your candlelight.