Jólabókaflód: Our Family's NYE Tradition
The delight of reading books and drinking hot chocolate, together
Last year, on New Year’s Eve, our family began a tradition: inspired by the Icelandic Jolabokaflod, or, “Christmas Book Flood,” we made a huge pot of creamy hot chocolate, gathered stacks of books, new and old, and spent the evening reading and sipping together.
According to jolabokaflod.org, “During the festive season, gifts are opened on 24 December and, by tradition, everyone reads the books they have been given straight away, often while drinking hot chocolate.”1
“Jolabokaflod started during World War II, when paper was one of the few things not rationed in Iceland. Because of this, Icelanders gave books as gifts while other commodities were in short supply, turning them into a country of bookaholics to this day.”2
The book flood refers to the tradition in Iceland of books flooding the market as publishers make ready for the season of selling the most books they sell all year—between late September and early November.3
When I initially heard about this lovely tradition of books and chocolate a few years ago, I was a bit disappointed. We already have Christmas Eve traditions, and I didn’t want to set them aside, even for something as wonderful as reading and hot chocolate.
Last year, I realized that I didn’t actually have to do our book flood on Dec 24. In fact, for our family, it would make far more sense to shift it a week to December 31st, New Year’s Eve. I am not naturally prone to stay awake late at night; my circadian rhythm has always been early-to-bed, early-to-rise. But this! I could find a way to stay awake until midnight if I’m enjoying my children and reading a great book (and, let’s be honest, if I get a nap that day).
So I picked out a few new books for my children, brought them out on Dec 31 after dinner, heated milk and added cocoa, sugar and chocolate, and we had a cozy and merry evening together. I will admit here in full disclosure that the reading turned into general merriment and hilarity (mixed with shenanigans), especially as midnight drew nigh. But no matter. The goal wasn’t to read and do nothing else all evening, it was to enjoy good books, good chocolate, and each other’s company. Mission: accomplished!
A few tips for starting your own Jolabokaflod tradition:
Simplicity is Beautiful — Don’t overthink or overcomplicate this tradition. Books can be new; they can also be books you’re already reading or even books you pick up from the library. Sure, you could do a fancy elaborate array of treats, snacks and beverages; you could also just serve a simple pot of hot chocolate.
Designate an evening (or an entire day!) — The most important element is time. Set aside all other tasks and distractions (no phones allowed!) and enjoy an evening spent together reading and resting.
Simplify Dinner — Serve a simple dinner that day. The last thing you want is to be frazzled from spending an afternoon in the kitchen. Make a pot of soup or a tray of sandwiches—a crowd-pleaser that you can prepare with your eyes closed. Or order a pizza! You’ll be able to relax and enjoy the evening if you don’t have a trashed kitchen to clean up beforehand.
Mix it up — You can all read silently— each with his own book. Or, you could read aloud. Or, you could do a bit of both: read aloud for 30 minutes, then spend the next hour reading on your own. So many ways to make this a delight!
Moms must participate! — As mothers, we so often (especially during the Christmas season) operate behind the scenes making everything cozy and merry for everyone, and then fail to enjoy it ourselves. Stop. Sit down. Be still. Rest. Jolabokaflod isn’t just a tradition for your kids, it’s for the whole family— which means it’s for you, too.4
Have you ever done a traditional Jolabokaflod in your family? What do you love about it? How have you made it your own?
Keep seeking the virtuous and the lovely,
Shannon
This is so cozy! St. Nicholas brings our kids books every year so Dec 6 ends up being a day like this. But I like the idea for NYE!
Just to clarify... Do you read only from one book, finish a few, or start several of them?