Over recent years Christmas Eve boxes have become increasingly popular. We want to introduce you to jolabokaflod (jólabókaflóð). A wonderful Icelandic tradition that is a fantastic way to celebrate great books and time to read and we think the best Christmas Eve boxes you can give. On our trip to Iceland we fell in love with this beautiful country. It is full of simple pleasures and happy family time. Since our visit we’ve been introduced to the wonderful Icelandic tradition of jolabokaflod which means, “The Christmas Book Flood”.
We have now updated this post (in December 2025) having adopted it for the last 10 years. Read on for how to do it yourself.
👩💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.
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Table of Contents
History of Jolabokaflod
In Iceland, in the months leading up to Christmas, there’s a publishing avalanche as hundreds of new books are brought out and bought as gifts for friends and family.
Every household receives a catalogue of these new releases to browse and consider.
The tradition harks back to World War II when a strict embargo was in place for imported items and it is now completely ingrained in the Icelandic psyche. Iceland is one of the most well-read countries.
As gifts are given on 24th December in Iceland they make the perfect Christmas Eve boxes over here and they’re a tradition we have embraced this year and can’t wait for Christmas Eve to unwrap our books.
Christmas Eve boxes
In the UK it’s becoming increasingly popular to have Christmas Eve boxes with pyjamas and some treats.
We haven’t done this but I love the idea of jolabokaflod and each member of the family getting a book especially chosen for them.
So this year the Globalmouse family has a book waiting for them under the tree and it’s something we have vowed to continue each year.
How Jolabokaflod works in Iceland
In Iceland families will spend time reading and drinking hot chocolate which we will add in to our day too. Because every Christmas Eve needs hot chocolate.
Jolabokaflod is the perfect opportunity to really indulge in book reading and picking out books for each member of the family.
How to do your own Jolabokaflod
This is how we do Jolabokaflod in the Globalmouse home –
- I purchase a book for every member of the Globalmouse family. It can be fiction, or a factual book I know they’d enjoy. As the children get older I ask them if there are a few books I can choose from. Sometimes there are and sometimes I just pick something they’d enjoy.
- I make sure that the adults also have a book too. It’s important that we all embrace reading.
- The children also get a selection of chocolate treats to enjoy while they read.
- I also get in a new hot chocolate and make sure there’s squirt cream ready too.
- We all open our books one by one on Christmas Eve morning. Everyone then enjoys the chocolate and we make up big mugs of hot chocolate.
- Then there’s time for everyone to read.
What do you think about the Icelandic concept of jolabokaflod? Would you embrace this as a Christmas Eve box?
I think having the option to read a new book on Christmas eve is such a nice one and something that my parents always used to do when I was a kid x
I love this idea – we have bought the kids a new book each for their Christmas Eve box
I absolutely love this idea and I do think the giving of books is important anyway x
I love this idea, I always try to make sure everyone has at least one new book each Christmas!
I absolutely love this idea, I am a big bookworm and so is my little girl. And the idea of reading and drinking hot chocolate on Christmas eve is my perfect kind of day x
This is such a lovely idea that was pointed out to me by the girls at book club. It will be becoming tradition in my house too as of next year. This year the book is the Christmas present! #travellinglight
Ah that’s great, so good to hear word of it is spreading, it’s such a lovely idea isn’t it? Happy Christmas!
I absolutely love to hear about traditions from other countries at Christmas time! We always buy books or Kindle vouchers for each other at Christmas xxx
I have never got into the trend of Christmas Eve boxes, but now I do love the idea of them!
What a lovely idea! We do Chritmas eve boxes and always put a christmas story in too.