I first discovered the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð while researching a Christmas story idea. I remember stopping to read more about it because the concept immediately caught my attention. In Iceland, families exchange books on Christmas Eve, settle in with chocolate or cocoa, and spend the night reading. It felt gentle and warm and surprisingly familiar, almost like something I had been doing my whole life without knowing it had a name.
Books and chocolate.
Chocolate.
Did I mention books?
As someone who writes for a living and truly loves to read, the whole idea felt perfect. I already spend many evenings curled up with a novel, a candle burning nearby, and a cup of something warm. Setting aside Christmas Eve for that kind of moment felt natural, so last year I decided to introduce the Christmas tradition to my family.
I experienced it the way many Icelandic families do, with a Christmas Eve gathering built around books and chocolate. We met at my mother's home, where I set up an extensive hot chocolate bar. Everyone brought a book to exchange, and there were plenty of chocolate treats to share throughout the night. It felt festive and relaxed at the same time. People talked, browsed through their new books, flipped pages while sitting by the tree, and enjoyed the simple comfort of being together. It quickly became one of my favorite parts of the entire season.
This year, I am celebrating again, and now that I have tried it, I want to help others discover it too. Many Americans have never heard of Jólabókaflóð, so I wrote about the history of the tradition and why it has become so meaningful to me. I also wanted to make it easy for people to enjoy the experience without having to search for the perfect pieces, so I created The Sweetest Christmas Eve Collection, which includes our Jólabókaflóð Gift Set as part of the collection.
The collection brings together items that help set the scene for a cozy reading night. There is a greeting card inspired by the tradition itself, a rich hot chocolate from a North Carolina maker, a beautiful winter-themed candle, and a chocolate bar that feels nostalgic and comforting. Everything works together to create the same kind of quiet holiday moment that made me fall in love with Jólabókaflóð.
These pieces also make thoughtful gifts for people who love books, writers who appreciate time alone with a good story, and anyone who enjoys small moments of coziness during the season. I have found that gifting the experience often means more than gifting the items themselves. It is a way of saying you deserve a moment to slow down. You deserve a night to read. You deserve something warm and peaceful during a very busy time of year.
I love our Sweetest Christmas Eve Jólabókaflóð Gift Set because it is literally a Christmas tradition in a box. All you have to do is add a book. This gift set also makes a thoughtful host or hostess gift. And if you are a bookish, writerly type like myself, it might be the best present you can give yourself. A gift of cozy reading, warming, endorphin-producing chocolate, and a candle that evokes comfort and calm.
Jólabókaflóð may come from Iceland, but the heart of the tradition is universal. It is about comfort. It is about rest. It is about creating space for the things we love.
If you are celebrating for the first time or continuing the tradition from years past, I hope it becomes as special to you as it has been to me. And if you would like to explore the collection inspired by this beautiful custom, you can find it in the shop.
Here is to quiet evenings, good books, and the sweetest Christmas Eve.
Esme
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