8 Literary Christmas Traditions To Inspire You

Literary Christmas Traditions: How Book Lovers Celebrate the Holidays

It’s that time of year again! The lights are twinkling, the cocoa is flowing, and there’s a slight chance your entire home is drowning in tinsel. But for us book lovers, there’s only one thing on our minds this holiday season: how can we make Christmas even more bookish? After all, what’s better than curling up with a good book during the holidays? (Answer: Nothing. Literally nothing.)

If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about a literary-themed Christmas celebration, you’re in luck! Book lovers all over the world have been celebrating the season with some pretty unique traditions, from Iceland’s legendary “Yule Book Flood” to festive book swaps that spread holiday cheer faster than Santa on a sugar high.

So, grab your coziest blanket, snuggle up by the fire, and get ready to dive into some of the most exciting literary Christmas traditions. And hey, maybe you’ll be inspired to start a new one of your own!

1. Iceland’s Jolabokaflod: The Yule Book Flood (Get Your Buckets Ready!)

Let’s kick things off with the holy grail of literary Christmas traditions: Iceland’s Jolabokaflod, or “Yule Book Flood.” If you’ve never heard of it, prepare to fall in love faster than you can say, “Where’s my bookmark?”

In Iceland, it’s a long-standing tradition to gift books on Christmas Eve. That’s right: books, books, and more books! Families and friends exchange books as gifts, and then—here comes the best part—they spend the rest of the evening curled up with their new reads and a cup of hot chocolate. It’s basically Christmas for introverts, and I am HERE for it.

The tradition dates back to World War II when Iceland’s economy struggled, and imports were limited. Paper was one of the few commodities that wasn’t rationed, so the country turned to books as a way to spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank. And now, Icelanders have turned the act of gifting books into a full-on flood. Honestly, if there’s ever a flood I want to be caught in, it’s one made entirely of novels.

How to Start Your Own Jolabokaflod: Even if you don’t live in Iceland, you can totally steal this tradition and make it your own. Host a Jolabokaflod party with friends, where you exchange books on Christmas Eve (or any time during the holidays). Want to make it genre-specific? Pick themes like mystery novels for that nail-biting winter night or cozy romances to warm your heart. And don’t forget the hot chocolate! Bonus points if you find a marshmallow that looks like a snowman.

2. The Great Holiday Book Swap: Because What’s Better Than Free Books?

Next up, we have the Holiday Book Swap, which is essentially a Secret Santa for bookworms. It’s perfect for those of us who want to share our favorite reads with friends, family, or that one neighbor who keeps "borrowing" your books and never returning them. (Yes, Susan, I’m looking at you.)

Here’s how it works: each participant brings a wrapped book to the party. It can be a personal favorite, a holiday-themed story, or something they think the recipient will love. Everyone takes turns choosing a wrapped book from the pile, and voila! You’ve got yourself a new read for the holidays. You can add a twist by having people steal books from each other (politely, of course) to make the swap more competitive. Who knew Christmas could get so heated over a copy of Pride and Prejudice?

3. Christmas Book Advent Calendar: 24 Days of Surprises

Who doesn’t love an advent calendar? The excitement of opening a new door each day and finding a little surprise behind it—what’s not to love? But why settle for tiny chocolates or miniature soaps when you could turn your advent calendar into a bookish treasure trove?

Here’s the idea: wrap 24 books (or 12, if you want to ease into it) and place them in a basket, under the tree, or on a bookshelf. Each day leading up to Christmas, you (or your family) can unwrap a new book. It’s a delightful way to countdown the days, and you get to discover a new story every time!

The best part? You can tailor the books to fit different genres, moods, or age groups. Throw in a children’s book or two for family fun, mix in a couple of classics for the literary enthusiasts, or add some new releases you’ve been dying to read.

How to Create Your Own Book Advent Calendar: This is the perfect way to get kids involved, too. For a family-friendly version, you can choose holiday-themed picture books or middle-grade stories that capture the magic of the season. If you’re flying solo, treat yourself to a mix of genres: a little horror for those dark winter nights, a steamy romance to spice things up, or a historical fiction to take you back in time while you sip your eggnog.

4. Bookish Christmas Tree: Deck the Shelves!

You’ve heard of Christmas trees, but what about a bookish Christmas tree? If you’re tired of dragging a pine tree into your living room (and then finding needles in your carpet for six months), why not build your own tree out of books?

The bookish Christmas tree has become a popular trend among literary lovers, and it’s a great way to display your favorite reads during the holidays. Simply stack your books in a pyramid shape, add some fairy lights, and top it with a star (or a small novel, if you’re feeling extra literary). It’s a festive, fun, and totally Instagram-worthy way to celebrate Christmas.

How to Build a Genre-Themed Book Tree: Want to go the extra mile? Organize your book tree by genre! Stack fantasy books at the bottom for a sturdy base, add thrillers in the middle, and finish off with some lighter reads like romances or contemporary fiction at the top. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, create a color-coordinated tree with books arranged by their cover designs. You’ll have a tree so beautiful that even your non-bookish friends will be jealous.

5. Write Your Own Christmas Tale: A New Tradition for Storytellers

If you’re a writer at heart, why not start a new tradition this year by crafting your very own Christmas story? Whether you’re inspired by Dickensian ghosts, a modern-day Christmas romance, or a wild sci-fi holiday adventure (Santa in space?), writing a holiday-themed short story can be a wonderful way to tap into your creativity and spread some cheer.

Invite friends or family to join you, and you can all exchange your stories on Christmas Day—sort of like a homemade anthology of holiday magic. You can even get the kids involved by having them illustrate their own Christmas tales or come up with fun, festive characters.

Prompts for Every Genre:

• Fantasy: "On Christmas Eve, a portal opens in the fireplace, leading to a magical world where every day is Christmas… but something isn’t quite right."
• Mystery: "The annual Christmas tree lighting in the small town of Frost Hollow goes awry when the mayor disappears. Can the town’s detective solve the mystery before Christmas morning?"
• Romance: "She’s a no-nonsense city girl stuck in a quaint Christmas town for the holidays. He’s the local carpenter with a heart of gold. Will sparks fly over gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa?"
• Science Fiction: "In the year 3024, Christmas has been outlawed by the Intergalactic Federation… but one rebel Santa refuses to let the holiday die."

6. Christmas Eve Read-Aloud: A Family Tradition

This one’s perfect for families with children—or adults who just love the nostalgia of being read to! On Christmas Eve, gather around the tree or the fireplace, and take turns reading aloud from a favorite Christmas story. Whether it’s The Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, or a more modern holiday tale, this tradition brings everyone together for some cozy, feel-good moments.

How to Make It Special: Create a festive atmosphere with hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, and dim lighting to set the mood. You can even add sound effects or background music to really bring the story to life!

7. The Literary Christmas Dinner: Book-Inspired Dishes

If you love both food and books, why not combine the two? For your Christmas dinner this year, create a menu inspired by your favorite literary works. Serve up a “feast fit for a Hobbit” with dishes like roasted meats and mulled wine inspired by The Lord of the Rings. Or recreate the magical food from Harry Potter, complete with butterbeer and pumpkin pasties.

How to Organize: Pick a theme based on your favorite book or genre and have fun with it! You can even ask your guests to come dressed as their favorite book characters. Not only will it make for a fun holiday meal, but it’s also a great conversation starter!

8. Holiday Book Treasure Hunt

For a festive twist on gift-giving, organize a Holiday Book Treasure Hunt! Instead of handing out gifts directly, hide books around your house or garden, and create clues or a map for each person to find their bookish gift.

How to Organize: Create themed clues or riddles based on literary characters or books. For example, “Where would Sherlock Holmes go to solve a mystery?” could lead to a spot near your bookshelf. It’s a fun and interactive way to turn the gift exchange into an adventure.

With these extra traditions, you’re sure to have a Christmas filled with both festive cheer and literary magic! Whether you’re wrapping books creatively, going on treasure hunts, or singing bookish carols, these traditions will make your holiday season extra special.