Sharing Beloved Holiday Traditions here at Chanticleer! Happy JOLABOKAFLOD 2024 and Le Reveillon de Noel

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At Chanticleer, we love celebrating the holidays!

We love the sparkle, the singing, the presents—and we especially love celebrating the books!

Jolabokaflod, a Bookish Holiday

Jolabokaflod, an Icelandic tradition of gifting and reading books on Christmas Eve, began in 1944 when Iceland gained its independence from Denmark during World War II. Paper was one of the few products under rationed during the war, so bookish friends and family began sharing their love of books as a substitute for traditional gifts. Known as a nation of “bookaholics,” Iceland has a great reading culture, with over half the population being avid readers of at least eight books a year, according to a study conducted by Bifröst University in 2013.

The holiday, which translates roughly into English as ‘the Christmas book flood’, coincides with the retail cycle each year during the Christmas season.

Ever since Jolabakaflod was first celebrated the Icelandic book trade has published a catalogue called Bókatíðindi, or ‘Book Bulletin,’ in English. It is sent to every household in the country in mid-November during the Reykjavik Book Fair, and people use the catalogue to order books for their favorite people.

These gifts of books are given on December 24th and, by tradition, everyone begins reading the books they receive almost as soon as they are given, often while drinking hot chocolate or alcohol-free Christmas ale called jólabland. There is also a blend of two of Iceland’s most beloved drinks: Malt (a malty sweet soda) and Appelsin (orangeade). First pour the Appelsin into a a glass and add the Malt for a fizzy, festive non-alcoholic drink. If you pour the Malt first, then the foam from it will overflow the glass when the orangeade is poured in. Some consider this the most proper drink to celebrate Christmas in Iceland.

A Book You Love is The Perfect Gift for Jolabokaflod

How can you make Jolabokaflod a Christmas Eve tradition?

Christmas is such a busy time, and you may think, “I don’t have time for one more tradition!” Don’t worry—You’ve got an extra 12 days!

Design your Jolabokaflod tradition to fit your schedule. You can choose a different night to celebrate with a new book and hot chocolate! We like to crack open the spine of a new book during the 12 days of Christmas that follow Christmas day, giving us a reason to keep that holiday spirit alive until well into the New Year!

The Twelve Days of Christmas & Celebrations Around the World

The twelve days of Christmas run from December 26th until January 6th (Three Kings Day).
Some say the Twelve Days tradition is wishing good luck and cheer for each of the following months in the new year.
Others say the first six of the days are to pay homage to the previous year and six of the days that are in the new year bringing hope and glad tidings for coming times.
The Twelve Days of Christmas would be a welcome break for those who worked the land.

In Portugal, the 12 Days of Christmas is a tradition that starts on the 26th until Epiphany. Small groups of people go door to door in their neighborhoods singing songs, usually accompanied by instruments. Sometimes they are in traditional dress, sometimes not. They typically open with a song to ask the resident for food and/or drink, then continue singing about the birth of Jesus and sending good wishes for a happy new year. If a resident doesn’t treat the singers well or refuses to open his door, they may sing songs jokingly mocking them. If the singers are treated well, they will sing about how handsome and beautiful the hosts are and how generous and nice they are. (A great way to start the New Year!)

The Portuguese troubadouring does not take place until after Christmas Day and continues on to Three Kings Day also known as Epiphany. In Spain and many Latin American countries, gift giving is done on January 6th, while the gifts Santa Claus brings to children are opened on Christmas Day. In Italy, La Befana visits their homes on January 5th. She likes to be left a glass of wine and some antipasto, instead of Santa’s cookies and milk and the children find her gifts the next day.

I’d love to hear about your Yuletide Traditions!

Le Réveillon is our family’s (Kiffer & Argus) Christmas Tradition where we stay up on Christmas Eve way past midnight for the arrival of Père Noël” (Santa Claus) with a Christmas Eve Dinner that consists of a pretty table and multiple courses fancy meal (typically 8 courses), friends and family, and good times to make precious memories.

As always, there is much to do. And, I have given myself permission not to worry about the unwrapped presents, cookies that need to be made, and calling on friends and family. I have more than twelve more days! And sometime in the new year of 2025, I am going to celebrate Jolabokaflod. – Kiffer