Today is Jolabokaflod, a celebration that originated in Iceland but has spread to become a global sensation! In the World War II era, when many things were rationed and scarce, there was still access to paper in Iceland. Thus, for holiday gift giving, Icelanders turned to books. It is now a cultural tradition to gift books to loved ones on Christmas Eve and spend a cozy evening at home, reading with hot drinks, chocolate, and perhaps a fire.

Now that the rest of the globe has caught wind of this delightful holiday, consider celebrating it with your family or a close friend or two. Even if you don’t exchange books, grab a book from your own queue. With your hearth fire (or a few candles) well supervised, the airy knowledge from books, the watery treat of hot drinks, and the earthy nourishment from your snacks, you’ll have an elementally balanced celebration!