Santa is almost here, so I thought I would share my Bookish Christmas Traditions!!
Christmas is a special but stressful time of year. Everyone is busy gathering and buying presents, finishing up or working around the holiday, and trying to make things perfect.
I finished my seventh semester of University at the start of December and will move into my final semester in January. So, I’ve been working on here and my dissertation. However, that doesn’t stop my little bookish Christmas traditions.
In 2018, I had a lot going on and wanted to start my own Christmas traditions. It hit me hard when my childhood traditions faded away with my sisters and I starting work, so we couldn’t guarantee the time off to celebrate the holidays like we used to. I also didn’t want my traditions to rely on anyone else as I feared things might change like my childhood ones. While my current ones could always change, they would change with me, which I’m okay with.
This might be a pessimistic way of looking at things, but I’m happy for some traditions to only rely on me.
So, I have three/four Bookish Christmas Traditions that I have followed every year since 2018. Only one has changed slightly in 2019, but since then has stuck with it.
~1~
The Gift of a Book
My family have always done Christmas Eve presents/Christmas Eve Box. It can vary some years, but it always includes a new set of Jammies and a sweetie.
In 2018, I decided to start my own, but it was a single gift to myself. I would buy and wrap a book at some point in the year. Some of them have been special editions of books or a book that I wanted. I would wrap it, or a few if I bought a few, then gift it to myself on Christmas Eve.
It might sound sad to gift yourself a book, but I love it. I’ve gifted myself the anniversary version of City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare and a Special Edition of Henderbell by J.D. Netto. It’s something that I can look forward to. Plus, life gets in the way, and if I buy it early enough, I forget about it.
I love opening it. I remind myself about it by adding a reminder on Alexa or my calendar to fetch it from its hiding spot and lay it out on my bed, so when I come through at bedtime, I get to open it.
~2~
Hello to Henderbell
I mentioned Henderbell in the last section, but what is it?
Henderbell is a book by J.D. Netto that follows Enzo Griffin and his sister Ava as they try to save their Grandparents from dark forces in Henderbell on Christmas Eve. The story is a dark take on the magic of Christmas through the Saint Nicholas Bloodline.
This was the tradition that changed. I decided to reread Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, but Henderbell came out in November of 2019, which I saw through Bookstagram and bought that year. Since then, that has been my tradition. It works better as I’m always reading Harry Potter, so rereading Philosopher’s Stone threw me off my rhythm.
I’ve now got two editions of Henderbell and love them. Just writing this is putting me in the mood to read it again!
~3~
The Goodbye to Henderbell
This final one might sound a bit odd. I will finish the book, but it’s when I finish it.
So, I read Henderbell every year at Christmas, but I have to finish it on Christmas Eve.
I can start reading it before Christmas Eve. I usually start on the 21st of December and read a little each night, but on Christmas Eve, whether I finish during the day or not, I try to finish it before it becomes Christmas Day.
I usually finish it before I fall asleep, but if not, I can read it on Christmas Day too. Henderbell has a wonderfully nightmarish mix of Christmas, Fantasy and Horror that is perfect for me on Christmas Eve. Plus, it gets me in the mood.
~4~
Welcome Back To Hogwarts
I’m not sure if I can count this one as a Bookish Christmas Tradition, but it is the only other Christmas Tradition that I do on my own, so I felt bad leaving it out. This tradition is another Christmas Eve one.
On Christmas Eve, after the family Christmas Eve box and family time is done, once I’ve opened my books and finished Henderbell, I get settled in bed and watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Don’t ask me why, but something about Philosopher’s Stone is Christmassy. Plus, it’s my childhood, so it makes me feel happy.
I usually fall asleep watching it, but it’s worth it. I enjoy the feeling of peace and happiness before falling asleep.
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So, that’s it. My three/four Bookish Christmas Traditions. They aren’t much, but it gives the festive holiday more fun and excitement. It has really helped me make my own traditions since my childhood ones left a bit of a hole inside. These fill the gap and make Christmas fun and magical again.
Merry Christmas!!
