Its a bit like britains super thursday, when hundreds of hardbacks hit the shelves on the first thursday of october, but much bigger. There they give books to each other on christmas eve and then spend the night reading, usually curled up under a cozy blanket while eating chocolate. Iceland sells more books per capita than any other nation in the world, and the vast majority of them are sold in the leadup to christmas. Photo by roman gerasymenko christmastime is just around the corner, which means that, soon, icelandic publishing houses will be releasing hundreds of new titles onto the icelandic book market, commencing a unique tradition known as the jolabokaflo. Ready to shake up your familys christmas eve traditions. In iceland this is known as the christmas book flood. While scandinavia has its fill of unique yuletide traditions for example, the sauna elf in finland iceland takes the prize for having the most hairraising christmas creatures instead of just getting a visit from santa claus on christmas eve, iceland. Christmas book flood cindy goes beyond jolabokaflod iceland christmas eve tradition gifting books for christmas eve jolabokaflod is an icelandic christmas eve tradition involving gifting books and reading them in bed, while eating chocolate. Thats the name of iceland s holiday tradition where families exchange books on christmas eve and spend the evening reading. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book.
In iceland, this is known as the christmas book flood. Christmas season starts when the first yule lad comes to town days before christmas eve, and finishes when the last one leaves town twelfth night. This christmas tradition involves getting a brandnew book on christmas eve and reading it in bed with some hot chocolate. Iceland gears up for the christmas book flood mnn mother. The beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on christmas eve. Dec 25, 2012 literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood icelanders are voracious readers. Christmas 2020 christmas food iceland foods iceland. Jolabokaflod involves giving books as presents on christmas eve, so that friends and family can spend the cozy night in curled up with a good. Christmas in iceland means a flood of books under the tree the jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, is a muchloved tradition that has been celebrated in iceland since 1945.
But in iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. The book in iceland is such an enormous gift, you give a physical. After i found out icelands christmas eve tradition, i. Its when publishers flood the market with new or occasionally rereleased books, in time for christmas. If you find yourself weary of rowdy festive celebrations this christmas eve, be like an icelander and escape into the infinite possibility of a book. In iceland, people spend christmas eve giving each other the. There is also specialty jolabokaflod chocolate that is sold for christmas eve book reading. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood icelanders are voracious readers. Icelandic christmas tradition involves books on christmas eve. Why every book lover should steal icelands christmas.
This tradition began during world war ii once iceland had gained its. Throughout this bustling and muchanticipated yearly event, bookstores across iceland resemble miniature concert venues, where icelandic authors of all genres read from and promote their latest work, transforming the holiday season into an. One of the best icelandic christmas traditions, particularly for kids, is the shoeinthe window tradition. The icelandic tradition of giving books as gifts on. Icelands christmas eve tradition of giving books will make. Icelands book tradition is the perfect addition to your. The infamous christmas eve book tradition in iceland. Christmas folklore in iceland, like its food, language and landscapes, is a bit more extreme than in neighbouring nordic countries. Iceland celebrates christmas unlike any other country in the. Jolabokaflod icelands wonderful christmas book flood. The tradition is so intrinsic within the icelandic culture that the majority of books in iceland are sold between september and december in the christmas book flood or the jolabokaflod. Icelandic christmas useful information about iceland.
Every christmas eve, theicelandic people practice something called jolabokaflod, which translates to christmas book flood. So, after the presents have been unwrapped, many like to cuddle up in their pajamas preferably with a box of chocolate and. On christmas eve, icelanders traditionally exchange books and spend the evening reading perhaps curling up by the fireside with. In iceland, there is a beautiful tradition to gift books. The months of september to november are the most popular time of the year, by far, for book sales in iceland. In addition to spending christmas eve tucked in with a good book. People use this catalogue to order books to give to their friends and family. According to loftsdottir, the book in iceland is such an enormous gift, you give a physical book.
Traditionally, one candle is lit each sunday until four candles are lit on the 24th. The world is embracing icelands jolabokaflod christmas eve tradition, where friends and family give books as gifts, then settle in for a night of reading, often with a cup of hot chocolate. Shouldnt we learn from our brothers and sisters in iceland and inaugurate our own christmas book flood. Christmas in iceland jol starts four weeks before proper christmas, which begins on december 24th a. Jolabokaflod is a wintertime tradition loved by icelanders across the world. Ever since 1944, the icelandic book trade has sent out a book bulletin to each household in the middle of november when the reykjavik book fair happens. Every year since 1944, the icelandic book trade has published a catalogue. The cozy icelandic christmas tradition youll want to steal. Each year, iceland celebrates whats known as jolabokaflo. Two cool ladies piloting heavy md11f ultimate cockpit movie airclips full flight series duration. It signifies the time between september and december when the. The jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, is a muchloved tradition that has been celebrated in iceland since 1945. The christmas eve bookgiving tradition is the culmination of a monthslong national literary celebration called jolabokaflo.
As many countries do, iceland celebrates christmas jol in icelandic mostly with good food and presents to loved ones, but unlike most countries that only have a single father christmassanta claus character, icelandic children are fortunate enough to be visited by yule lads. In iceland they have a christmas eve tradition called. But this iceland book holiday doesnt stop on christmas eve. It certainly sounds like a perfect christmas too all bookworms. The retail cycle each year, from the launch of new books to the reading of these books at christmas, is known as jolabokaflo. This book gifting tradition dates back to world war ii, when paper was one of the few items you could actually find in abundance. If youre a book nerd like me, you lament the fact that many people view books as cheap, lazy, and even boring gifts.
This is because one of the most longstanding yule traditions in this country is to give the gift of. Dec 22, 2015 if youre a book nerd like me, you lament the fact that many people view books as cheap, lazy, and even boring gifts. Dec 25, 2017 the beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on christmas eve. The english translation of jolabokaflod is the christmas book flood. There are so many books published before christmas in iceland, that its called a christmas book flood. Thats the name of icelands holiday tradition where families exchange books on christmas eve and spend the evening reading.
Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world, with five titles published for every 1,000. Icelands book and chocolate tradition is the perfect way to. In iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of. Today, there is even jolabokaflod beer, just like we search for pumpkin everything in the fall in the u. On christmas eve, youll find most icelanders snuggled in with a cup of something warm all doing the same thing. Iceland celebrates christmas unlike any other country in. On christmas eve, icelanders traditionally exchange books and spend the evening reading perhaps curling up by. Iceland celebrates christmas unlike any other country in the world. That could include reading a book, playing a video game or playing a board game whatever it was you got given.
On the night preceding december 12th icelandic children will put their shoe in the window so that the first of the yule lads the icelandic santa clauses can leave a little present in their shoe. The tradition is part of a season called jolabokaflod, or the christmas book flood, because iceland, which publishes more books per capita than any other country, sells most of its books between september and november due to people. In the united states, popular holiday gifts come and go from year to year. The book flood iceland sells more books per capita than any other nation in the world, and the vast majority are sold in the leadup to christmas. Jolabokaflod involves giving books as presents on christmas eve, so. Iceland has the most lovely christmas eve tradition.
A good book is the gift that keeps on giving and nowhere is this sentiment truer than in iceland. Christmas 2020 christmas food iceland foods iceland foods. Ill be hosting dinner this year but next year jolabokaflod is a. Its never too early to start thinking about christmas. Apparently, iceland is an exciting place to be during the holidays every hotel bed in reykjavik is booked over christmas and new years eve. Dec 20, 2017 iceland celebrates christmas unlike any other country in the world. In iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. Dec 24, 2017 iceland has the most lovely christmas eve tradition. In iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of the night reading in bed reading them and eating chocolate. In september, the iceland publishers association mails a book catalog called the bokati. Jolabokaflod is the icelandic tradition of reading books on christmas.
In iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of the night in bed reading them and eating chocolate. Its no wonder, really, icelands winter wonderland landscapes, underneath some stunning northern lights, make for the pictureperfect instagram posts. Though christmas book flood does refer to the christmas eve gifting tradition, it also, more generally, refers to the months before christmas. After i found out iceland s christmas eve tradition, i didnt just want to. Dec 20, 2018 the christmas eve bookgiving tradition is the culmination of a monthslong national literary celebration called jolabokaflo. In the land of the sagas, it isnt christmas if there isnt a deluge of books under the tree literally. Christmas in iceland means a flood of books under the. The term translates to yule book flood, which stems back to when foreign imports were restricted, but paper was cheap during world war ii. Adopt jolabokaflod, which is icelands tradition of exchanging gift books with loved ones on christmas eve. Dec 22, 2017 ever since 1944, the icelandic book trade has sent out a book bulletin to each household in the middle of november when the reykjavik book fair happens. The icelandic tradition of giving books as gifts on christmas eve so friends and family can read them that night. In iceland, people spend christmas eve giving each other. People use this catalogue to order books to give to their friends and family on christmas eve, the main giftgiving day in iceland.
Christmas in iceland means a flood of books under the tree. Jolabokaflod sounds like the best way to spend the holidays. Thus begins icelands christmas eve book tradition of jolabokaflo what is jolabokaflo what is jolabokaflo jolabokaflo. In iceland, the most popular christmas gifts arent the latest iproducts or kitchen gadgets. Dec 21, 2015 icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on christmas eve and then spending the night reading. This tradition is the reason for the word jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood. The beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on. Books have been the christmas gift of choice in this small nation for decades. While scandinavia has its fill of unique yuletide traditions for example, the sauna elf in finland iceland takes the prize for having the most hairraising christmas creatures. Book lovers will want to adopt this lovely holiday tradition, which melds literary and holiday pleasures into a. Books are a common christmas gift in iceland, with dozens of new literature being published before each christmas. Icelands christmas eve tradition of giving books will. Icelands tradition is to give books for christmas in iceland books are exchanged on christmas eve and you spend the rest of the night reading. If you find yourself weary of rowdy festive celebrations this christmas eve, be like an icelander and escape into the.
This tradition began during world war ii once iceland had gained its independence for denmark in 1944. Icelands christmas eve book tradition cara reinard. Icelands book and chocolate tradition is the perfect way to spend. The cozy icelandic christmas tradition youll want to. In iceland they have a christmas eve tradition called jolabokaflod where you exchange books with your friends and family and afterwards you all read your books together while eating chocolate. In iceland, we talk about the christmas book flood, because there are so many new books published each year before christmas. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood.
Dec 24, 2019 the icelandic tradition of giving books as gifts on christmas eve so friends and family can read them that night. The jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, is a muchloved tradition that has been. In iceland, there is a lovely tradition to gift books to each other on christmas eve and then spend the night before christmas reading. The world is embracing iceland s jolabokaflod christmas eve tradition, where friends and family give books as gifts, then settle in for a night of reading, often with a cup of hot chocolate. Dec 08, 2018 in iceland, the most popular christmas gifts arent the latest iproducts or kitchen gadgets. The christmas book flood is a term used in iceland for the annual release of new books occurring in the months before christmas, as it is common to publish. In iceland, people spend christmas eve giving each other the gift of books get acquainted with the icelandic tradition of jolabokaflo. The tradition in iceland is that everyone must receive at least one book for christmas to take to bed on christmas eve along with some chocolates. Dec 20, 2017 the icelandic christmas period is an intriguing mixture of religious practice and traditional folklore. In iceland, there is a beautiful tradition to gift books to. Christmastime is just around the corner, which means that, soon, icelandic publishing houses will be releasing hundreds of new titles onto the icelandic book market, commencing a unique tradition known as the jolabokaflo. In iceland, everyone settles in on christmas eve for jolabokaflod, or the christmas book flood, to read their presents. Meet your favorite new holiday tradition embrace icelands yule book flood this season and give your loved ones books to read on christmas eve. Icelands book and chocolate tradition is the perfect way.
Throughout this bustling and muchanticipated yearly event, bookstores across iceland. The tradition is part of a season called jolabokaflod, or the christmas book flood, because iceland, which publishes more books per capita than any other country, sells most of its books between september and november due to people preparing for the. Icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on christmas eve and then spending the night reading. When i lived in indonesia, i would try to read childrens books in indonesian to better learn the language. Dec 21, 2017 in iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. The shoe stays on the windowsill until christmas eve and the children. The power of the written word is so significant to the citizens of the nordic island, that publishing companies there even hold an annual book drive for a very special national tradition that takes place every christmas eve. And from the moment the catalog arrives until christmas eve, all of iceland is gripped with bookbuying fever. So, after the presents have been unwrapped, many like to cuddle up in their pajamas preferably with a box of chocolate and read their new christmas book.