I’ve always loved learning about unique cultural traits or variations on how other countries celebrate holidays. After college, I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks working as a waitress at my friend Michaela’s family pub in Bannockburn, Scotland. That experience holds many of my most treasured holiday memories. I loved learning how the UK observes “Boxing Day” on December 26th as well as the Scottish celebration of “Hogmanany” on December 31st.
In 2016, my husband and I decided to spend the holidays in Scandinavia.
Witnessing St. Lucia and the “Festival of Lights” in Stockholm on December 13th and experiencing the warmth, coziness, and contentment of “Hygge” (pronounced HOO-GAH) in Copenhagen continues to influence how I want my family to experience the holidays in our own home. Given my interest and experience with Scandinavian culture and traditions, I recently learned of an Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition I hope to incorporate into my own family ritual.
Located in the northern Atlantic Ocean is the island country of Iceland. For Icelanders, the official kick-off to the holiday season begins with the delivery of the “Bokatidini” to every Icelandic home. The “Bokatidini” is the catalog of every new book published that year in Iceland. Yes, you read that correctly. The holiday season does “officially” start with the delivery of a catalog of new books. Icelandic kids (and adults) spend weeks perusing and building up their excitement for reading.
This is particularly important, as books are exchanged on Christmas Eve in Iceland.
Now, I know the exchange of books as Christmas gifts is not necessarily a cultural tradition unique to this Nordic island country as people living all over the world may give or receive books over the holidays; but, what is amazing to me is Icelandic families then spend the rest of their Christmas Eve in their cozy beds, reading their new books, and drinking hot chocolate (or drinking spiced wine/Christmas ale depending on one’s age). This amazing tradition is part of a season called “Jolabokaflod” (written jólabókaflóð? or Jólabókaflóð if written using Icelandic characters). Pronounced “YO-LA-BOK-A-FLOT,” this event can be translated to “The Christmas Book Flood” or “Yule Book Flood” in English.
This wonderful tradition began during WWII after Iceland won their Independence from Denmark in 1944. This was during a time when locally produced paper was plentiful and cheap, as opposed to foreign imports, which were heavily restricted and expensive. The Icelandic love of reading and “Jolabokaflod” has continued to grow each year since 1944. Today, Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country and sells the majority of these books between September and November as families prepare for their annual Christmas Eve book exchange.
Why Jólabókaflóðið?
As a parent, I want to incorporate seasonal customs not only from my own heritage (I’m German and Swedish), but also from other cultures around the world. Traditions that encourage a lifelong love of reading are especially appealing, as I am a firm believer in the phrase, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” I look forward to incorporating “Jolabokaflod” into our household on December 24th, and I hope y’all do too!
