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Jolabokaflod: The Icelandic Christmas Tradition of Book Giving

What is Jolabokaflod? All you need to know about Iceland’s tradition of gifting books during the holiday season and a quick peek at Icelandic literary culture.

Iceland’s book-giving holiday tradition is a perfect encapsulation of the nation’s passion for literature, and a perfect tradition any bibliophile would love to adopt.

What is Jolabokaflod? The Story Behind the Tradition

Jolabokaflod (or Jólabókaflóð) translates to “the Christmas book flood,” and boy, is it ever. It’s a fairly recent holiday tradition where people give books to one another on Christmas Eve. Then, book(s) in hand, everyone settles down and spends the rest of the evening nose-deep in literary bliss.

Photo Credit: Dango Books

It began in the 1940s when war had dumped Iceland’s economy into the gutter. At the time, there were heavy restrictions on imports and rationing going on left and right. Paper was one of the few things that was freely available; and if you have paper, you can make books. So, naturally, books boomed as the perfect (and sometimes only) gift to offer loved ones.

While perhaps not every single Icelandic household participates in this tradition, it’s no exaggeration to say it’s popular. Publishers nationwide make a huge chunk of their sales during the holiday season. So, don’t be surprised if you peep into some Iceland Instagram and find people showing off a Christmas Eve haul comprised entirely of books.

Literature Intertwined Throughout Iceland’s History

Although this particular Christmas tradition is less than a century old, the main reason why it caught on so well is because Iceland has long been a book-loving nation. In fact, records of Iceland’s history suggest that writing and literary culture has been going strong since the 12th century.

Photo Credit: Miguel Morenatti

Back then, most writing in Iceland was centered around chronicling the people’s history in sagas and tales of long-ago, important figures. When you consider the kind of place Iceland is—a far north island with dramatic, windswept mountains and crashing waves on jagged rock—it’s easy to see how the natural landscape and living conditions could inspire and enrich grand tales and elaborate poetry.

It’s more than that, though. Wintertime has mere hours of daylight, and starting in the Middle Ages, many farms practiced kvoldvaka. In the evening, after the sun set, people would do indoor work while one person read to everyone else. It was also a time when children learned to read and recite stories, and is part of what led to Iceland becoming the world’s third most literate country.

Reading ‘Round the Fire with Kvoldvaka

While Jolabokaflod is fairly recent, Iceland has other literary traditions stretching much further back. One is kvoldvaka or night vigil, which started in the Middle Ages. In the evening, many households would have people do indoor work while one read to everyone else. It was also a time when children learned to read and recite stories, and is part of what led to Iceland becoming the world’s third most literate country.

In that sense, Jolabokaflod could be seen as a reinvention of the old tradition, adjusted to tap on the doors of a society where most labor has shifted outside the home and remind us to take a moment to rest and enjoy reading with one another.

Iceland’s Literary Scene Today

Photo Credit: Golli

Icelandic literature has only expanded in the intervening centuries. Nowadays, a third of the population reads a book every day and roughly 10% has or will publish a book in their lifetime. So, basically, Iceland isn’t just the birthplace of prolific readers, but writers, as well.

Some of Iceland’s most famous authors include Halldór Laxness, author of Independent People and Nobel Prize winner in Literature; Arnaldur Indriðason, who specializes in crime fiction and is best known for his Detective Erlendur series; and Gerður Kristný, a poet and author with a diverse range of literature for both young and old.

For those with an inclination towards fantasy, you might want to check out Sjón and his book, The Blue Fox, a mix of magical realism, obsession, and Iceland’s majestic landscape.

How to Celebrate Jolabokaflod: Tips for Your Own Book-Giving Tradition

Photo Credit: All About Learning Press

Fortunately, starting your own celebration of Jolabokaflod is as easy as grabbing a slice of Christmas cake. All you really need to do is buy a bunch of books for friends and family and pass them out on Christmas Eve. Bewilder loved ones with a short note in Icelandic, wishing them an avalanche of books this holiday!

Or, if you want a more reciprocal approach, you can suggest Jolabokaflod as an alternative to a Secret Santa. Books are easy to buy and wrap, and can bring lasting joy and enrichment that would quickly fade from the latest fad gift.

If you’re a member of a book club, convincing your fellow bibliophiles to try out this decades-old tradition will be even easier. For many, it will be a new, fresh way to exchange books while getting to know your fellow club members.

Photo Credit: Lou
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