Jólabókaflóðið is coming!
If you don’t happen to be one of the 314,000 people in the entire world who speak Icelandic, we’re talking about the Yule Book Flood.
Maybe you’ve seen the meme on social media about the tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, pronounced YO-la-bok-a-flud. People exchange books on Christmas Eve and spend the night reading and drinking hot chocolate. Sounds magical, right?
The practice dates back to World War II, when there were restrictions on what could be imported for gifts. The restrictions on imported paper were not as strict, so books emerged as the Christmas present of choice. And Icelanders have honored the tradition ever since.
Unlike in most countries, the bulk of Iceland’s literary output is published in the two or three months leading up to Christmas. Newly published books are listed in an annual catalog that comes out around mid-November called the Journal of Books, or Bókatíðindi. This journal is sent to all households for free and is the beginning of the book flood, signifying the start of the holiday season.
The tradition has caught on in the United States and this will be the second year that my book club has participated! We draw names and make sure our person has a book and chocolate to open on Christmas Eve. We also take pictures and share on social media, so everyone can see the bounty!
It’s a great way to involve members of our club that have moved out of the area and feel connected, no matter where we are. Was my offering so well hidden last year that my person’s dog found it before she did?
Maybe.
Luckily they didn’t eat much of the chocolate.
Join in the Jólabókaflóðið joy and start a new tradition! Season’s Readings!
