A New Tradition: Jolabokaflod

This is something I would like to start in our family. The Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition of Jólabókaflóð, or "Christmas Book Flood," was introduced to me by my Pennsylvania pen pal, Kim, when she sent me the very delightful Christmas in Wales.

My new holiday tradition is a unique and cherished cultural practice in Iceland, deeply rooted in the nation's love for literature and storytelling. In Iceland, ‘book flood’ is celebrated on Christmas Eve and revolves around giving and receiving new books, often accompanied by delicious treats. The night is spent in the company of loved ones, reading and sharing stories, creating memories that last a lifetime.

Iceland's love affair with books is deeply rooted in its culture and history. With a near 100% literacy rate, Icelanders don't just read – they immerse themselves in literature. This nation leads the world in terms of writers, books published, and books read per person. Imagine this: about 1 in 10 Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime, and ⅓ of the Icelandic population reads books daily! That's impressive and reflects their deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling.

I embraced this Icelandic tradition this year and hopefully I'll get the entire family to do the same next year. What a truly wonderful idea. I've already chosen my book!