cookies prepared for santa. your favorite Christmas movie and hot chocolate. singing Christmas carols around the neighborhood. reindeer powder (colored sugar) sprinkled on the walkway. Christmas lights tourism. matching pajama sets. When it comes to Christmas Eve, there are so many great ways to celebrate. is one of the best parts of being a parent: discovering what magical and meaningful traditions to pass on. but there may be a tradition you’re missing that could quickly become a favorite in your family. have you ever heard of jolabokaflod?
jolabokaflod- what is it?
Jolabokaflod, or “Christmas book flood” in English, is the Icelandic tradition of giving and opening new books on Christmas Eve, gathering with family, and reading late into the night. sounds simple, and it may not dazzle your child like your neighbor’s rooftop light show does, but any parent who’s seen their child squeal in the first snow of the year knows that it’s the simplest things that bring more joy (plus, simple = less work for parents).
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jolabokaflod has a rich history in iceland, dating back to the second world war, when paper was one of the only commodities that was not rationed. Books were shared at Christmas with abundance and extra love, as other gifts were scarce. Today, the tradition continues: in late September, a free catalog of Iceland’s newest books called Bokatidindi hits the mailboxes of every home, and Icelanders hit the bookstores. This “book flood” is responsible for the majority of Iceland’s book purchases throughout the year. the books with the most fanfare are saved for publication this season in hopes of ending up under the tree or in a sock.
iceland is a nation of book lovers. a recent 2019 study shows that, on average, they read 2.3 books a month (most Americans read four books that year, and a quarter of Americans didn’t read a single book in the last four years). moreover, one in ten Icelanders will publish a book of their own one day. could this be due to jolabokaflod? it’s hard to tell, but it makes sense that a nation with a rich tradition dedicated to all things books would instill a love of reading in its people.
jolabokaflod can be instead of trying to overdo it
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Last year, on Christmas Eve, my family tried to pack too much. It was the first year that my little daughter really understood what Christmas was, and we didn’t want her to miss out on anything. We rode on a polar express themed train, drank endless cups of hot chocolate, sang all the Christmas carols, and baked way too many Christmas cookies. By the time Christmas morning rolled around, we were all feeling a little over the top; by doing too much the day before, we had stolen some magic from Christmas. This year, the idea of spending a quiet night reading a new book or two while listening to the jingle of Santa’s sleigh sounds nothing short of perfect. we will rest and reserve our great excitement for the morning.
The books challenge children to ask questions, form connections, broaden their perspectives, heighten their awareness, and increase their self-esteem. reading together strengthens the emotional bonds between parents and children, and gives us a common language to talk about great feelings. Plus, reading is a quiet activity, it reduces stress, and it’s a lot less clean than a batch of cookies. while we don’t have a bokatidindi for you, these modern fairy tales would be a good choice, or maybe one of these classics, perfect for reading aloud. Or make it even simpler and have a remote book swap with your parent friends.
Think about adding jolabokaflod to your Christmas Eve this year. Whatever book you choose for your little one on Christmas Eve, know that you are sending a powerful message: this is a special gift, because reading is important. you may find it’s the Christmas tradition your family looks forward to the most, year after year.
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