Have you heard of the awesome tradition in Iceland called Jolabokaflod?
It literally means “Yule Book Flood”, and the tradition involves giving gifts of books on Christmas Eve and then spending the evening reading.
Best. Tradition. Ever.
And it’s one we’re adopting at my house this year.
We’re officially becoming Icelanders. Icelandians? Icelandinos?
I’m already excited to shop for books for my family, and sit together and read.
How about you? Is this a tradition you’d like to start this year? Or do you have another interesting Christmas Eve tradition?
I love the idea of the Jolabokaflod… We’ve always given books for Christmas, but to reserve a night for books is sweet… When our kids were little we always had my honeyman… read out loud, A Carolina Christmas Carol… a sweet story written by Charlie Daniels (found in his wonderful collection called The Devil Went Down to Georgia). I guarantee you that it will pull on your heartstrings and choke you up a little bit! And your children will love it!
My book loving self and my stubborn child who hated to read compromised on How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I have a book of Dr. Seuss favorite stories. We read it each night from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. When he was 3 yrs didn’t want to focus I cheated. I put the old movie on and held the book open and followed with the movie with the book. Then when be was five we got to the save the movie for closer to christmas. That book help him with learning how to read during kindergarten and first grade (ages 6 & 7). When he’s father remarried, my son began to read the story to his brother. Now my son is 13 years and we have yet to read this season, but we’ve never missed reading it at least five times before christmas eve. As well my kid now loves to read.
It’s a beautiful idea, will definitely be adopting it. Not sure about moving to Iceland thou
gh. Far to cold!