Given that other products and gifts were few and far between, icelanders made the best of the situation and gave each other books to enjoy. First comes a hearty christmas meal smoked lamb, fermented and pickled fish, all washed down with a questionable cocktail of malt beer and orange soda, followed by christmas mass at 6 p. Dec 22, 2015 iceland is a sparsely populated island of some 330,000 people. And from the moment the catalog arrives until christmas eve, all of iceland is.
In iceland, there is a beautiful tradition to gift books. For as long as i can remember, my family has exchanged books on christmas eve. Almost seven out of 10 icelanders buy at least one book as a christmas gift, according to the icelandic publishers association. The cozy icelandic christmas tradition youll want to steal.
Founding story jolabokaflod jolabokaflod christmas book. Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world, with five titles published. Dec 22, 2017 people use this catalogue to order books to give to their friends and family on christmas eve, the main giftgiving day in iceland. But theres something about the thought of beating the arctic temperatures outside by settling in with a big blanket, hot chocolate, your favorite album, and a. But in iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. This custom is so deeply ingrained in the culture that it is the reason. Throughout this bustling and muchanticipated yearly event, bookstores across. So beginning in november, hundreds of books are published and the talk is all about books, once christmas is over and the books have been read. Icelands book and chocolate tradition is the perfect. Book lovers will want to adopt this lovely holiday tradition, which melds literary and holiday pleasures into a single event. Icelands book and chocolate tradition is the perfect way. There seems to be nothing more festive than reading a book in front of a warm fire with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, but icelanders have taken this cozy image to a new level in iceland, there is a lovely tradition to gift books to each other on christmas eve and then spend the night before christmas reading.
In september, the iceland publishers association mails a book catalog called the bokati. This increase in giving books as presents reinforced icelands culture as a nation. The world is embracing iceland s jolabokaflod christmas eve tradition, where friends and family give books as gifts, then settle in for a night of reading, often with a cup of hot chocolate. Sometimes the biggest ideas can come from the smallest of places. Icelandic christmas traditions whats on in iceland. In the months before christmas, there are a lot of books published and sold in iceland.
Quality street christmas chocolate, toffee and cremes box 240g. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood. Icelands christmas range puts a new twist on some festive. Dec 20, 2018 first comes a hearty christmas meal smoked lamb, fermented and pickled fish, all washed down with a questionable cocktail of malt beer and orange soda, followed by christmas mass at 6 p. Why every book lover should steal icelands christmas. In iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of the night in bed reading them and eating chocolate. Dec 19, 2017 iceland s christmas traditions derive from norse paganism and a time when people, without electricity, were desperate to fend off darkness. There is a rich tradition for publishing books and giving books.
Jonasson, president of the iceland publishers association, tells npr. The beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on. In iceland, there is a lovely tradition to gift books to each other on christmas eve and then spend the night before christmas reading. Jolabokaflod icelands wonderful christmas book flood. So books became the primary christmas gift for most icelandic families, and its been that way ever since. Indulge your sweet tooth or treat a friend to some delicious traditional icelandic chocolate and pastilles for a complete icelandic experience. Add this to your knowledge of scandinavian book traditions, easter norwegian reading tradition paskekrim. Why icelanders spend every christmas eve reading books and drinking cocoa. Born out of centuries of mythical storytelling and an innovative wartime workaround, icelands christmas eve tradition of giving books is a charming manifestation of their national character. Dec 21, 2015 icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on christmas eve and then spending the night reading. These books are then given as presents on christmas eve, and people spend the night sitting in bed and reading them. On christmas eve night, icelanders exchange books then spend the evening reading and eating chocolate.
In iceland, we talk about the christmas book flood, because there are so many new books published each year before christmas. Its a fun book on the different yule lads of christmas in iceland. Icelands population was not large enough to support a yearround publishing industry, so book publishers flooded the market with new titles in the final weeks of the year. Icelandic souvenirs are an elegance choice for those who want a distinction gift. In addition to spending christmas eve tucked in with a good book, icelanders will often enjoy hot chocolate or jolabland a nonalcoholic holiday ale with their. The tradition in iceland is that everyone must receive at least one book for christmas to take to bed on christmas eve along with some chocolates. Icelands christmas eve tradition of giving books will.
In iceland, there is a beautiful tradition to gift books to. People in iceland will often exchange books on christmas eve, then spend the rest of the night reading them and eating chocolate. It signifies the time between september and december when the. In 1944 the icelandic book trade started sending a book catalogue to every household in november. Photo by roman gerasymenko christmastime is just around the corner, which means that, soon, icelandic publishing houses will be releasing hundreds of new titles onto the icelandic book market, commencing a unique tradition known as the jolabokaflo. Iceland has a decadesold giftgiving tradition during christmas that is worth emulating in other countries. Why every book lover should steal icelands christmas tradition. This tradition began during world war ii once iceland had gained its independence for denmark in 1944. Icelands christmas eve tradition of giving books will make. This tradition is the reason for the word jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood. This christmas tradition involves getting a brandnew book on christmas eve and reading it in bed with some hot chocolate. The annual book flood tradition begins with a publishers catalog in every mailbox. Iceland is rather unique with such a bookish national tradition, but we put the call out and discovered how many of you have family bookish traditions. It certainly sounds like a perfect christmas too all bookworms.
Christmas 2020 christmas food iceland foods iceland. Our market share is approximately 30% of the total. Nov 17, 2017 the culture of giving books as presents is very deeply rooted in how families perceive christmas as a holiday, kristjan b. Dec 25, 2017 the beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on christmas eve. The christmas eve book giving tradition is the culmination of a monthslong national literary celebration called jolabokaflo. Iceland might be the best place in the world to be a book loverand christmas in iceland might be the best time of year. Ready to shake up your familys christmas eve traditions. This tradition is so popular that it is even called the christmasbookflood. People use this catalogue to order books to give to their friends and family on christmas eve, the main giftgiving day in iceland. Iceland celebrates christmas unlike any other country in. Icelandic christmas useful information about iceland. Dec 26, 2016 in iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of the night in bed reading them and eating chocolate. Iceland as many of you will know is the country that sells the greatest number of books per capita and most of them are sold in the weeks leading up to christmas.
Christmas season starts when the first yule lad comes to town days before christmas eve, and finishes when the last one leaves town twelfth night. Throughout this bustling and muchanticipated yearly event, bookstores across iceland. Icelandan invitation to the 12 countries of christmas. Books have been the christmas gift of choice in this small nation for decades. Dec 24, 2017 iceland has the most lovely christmas eve tradition. While giving books is not unique to iceland, the tradition of exchanging books on christmas eve and then spending the evening reading is becoming a cultural phenomenon. During the festive season, gifts are opened on 24 december and, by tradition, everyone reads the books they have been given straight away, often while drinking hot chocolate or alcoholfree christmas ale called jolabland. See more ideas about iceland christmas, iceland and yule. People use the catalogue to order books to give friends and family for christmas. Icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on christmas eve and then spending the night reading.
There they give books to each other on christmas eve and then spend the night reading, usually curled up under a cozy blanket while eating chocolate. Dec 02, 2014 10 recipes for an iceland inspired christmas. Christmas 2020 christmas food iceland foods iceland foods. In reykjavik, where 200,000 icelanders live, the city library saw 1. In iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. The culture of giving books as presents is very deeply rooted in how families perceive christmas as a holiday, kristjan b. So, after the presents have been unwrapped, many like to cuddle up in their pajamas preferably with a box of chocolate and read their new christmas book. The world is embracing icelands jolabokaflod christmas eve tradition, where friends and family give books as gifts, then settle in for a night of reading, often with a cup of hot chocolate. A celebration of icelands christmas folklore as want to read. Couldnt find any books specifically about the yule cat, except this one that mentions him. Iceland is a hot spot for tourists, but did you know about jolabokaflod or the christmas book flood. And so, beginning in november, hundreds of books are released onto the market and the talk is all about books in the media, in the workplace, among family and friends, and at christmas parties. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
Icelands book and chocolate tradition is the perfect way to spend. We stock a variety of classic icelandic candy brands, including gou, lindu, appolo, and noisirius which is worldfamous for being icelands oldest chocolate company. Dec 21, 2018 in addition to spending christmas eve tucked in with a good book, icelanders will often enjoy hot chocolate or jolabland a nonalcoholic holiday ale with their pageturners. Iceland has unveiled their full christmas range for 2019, and alongside some classics like turkey, mince pies and pigs in blankets, there are also some interesting new twists on the standard. Dec 20, 2017 iceland has a decadesold giftgiving tradition during christmas that is worth emulating in other countries. The cozy icelandic christmas tradition youll want to. Icelands christmas traditions derive from norse paganism and a time when people, without electricity, were desperate to fend off darkness.
Cornflakes bring a pleasing crunch to these fluffy, chewy chocolate meringues. Dec 08, 2015 one of my facebook friends just published a little snippet about jolabokaflod, the christmas book flood. Since its establishment in 1920, noi sirius has grown to become the largest confectionery manufacturer in iceland, with an annual turnover in 2006 of 17,000,000. In iceland, where a vibrant literary culture has thrived since the middle ages, the most popular christmas gift is a. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book. One of my facebook friends just published a little snippet about jolabokaflod, the christmas book flood. There is an amazing icelandic tradition to gift books on christmas eve.
The tradition is part of a season called jolabokaflod, or the christmas book flood, because iceland, which publishes more books per capita than any other country, sells most of its books between september and november due to people preparing for the. Iceland has the most lovely christmas eve tradition. Come to discover a piece of iceland and get a different souvenir. With less than five hours of sunlight a day in winter. With so many books circulating, it only makes sense that christmas traditions in iceland involve books.
Dec 28, 2008 iceland as many of you will know is the country that sells the greatest number of books per capita and most of them are sold in the weeks leading up to christmas. As i read about unique cultural traditions of christmas around the world, i learned that the people of iceland also love books. Iceland celebrates christmas unlike any other country in the. The beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on christmas eve. Jolabokaflod sounds like the best way to spend the holidays. Christmas in iceland means a flood of books under the tree.
Dec 21, 2017 in iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. In iceland, this is known as the christmas book flood. Christmas in iceland lasts for 26 days, from the 11th of december until the 6th of january, and iceland has santa clauses, or yule lads. In iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of the night reading in bed reading them and eating chocolate. In iceland they have a christmas eve tradition called jolabokaflod where you exchange books with your friends and family and afterwards you all read your books together while eating chocolate. In iceland, people exchange books as christmas eve presents. After all the presents are open, everyone grabs a cup of hot chocolate and cozies up to spend the rest of the evening reading their books.
872 235 1232 1437 939 882 975 454 243 665 1293 520 867 399 518 1455 1377 719 1117 1441 1417 1092 636 600 525 1284 1394 220 1381 1534 350 234 969 180 886 1463 474 824 1021 480 1282 1396 217 834 1131