Jólabókaflóð #Books

A Christmas tradition I love is the Icelandic Christmas eve book exchange Jólabókaflóð (pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot)!

The Bokatidindi - a catalogue of every single book published in Iceland during the year - is published the month before Christmas. It is delivered free, and greatly anticipated, to every Icelandic home. This particular tradition begins way back in World War II when imported Christmas gifts were heavily restricted, but paper was a cheap thing to get hold of. In anticipation of this need and due to the small size of the country's population Icelandic publishers flooded the market with book releases close to that all important gift giving time of year.

Jólabókaflóð or “Yule Book Flood” for those hesitant to try the Icelandic tongue, has remained enshrined since those days, with a few alterations to keep up with the times. The tradition, which is beloved in Iceland is quickly gaining popularity round the world. Now books are exchanged as a present on Christmas Eve and those taking part spend the rest of the evening reading together: curled up under blankets, round decorated trees or next to cosy fires; wherever they find comfort and warmth.

If your Christmas Eve could do with some time that isn’t rushed or stressful or covered in sellotape, why not exchange books with family, friends or loved ones, find a blanket and snuggle on down as you get lost in another world, just for a while. Jesus was a natural storyteller who delighted in entertaining, challenging and inspiring  others, he understood that stories were a great way of breaking down barriers and cutting to the heart of the issue, and the stories he told are still being told all over the world in countless languages today. What stories do we want to share with one another this Christmas?

Lily Cathcart