Each winter, as the days grow shorter across Iceland, households prepare for a tradition unique in its scale and spirit. The Jólabókaflóðið, which translates to ‘the Christmas book flood,’ is a period in the months before Christmas when publishers release a wave of new books. This annual event makes books the preferred Christmas gift for many Icelanders, setting the stage for a literary-focused holiday season.
The festivities begin with the delivery of the Bókatíðindi, or Journal of Books, to every home in the country. This catalogue lists that year’s brand-new titles and marks the official start of the Jólabókaflóðið. Families pour over its pages, choosing volumes to give as presents for Christmas Eve.
A legacy of words and wartime necessity
The Christmas book flood is deeply entwined with Iceland’s established literary tradition. From the earliest days of settlement, writing occupied an important place in Icelandic society. Runes, the earliest form of writing on the island, have been found dating back to the 10th century and possibly even earlier. These symbols, believed to have divine origins, helped grant literature an early importance in Icelandic culture.
The famed Icelandic Sagas further cemented the nation’s literary identity. These works, written between the 12th and 15th centuries but passed down first as oral tales, chronicled the lives and histories of Icelandic families. As a result, storytelling and reading formed a foundation of communal life that persists to this day.
Yet the familiar rhythm of the Jólabókaflóðið, as it is known today, emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War. Beginning in 1944 with the first annual Journal of Books, it was a response to limited imports of luxury goods in the post-war period. Iceland’s economy, less damaged than much of Europe, left its people with relatively more to spend but fewer things to purchase. Paper goods, however, faced fewer restrictions than other imported items, making books more accessible than most other gifts. In this landscape, the tradition of giving books at Christmas took hold.
A season for choosing and sharing
While the book flood is often described abroad as a cosy custom of families reading together by candlelight on Christmas Eve, some Icelanders point out that it is also a key retail event for publishers and booksellers. Regardless of the setting, the flood has ensured that literature remains at the heart of Icelandic holiday celebrations, continuing a legacy built over centuries.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
