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ICELAND CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITION: JOLABOKAFLOD

🎄🎄Jolabokaflod is one of the most unique and charming Iceland Christmas traditions. The people of Iceland celebrate it on Christmas Eve. Jolabokaflod translates into "Christmas Book Flood." The tradition is to give or receive new books on Christmas Eve. It's not just about the giving though—it's also about the reading!🎄🎋

JOLABOKAFLOD

HISTORY OF JOLABOKAFLOD

The true origin of the Iceland book flood is unknown. However, it's believed that this tradition began in the 1930s with a book club called The Reykjavik Library Foundation. They wanted to encourage Icelanders to read more during their long dark winters, and so they established Jolabokaflod as an annual event where people could give and receive new books on Christmas Eve.

Another theory is that Jolabokaflod, or Christmas Book Flood, began as a way to promote literacy in Iceland. A study from the 1800s found that only 50% of the population could read. So, giving and receiving new books on Christmas Eve may have been a way to encourage people to learn how to read.

Learn More About Christmas Book Flood🎄