And they ask specifically about the tradition of the christmas book flood, which, though ive experienced it, i dont know that much about. Dec 10, 2019 reykjavik, dec 10 in the land of the sagas, it isnt christmas if there isnt a deluge of books under the tree literally. The cozy icelandic christmas tradition youll want to. Reading and eatingand you can only do so much eating. Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country. Jolabokaflo an icelandic christmas book flood globe. Jolabokafloobook flood an icelandic christmas tradition. And from the moment the catalog arrives until christmas eve, all of iceland is. This is the time of year when we icelanders experience the socalled jolabokaflo. According to most recent data from statistics iceland, 1,488 books were published in iceland in 2015 and it is likely that over half of them were published during the annual christmas book flood publication reached an alltime high in 2008, however. Oct 20, 2018 every holiday season, publishers in iceland prepare for jolabokaflo. Its the holiday season, time for an endofyear book flood what people in iceland call call jolabokafloo, writes nancy napier, a professor at boise state university who teaches in the. This great boost in sales and publications around christmas, fueled by the icelandic tradition of buying books for christmas gifts, is what sustains icelands vibrant.
The jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, is a muchloved tradition that has been. As publishers and authors seek to exploit the spike in demand new titles flood the market in what icelanders refer to as the christmas bookflood. And historically, a majority of those books are sold between late september and november. Iceland gears up for the christmas book flood mnn mother.
Jolabokaflod, or the yule book flood, originated during world war ii when foreign imports were restricted, but paper was cheap. When i tell people i live in iceland, they usually ask me about rotten shark meat before moving on to one of my favorite subjects. Though christmas book flood does refer to the christmas eve gifting tradition, it also, more generally, refers to the months before christmas. Iceland also has the most writers per capita, the most books published per capita, and more books read per person than anywhere else in the world. Each year, iceland celebrates whats known as jolabokaflo. Christmas in iceland means a flood of books under the tree. A complete guide to icelandic literature guide to iceland. And both icelanders and book lovers from all across the globe are probably content with that. Nov 25, 2019 from november, during the runup to the holidays, icelands publishing companies release countless new titles in a beloved and exciting tradition known as the christmas book flood. Jolabokaflod icelands wonderful christmas book flood.
Books have been the christmas gift of choice in this small nation for. The jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, is a muchloved tradition that has been celebrated in iceland since 1945. In iceland, people spend christmas eve giving each other the. Iceland has its own nobel prize winner hes down below too and reykjavik is recognized as a unesco city of literature. Its traditional to exchange books on christmas eve and spend the night reading them. In the land of the sagas, it isnt christmas if there isnt a deluge of books under the tree literally. However, iceland s christmas book flood will likely persist for decades to come as its popularity grows and it becomes more inextricably linked to the nations international identity.
The christmas book flood is a term used in iceland for the annual release of new books occurring in the months before christmas, as it is common to publish. Theres a lovely tradition in iceland that i would love to see embraced here in the u. Because of this, icelanders gave books as gifts while other commodities. Jan 25, 2017 iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country. Dec 25, 2012 literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood icelanders are voracious readers. Iceland christmas book flood times of india travel. The christmas bookavalanche the most important book publishing season in iceland is november and december as people buy books for christmas presents. As publishers and authors seek to exploit the spike in demand new titles flood the market in. Many families were unable to splurge on holiday gifts. Dec 22, 2017 thats exactly how icelandic people celebrate christmas each year. Reykjavik, dec 10 in the land of the sagas, it isnt christmas if there isnt a deluge of books under the tree literally. Every autumn, iceland experiences a jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood. Nov 25, 2017 when i tell people i live in iceland, they usually ask me about rotten shark meat before moving on to one of my favorite subjects. Apr 21, 2020 iceland has its own nobel prize winner hes down below too and reykjavik is recognized as a unesco city of literature.
Oct 28, 2016 however, icelands christmas book flood will likely persist for decades to come as its popularity grows and it becomes more inextricably linked to the nations international identity. Every christmas, there is a veritable flood, or jolabokaflo. Jolabokaflod started during world war ii, when paper was one of the few things not rationed in iceland. The most popular item to give as a christmas present in iceland is a book. Every year around christmastime, publishing houses across iceland unleash a deluge of new books on the marketplace and inundate bookstores with stacks of fresh titles for the holiday season. The beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on. Jolabokaflod christmas book flood recommending reading. Dec 21, 2015 this custom is so deeply ingrained in the culture that it is the reason for the jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, when the majority of books in iceland are sold between september and. Iceland could not support a yearround publishing industry, so book publishers flooded the market with new titles in the final weeks of the year and thus the tradition of exchanging books as gifts in december was born. From november, during the runup to the holidays, icelands publishing companies release countless new titles in a beloved and exciting tradition known as the christmas book flood.
Books stores across the capital break out the bubbly and confectionary as they host lots of festive readings, poetry recitals and signings. Meet your favorite new holiday tradition embrace icelands yule book flood this season and give your loved ones books to read on christmas eve. The power of the written word is so significant to the citizens of the nordic island, that publishing companies there even hold an annual book drive for a very special national tradition that takes place every christmas eve. Add this to your knowledge of scandinavian book traditions, easter norwegian reading tradition paskekrim. Dec 21, 2016 its a national tradition, and it has a name. Its holiday season, time for icelandstyle book flood. This custom is so deeply ingrained in the culture that it is the reason for the jolabokaflod, or christmas book flood, when the majority of books in iceland are sold between september and. In iceland, the best christmas gift is a book and it has been that way for decades. In iceland, criminals are put on a waiting list to serve their time in prison because there arent enough available jail. Dec 11, 2017 the icelandic yuletide is a time for two things. In iceland, people spend christmas eve giving each other.
Iceland is a hot spot for tourists, but did you know about jolabokaflod or the christmas book flood. In a country that has the most books per capita in the world, publishers release a majority of these books between september and early november, just in time for the christmas book flood. This tradition is known as jolabokaflod, which translates roughly to christmas book flood in english. About that icelandic book flood icelandic language blog.
It is customary for every person in iceland to receive at least one book on christmas eve, so that means many books are sold during this time of year. Nov 21, 2017 about iceland for a literature lover like me, the fabulous icelandic tradition, known as jolabokaflo. The story behind icelands annual christmas book flood. Nyt explores the icelandic literary tradition as the. If a book lover could choose an ideal country to spend their lives, it would be iceland, a nation that publishes more books per capita than any other. A cherished staple of icelandic holiday festivities, the christmas book flood truly is a distinctive celebration of literacy that has a fascinating, yet.
Jolabokaflo an icelandic christmas book flood globe trottin kids. Whats more, those frozen icelandic nutters have a tradition where people buy each other books for christmas and sit down to read them on christmas eve. The story behind icelands annual christmas book flood goodnet. Nov 20, 2015 the christmas bookavalanche the most important book publishing season in iceland is november and december as people buy books for christmas presents. The holiday season is the black friday of the icelandic publishing worldbut its not just. Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world and the bulk of book sales happens at this time of year, with the publishing industry receiving something like 80 percent of its annual revenues in the approximately two months leading up to christmas. Jonasson, president of the iceland publishers association tells teicher, the culture of giving books as presents is very deeply rooted in how families perceive christmas as a holiday.
Iceland is buying and publishing fewer books quartz. Egill told ruv that wholesaler costco, which opened its first retail location in iceland this past may, plans to participate in the socalled flood. 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 good book. Dec 20, 2018 the christmas eve bookgiving tradition is the culmination of a monthslong national literary celebration called jolabokaflo. However, icelands christmas book flood will likely persist for decades to come as its popularity grows and it becomes more inextricably linked to the nations international identity. Christmas in iceland means a flood of books inquirer. Iceland isnt the only country known for a seasonal surge in new book releases. Meet your favorite new holiday tradition embrace iceland s yule book flood this season and give your loved ones books to read on christmas eve. Thats exactly how icelandic people celebrate christmas each year. Six entries were shortlisted on 1 january 2020 for consideration by a international panel of nine judges and one chairman from the uk, usa and iceland representing a range of different perspectives of the book trade, including awardwinning authors, literary agents, sales and marketing publishing executives, literary charity trustees, social. Books have been the christmas gift of choice in this small nation for decades.
Jolabokafloobook flood an icelandic christmas tradition this is a yearly tradition of publishers publishing hundreds of titles of books from sept until dec. Icelands book tradition is the perfect addition to your holiday season. Dec 08, 2018 each year, iceland celebrates whats known as jolabokaflo. Aug 29, 2017 there is a surge in the publishing and sale of new books leading up to the holiday every year which is known as the christmas book flood. France has a similar trend called le rentree litteraire. The icelanders and their big love of books guide to iceland. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood icelanders are voracious readers. Last christmas day, npr ran a story about the preeminence of the book among christmas gifts in iceland. The book flood tradition dates back to world war ii, when iceland was struggling financially. From november, during the runup to the holidays, iceland s publishing companies release countless new titles in a beloved and exciting tradition known as the christmas book flood. Iceland gears up for the christmas book flood jolabokaflod is a concept book lovers the world over can embrace. Christmas in iceland means a flood of books under the. 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. Nyt explores the icelandic literary tradition as the annual.
Jolabokaflod launches reading for pleasure competition at 12r prizes. Dec 24, 2015 jolabokafloobook flood an icelandic christmas tradition this is a yearly tradition of publishers publishing hundreds of titles of books from sept until dec that is where the name book flood comes. While family traditions vary from household to household, most icelanders unwrap a book on december 24, according to readers digest. In iceland, books are exchanged as christmas eve presents, then you spend the rest of. Learn about icelandic christmas traditions, including jolabokaflo.
Icelands book tradition is the perfect addition to your. Literary iceland revels in its annual christmas book flood. Nov 17, 2017 iceland gears up for the christmas book flood jolabokaflod is a concept book lovers the world over can embrace. Christmas book flood where the gift of giving focuses on books. A good book is the gift that keeps on giving and nowhere is this sentiment truer than in iceland. This tradition began during world war ii once iceland had gained its independence for denmark in 1944.
1126 1059 178 1630 872 1147 1387 696 722 346 1666 1117 352 947 550 582 176 1612 1068 236 1031 1367 1285 1363 1034 580 1339 1589 1505 410 1523 555 728 320 712 60 197 1321 101 218 1174