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| Jolabokaflod |
The Christmas Book Flood, or “Jólabókaflóð,” has roots in Iceland that go back to the mid-20th century. It began during World War II, a time when many items were scarce due to rationing.
Although many goods were restricted, paper was still available in Iceland. This made books an accessible and meaningful gift option. To make the most of this, Icelandic publishers started releasing most of their new books in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The tradition really took off in 1944, the same year Iceland gained independence from Denmark. That year, the first “Bókatíðindi,” a catalog of newly published books, was sent to every home in Iceland. This catalog allowed people to browse and choose which books to give as gifts.
The Christmas Book Flood became a way for Icelanders to celebrate their cultural heritage and love of literature. Today, it remains a central part of the holiday season in Iceland, with people eagerly awaiting the arrival of the annual book catalog and the chance to discover new stories.
I notice that the blog site that the 'Days of the Year' site links you to seems to have petered out Advent calendar wise, as of Christmas eve 2025 it seems to finish at Day 7:-(
Although many goods were restricted, paper was still available in Iceland. This made books an accessible and meaningful gift option. To make the most of this, Icelandic publishers started releasing most of their new books in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The tradition really took off in 1944, the same year Iceland gained independence from Denmark. That year, the first “Bókatíðindi,” a catalog of newly published books, was sent to every home in Iceland. This catalog allowed people to browse and choose which books to give as gifts.
The Christmas Book Flood became a way for Icelanders to celebrate their cultural heritage and love of literature. Today, it remains a central part of the holiday season in Iceland, with people eagerly awaiting the arrival of the annual book catalog and the chance to discover new stories.
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| DAY 7 — The Joy of Re-reading |
POST STILL IN PROGRESS, AS I'm OFF TO BED BEFORE SANTA GETS HERE AND SEES THAT I'm STILL AWAKE
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