Jolabokaflod (translation: Yule Book Flood) is an Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition in which people exchange books then sit around and read them together while eating chocolate.

As someone who loves reading-and chocolate- I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the holiday. I also feel like North Dakota, with much of its roots in Nordic culture, should embrace this custom.

 I also wish my parents, who moved from Iceland shortly before I was born, would have implemented into our own traditions. Instead our annual Thanksgiving meal with my maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, turned into a time for us kids to make our Christmas lists. The six of us grandkids would go through catalogs from Sears or JC Penny’s or Toys’R’Us and circle whatever nonsense was in fashion that year. I know it sounds materialistic, but it really was a bonding experience for us kids. Around the time I was 8 or 9, I wasn’t into gadgets or the latest toys (although there was one year, I was adamant about getting a Furby only to become terrified of the thing when it randomly would turn on in the middle of the night). Every year my wish lists became more books I had come across at the library or the Scholastic catalog. My family was frugal and we didn’t often participate in book fairs or buy books in general, so Christmas and my December birthday became the time I took advantage of the gift giving season to build my personal little library. I absolutely adored the Dear America and Royal diary series as a kid. Those books set me on a journey to become a lifelong lover of historical fiction and I credit my general love of reading to them. 

Now nearly 20 years later, if someone asks me what I want for Christmas or my birthday, it is likely to be a book. Last year my husband bought me a Kindle, I think in hopes of slowing down my overflowing personal library (spoilers: it didn’t work). The year before he bought me the Easton Press edition of my favorite book The Princess Bride and I literally cried. Both years I spent the majority of the day reading my gift. 

My mom will tell me that I have too many books but will still send me a book she knows I’ve been wanting. My sisters and I started doing a book exchange for Christmas in the last couple of years. I love hearing their thoughts on my picks for them, even if it ended up being a flop. My younger sister has very specific tastes which makes buying a book for her difficult, but she is also witty so her perspective on a book she hates is always funny. My older sister and I were not the best of friends in our teenage years, but our mutual love of reading is one of the things we’ve bonded the most over as adults. 

There is no one I love buying books for more than my 10 year old son. Thankfully, he has inherited my love of reading. If it includes dragons or is written by Rick Riordan, he is all about it. While historical fiction is my primary genre of choice, I do adore fantasy and I’m so excited to introduce him to Eragon this year.

Gift giving shouldn’t be stressful, but I know that many of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get the “perfect” gift. It kind of takes the joy out of giving. What I love about books as a gift is that there is something out there for everyone. I firmly believe that everyone is a reader, they just haven’t found the right book yet. I try to get a book that reminds me of that person. Maybe the subject is something I know they’re interested in or a character has similar personality traits or maybe I just know they love a particular author. Shopping for books has never stressed me out. Fair warning though, if your person loves reality T.V., Dollhouse by the Kardashian sisters is likely not the one. If you don’t believe me just ask my sister.

Happy Holidays everyone! Please remember, if you’re looking to gift a book and need a recommendation based on certain criteria, don’t be afraid to ask your local librarian!