Jolabokaflod - My Thoughts on a Icelandic Tradition

It's that time of year again, where I usually do a round up of the books that I gave and received this Christmas, but funnily enough this year was not so book heavy! Unusual for our house. Maybe it was because we'd done a lot of reading already this year, what with lockdown! Or maybe it was because we gave and received more practical, or even more indulgent presents, because of the kind of year we've all had! I for one, got lots of cosy socks and PJs, which says a lots really! But what about books? Aren't they an indulgent gift, don't they go hand in hand with the cosy socks and the PJs? Well yes, I would agree with that! But, I also now feel well equipped to snuggle down and read all the books on my to-read pile! So maybe I didn't need any new books this Christmas, just the accoutrements to enjoy what I already had, which seems pretty fitting for 2020. 

That being said though, I have just discovered a Icelandic tradition that I have 100% fallen in love with! Jolabokaflod! Or the Christmas book flood! It's no surprise to anyone who knows me, that I have taken another Nordic tradition to heart! I love a bit of Hygge and Fika, so why not Jolabokaflod!? Let me explain... 

So on Christmas Eve it is tradition in Iceland to give each other books as presents. This started in the 1940s when paper was one of the only things that wasn't rationed in Iceland during the war! Thinking it sounds like a good tradition good so far? It gets better! Once you have received your book (or books if you're lucky!) the rest of the evening is spent snuggled up reading them, in the warmest, cosiest, place you can find! With, of course, a compulsory hot chocolate and even a roaring fire! What's not to love!!??

I reckon this is a tradition we could all embrace! Not only is it the loveliest way to spend an evening with your loved ones, it also encourages people to switch off their phones, other devices, televisions, stop worrying about what time the turkey needs to go in the oven the next morning, or whether you've bought enough booze for the festivities! It just allows for us to be present in the moment, and frankly we all need a bit of that these days! If this year has taught us anything, it's that if we slow down, linger a little longer, open our eyes, then the world has so much more the show us and for us to experience, and the best thing is, it's right under our noses. So why not incorporate an element of Jolabokaflod into our lives? It could be as simple as recommending a good book to a friend! Or in true Jolabokaflod style why not gather up all your cosiest things, a snuggly blanket, and a hot drink of your choice and get lost in the pages of a book. You'll find that it's very good for the soul, but then I think you already knew that...

Thanks for reading, L x

A journey through 100 books begins with the first step....

So, over Christmas there were lots of good things on the tele, festive films, Christmas specials, the Queen's speech. But for me the must-watch program over the Christmas period was Channel 4's 'Britain's Favourite Children's Books'. Keen to see which of my favourite children's classics would make it onto the list  I settled down with a cup of tea at 6:30 on Boxing Day to watch David Walliams countdown the top 50 children's story favourites, as compiled by The Times. Starting with Robert Louis Stevenson's classic swashbuckling tale 'Treasure Island', the list did not disappoint. Featuring much loved tales such as 'The Wind in the Willows' and 'Alice in Wonderland', and favourites of my childhood, 'The Story of Tracy Beaker' and 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' I enjoyed revisiting books that sparked my love for reading. I was also intrigued by more modern additions to the list like Neil Gaiman's 'Fortunately, the Milk' and 'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness. The list was a nice mix of modern and classic literature, well known and less well known, and of this I was pleased.

If, like me, you are keen to see what Britain's top 3 children's books were you can watch the countdown here ! If you can't be bothered, then I shall tell you, and I hope you won't be disappointed! I certainly wasn't! 

There is nothing worse than watching a countdown of something and number one being a result you would never have picked! So half expecting no.1 to be something I would consider trash I crossed my fingers....

No.3..... 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'! Yes, good choice Britain! Though in hindsight I was surprised it hadn't ranked higher. 

No.2.... 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'. Again, a good choice. I've never read it but it certainly deserves to be up the top. 

No.1...... 'Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner'. Relief! My favourite bear of all time! 'Winnie the Pooh' was as much a part of my childhood as 'The Gruffalo' is for children these days. In fact the audiobook, read by Alan Bennett, was on a continuous loop most of the time! 

Afterwards I searched the list online and found that it was actually a list of 100 children's books considered national favourites. With the New Year fast approaching I rashly made the resolution to read them all! But unlike the resolutions you make to go to the gym or eat less cake, this one was going to be easy to keep (she says now.... Come back in a few weeks and we'll see.....!)

I love children's literature, it's my passion! I'm drudging through the last year of my degree with the hope to do an MA in children's literature afterwards, so the thought of reading all these books is keeping me sane! I'm looking forward to re-reading books that I've loved and creating new favourites along the way. I'll be writing my thoughts on each book here, so if you want to take the journey with me please come back soon. 

So, first up is no.100 'The Adventures of Tintin, Tintin in America'. 

For the whole list have a look here. 

XxX

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