Jolabokaflod

A few years ago pinterest was flooded with adorable memes about Jolabokaflod, otherwise knwn as the Icelandic Book Flood. As we Americans tend to do, this beautiful tradition has been distilled down into a soundbite so dug in and spent some time researching what Jolabokaflod is all about. It is indeed a flood of books that are all published around the holidays, that people exchange with friends and family, but the rationale behind it is kind of beautiful. Icelandic is not a widely spoken language, so less books are printed in the language. As an english speaker, this isn’t something I had ever really thought about before. Whole languages could disappear because they aren’t profitable. So the publishing companies in Iceland decided to make the release of their new titles an event and it generated a huge amount of interest in books printed in Icelandic. It has not become a part of what people do around the holidays, and sure it is a lovely meme worthy tradition about reading new books in your pjs and eating chocolate, but it’s also about saving a language which I love so much.

We started celebrating Jolabokaflodish style the first year of COVID. It was clear that there weren’t going to be any parties or family coming over and I wanted to do something special instead. It replaced a tradition that we had when the kids were younger of “santa” dropping off a parcel with new pjs, snacks and a holiday movie on christmas eve. The kids had aged out a bit and I was running out of holiday movies. And all the movies were already on the tv these days… I don’t think my kids even know what dvds are. Instead, I made everyone little bundles with new books to read, new pjs to cozy up in (coziness is basically a religion in our house…) some special chocolates and hot cocoa bombs. It was a big hit and we have continued to do this, even though the parties and the family guests have resumed. In fact we often give it it’s own special day now so that we have more time to enjoy this tradition without anything else going on. It is a great way to slow down and enjoy the season.

Jolabokaflod-ish Packages

Everything is negotiable here– do what works for you and your family! These are just suggestions, pick and choose the ones you like. (it’s not meant to be all of them) Don’t like sweets? Add fancy popcorn. Don’t want pjs? Try cozy socks or mittens. Make cute paper dens, wrap parcels or just stuff things in a gift bag. The kids will be delighted either way. Incidentally these make good teacher/ neighbor/ friend gifts too!!

Materials:

• pjs
• cozy socks
• mittens, hats etc
• cocoa bombs
• holiday tea or coffee
• chocolates
• other favorite sweets
• books!!! this is the only one that is not negotiable
• popcorn or other easy to eat savory snacks
• boxes/ bags/ wrapping of some sort

Method:

Wrap/ pile/ otherwise arrange everything together, add gift tags and distribute on christmas (or solstice) eve. Or do what we do and pick another day earlier in the month. Everyone can spend the evening reading and cozy!

*If you’d like to make the paper bag dens, scroll down.

*If you’d like to make the parcels, fit everything into a cardboard box and wrap in brown paper. Tie with baker’s twine and add gift tags. I google images of holiday stamps and cut them out to make it look as though it was mailed.

Paper Bag Dens

The first time I made these I was making 30+ for all of my staff so I spray painted the rock shapes on assembly line style. (I made the stencil from cardboard.) When making them just for my familiy it’s much easier to paint them freehand– I actually love painting stuff like this because it’s virtually impossible to mess up. This is a quick prokect that looks adorable!

Materials:

• plain brown paper grocery bags
• white and black acrylic craft paint
• pallet or paper plate
• paintbrush
• white spray paint (optional)
• hole punch
• twine
• tags
• books and chocolate for filling

Method:

Flatten the paper bag and place the bottom on the bag so it faces you. (Or otherwise make not of which side is the top and which is the bottom so you don’t paint the door upside down!)

Squeeze out some black paint and make little cave door shapes at the bas of each bag. They can be centered or not.

Next paint the rocks. Squeeze out a big glob of white paint and a small blob of black onto your pallet. Dip your brush into the white and then dip just a little bit into the black. You want both colors unmixed on your brush. Start painting swoopy rock shapes letting the paint mix as you work. Keep adding more paint as needed. I like to start by making bigger rocks and then go back and add some smaller ones in the cracks. Paint some smaller ones around teh door as well. Allow to dry completely.

Open up the bag and fold teh top inch or two over. Make a hole all the way through the fold with a hole punch. I find that it’s easier on a part of teh bag that isn’t heavily painted.

Next take the opened and folded bags outside and spray some white paint just along the top like snow. (You could definitely do this with acrylic too, but I like the thinner texture.) Allow to dry completely.

Once dry, fill your bags with books and pjs and chocolates– or whatever you have chosen from teh list above. Fold the top back over and thread some twine through the holes to close. Add a tag (mine have bears on them!) and get ready to be cozy!