In Iceland one of the most delightful traditions is the “Christmas book flood.”
During the holiday season in Iceland the most common gift is a book. There are the ipads and e-books but people wait for the arrival of the Bokatidindi, a catalog of new publications distributed free to every Icelandic home, courtesy of the Iceland Publishers Association.
In Iceland during the winter months there is less than five hours of sunlight a day thus it is a perfect season to sit in the glow of the fireplace and read.
It was reported on NPR that in 2009, book loans at the Reykjavík City Library totaled 1.2 million — in a city of only 200,000 people. Iceland has a popular TV show in Iceland, Kiljan, which is devoted entirely to books. And in 2011, Reykjavík was designated a UNESCO City of Literature.
What a great Christmas tradition and this year check out the holiday book selections to find the perfect gift for your family and friends:
New York Times Critics’ Top Books of 2018
Library Journal’s Best Books of 2018
Washington Post’s Best Books of 2018 and Washington Post’s less trendy book list
AND during this winter season find a book at the
Lehigh Libraries or at your local Library AND Happy Reading!
