Do you celebrate Jolabokaflod?
(RELATED: Five Christmas Albums I Still Love Each Year)
My family loves learning about the various winter holiday traditions around the world, including the many beautiful Christmas customs. One of our favorite traditions by far is the Icelandic custom of Jolabokaflod, the “Christmas Book Flood.”
The tradition has been around since World War II when countries everywhere were facing rationing and supply shortages. In Iceland, one thing not rationed was paper, so publishers were encouraged to print more books. Likewise, consumers were encouraged to buy and give more books for Christmas.
Eight decades later, and the Book Flood tradition is stronger than ever. Iceland is now a country of book lovers. Publishers schedule many of their books for Christmas season release. Huge book festivals are held across the country each year in celebration of the Book Flood. Every Christmas Eve, Icelandic families give each other books, and cozy up for the evening to read them.
The Icelandic people are certainly onto something wonderful here, and for the past few years, everyone in our family gets a new book gift on Christmas Eve. Our favorites have always been mysteries and ghost stories (which are actually better suited for Christmas than Halloween, but that’s another story). Once we’ve settled in our jammies after church, the wait for Christmas morning is calmed with the surprise of a new, winter book to read by the fire or in bed.
Whether you’re planning on celebrating Book Flood, or just looking for a fun, eerie story or mystery, here are a personal book recommendations.
When Christmas Comes (A Yuletide Mystery) by Andrew Klavan
A horrific murder of a librarian seems to have been solved a little too easily, and English professor Cameron Winter is ready to prove the innocence of the confessed murderer, a third generation Army Ranger and war hero. Klavan has proved talents in straight up crime novels as well as supernatural stories and fantasy. His latest book is a worthy thriller for the Christmas season or anytime.
Krampus! by Brian Joines and Dean Kotz
This 2014, five-issue, Image Comics graphic novel by Brian Joines with illustrations by Dean Kotz is a darkly fun satire of the Christmastime horror legend of Krampus. Krampus has long been hanging out in his cozy prison due to his “outdated” methods of child punishment. However, the global Secret Society of Santa Clauses have lost their collected power and need him back. This is a cool take on the various figures from Christmas and winter holiday lore from around the world, as well as a good, humorous read. You can still find all five issues collected in one trade paperback.
The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories
Taken from rare Victorian-era periodicals, this collection of short, terrifying, Christmas-season, ghost stories features works by some very familiar names like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Walter Scott, and others you may not recognize at first. All of these are prime examples of the horror and ghost stories that were so popular on the cold, dark winter nights of the Victorian era. If you can’t get enough of these, this series is up to five volumes, the latest of which came out this year. I recommend getting ahold of all of them.
Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story by R.L. Stine
One of the most rewarding things about Book Flood is it is something the entire family can look forward to. This take on A Christmas Carol by the creator of the Goosebumps series is a short and creepy holiday season selection. Rick Scroogeman (a student at the aptly named Oliver Twist Middle School) hates everything about Christmas, until a nightmarish visit by three ghosts puts him in his place. By the way, keeping a copy of the original Dickens story on hand is always recommended. Take away all of the remakes and spoofs, and it is one scary story.
Santa Claws: A Scary Christmas to All by Laura Leuck, illustrated by Gris Grimly
First off, if you’re not familiar with the illustrations and art of Gris Grimly, you need to remedy that quick. His illustrations are both creepy and jolly, fearsome and fun. He provides the illustrations for Leuck’s macabre parody of Clement Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Two little monster boys get ready for a gruesome visit from Santa Claws. This is suitable for early grade school levels, but fun enough to be enjoyed by everyone.
Christmas Eve is coming quick. Head down to a retail or used bookstore and pick up a fun and spooky holiday or winter read for the Book Flood. This is one new…and old…tradition worth enjoying.