Sorting by

×
Skip to main content
Blog

Jólabókaflóð

By November 29, 2017 One Comment

By Jennifer Holberg

I read recently about a very charming holiday tradition that is celebrated in Iceland called jólabókaflóð. Literally: “Christmas book flood.”

I learned that most books are bought in Iceland during the fall after every household is mailed a Bókatíðindi, a catalogue of new books.

Come Christmas Eve when gifts are exchanged, everyone receives a book—and spends the rest of the night reading. Which sounds like a very merry Christmas indeed.

The comparison isn’t exact, I realize, but maybe we could think about a blog such as The Twelve as its own kind of “word flood” (or at least a robust stream)—a place where, day in and day out, our collection of writers tries to engage thoughtfully and faithfully with the world around us. A kind of ongoing Bókatíðindi announcing the latest in culture, the arts, religion, and more.

I guess what I’m asking is for you to help make our own version of jólabókaflóð possible for other readers. We’d be most grateful if you’d include us in your end of the year celebrations with a gift to The Twelve to keep the “word flood” coming.

And as they say in Iceland: “Gleðileg jól!

[callout type=”left” title=”Financially Support The Twelve!” message=”Supporting The Twelve and Perspectives Journal is easier than ever! Get started by clicking on the following button to give a one-time donation today!” button_text=”Donate Today!” href=”https://reformedjournal.com/donate/once” target=”blank”]

Jennifer L. Holberg

I am professor and chair of the Calvin University English department, where I have taught a range of courses in literature and composition since 1998. An Army brat, I have come to love my adopted hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along with my wonderful colleague, Jane Zwart, I am the co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing, which is the home of the Festival of Faith and Writing as well as a number of other exciting endeavors. Given my interest in teaching, I’m also the founding co-editor of the Duke University Press journal Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature, Language, Composition and Culture. My book, Nourishing Narratives: The Power of Story to Shape Our Faith, was published in July 2023 by Intervarsity Press.

One Comment

Leave a Reply