The Christmas book flood
A few years ago, my husband and I decided to end the traditional gift giving that dominated our holiday season. It felt like overkill to choose, wrap and give bushels of gifts to each other when we didn’t really need anything. So, after a bit of research (and learning about the Icelandic tradition of giving books as presents, Jólabókaflóðið, which roughly translates into English as “the Christmas book flood”), a new tradition was born … the three gifts of Christmas. Following the formula of gifting loved ones something to wear, something to do and something to read saves us time and money every holiday season.
But even better? It allows us to spend more time with each other, which, to me, is what matters most. We open our books on Christmas Eve and spend time reading, the lights of our tree creating the ultimate cozy vibe as our daughter sits between us. This quiet tradition has become my favorite way to celebrate the holidays. Choosing the perfect books for my husband and daughter has brought me so much joy that this year I’ve decided to expand my book giving to everyone on my list. To me, books are the perfect gift: They’re entertaining, can be used again and again, and, most importantly, they’re easy to wrap!
If you’re feeling bookish this year, scroll through the arrows above to find a few top choices for everyone on your list.
