The Nordic roots of Jólabókaflóðið

Why Books Make Beautiful Gifts in Norway

• Literacy and reading culture are strong. Nordic countries consistently rank high in literacy, reading engagement, and library use. The simple act of gifting a book carries more than a story—it carries shared values: time together, learning, imagination. 

• “Koselig” matters. The Norwegian concept of koselig (coziness, warmth, connection) permeates family rituals—especially during the long, dark winter evenings. A shared book-gift and reading evening ticks many of those boxes: quiet, warm, comfortable, meaningful.

• Gifting becomes relational. When you select a book for someone else, you’re saying: You matter. I know your interests. I’m giving you time and story. That intentionality is part of the appeal.

How Norwegian Families Are Putting It Into Practice

Here’s how you might see this tradition showing up in Norwegian homes—and how you can borrow the idea for your own.

• On or around Christmas Eve or during the holiday season, each family member receives a book (or books) as a gift.

• After the gifts are opened, the evening transitions to reading: by the fireplace or around the tree, probably with cocoa or a warm drink, maybe a candle.

• Everyone quietly reads their new book—or sometimes someone reads aloud to the group. The focus isn’t on rushing; it’s on being together, absorbing the story, enjoying the moment.

• Some families make it extra by wrapping the book, pairing it with a reading accessory (cozy socks, bookmark, blanket), or setting aside a specific “book time.”

• It’s casual, but meaningful: not rigid, not tournament-level. More memory-making than rules.

Steps to Start Your Own Norwegian-Inspired Book-Giving Ritual

1. Pick the date. Christmas Eve works beautifully (as in Iceland) but it could be any cozy winter night.

2. Choose your gifts. Wrap a book for each person—or set up a book exchange where each gives one book to another.

3. Set the scene. Dim lights, seat everyone comfortably, have warm drinks and soft background sounds.

4. Read together or silently. Decide whether you’ll read aloud (great for younger kids) or simply settle in individually but share the time.

5. Reflect. After reading, you might invite everyone to share a sentence about what they like so far, or what they hope the story will bring.

6. Keep it screen-free. The power lies in the voices, the pages, the family time—not the gadgets.

Why This Ritual Aligns with the Read To Me Recordable Book Buddy

The Read To Me Recordable Book Buddy, plugs directly into this kind of book-giving ritual:

• It emphasizes voice, connection, and story—perfect for the cozy reading vibe.

• If a loved one can’t be present (travel, deployment, distance), the Book Buddy enables them to still participate in the reading ritual.

• Integrating the Book Buddy transforms a holiday gift into an ongoing reading habit—a key part of the Norwegian/Nordic ethos of “reading as shared time.”

Final Thoughts

The concept of “give a book, share a story, make a memory” doesn’t need to be limited to Iceland. Norway shares the same values of coziness, reading, and relational gift-giving. By adopting even a version of it—a deliberate book-gift, a reading evening, a book-ish holiday rhythm—you bring richness, connection, and literature into the heart of a season.

Whether you’re giving the Book Buddy or simply picking thoughtful books for others, you’re participating in something meaningful. In a busy world of toys and screens, you’re giving the gift of stories, family, and time.