Happy what?!…

Yes. Jólabókaflóð. It’s a wonderful word once you know its meaning.

Jólabókaflóð is an Icelandic holiday that translates to “Yule Book Flood.” It originated during World War II when foreign imports were restricted, but paper was cheap. Iceland’s population wasn’t large enough to support a year-round publishing industry, so book publishers flooded the market with new titles in the final weeks of the year.

Giving books is not unique to Iceland. After all, they’re a literate bunch. About 93% of Icelanders read at least one book a year, compared to 73% Americans.

But the tradition of exchanging books on Christmas Eve and then spending the evening reading has become a cultural phenomenon.

The holiday season officially kicks off with the delivery of the Bokatidindi—a catalogue of every new book published in Iceland. Think about that… The Iceland Publishers Association distributes a free catalogue of books to every Icelandic home. And they love it!

It’s such a wonderful holiday that many book lovers around the world wish they lived in Iceland on Christmas Eve. The thought of most of the country’s population enjoying a good book with a mug of their favorite hot beverage while waiting for Santa to come down the chimney is deliciously attractive to bookworms everywhere.

At Money & Clarity, we completely get it. Enjoying a good book is one of life’s greatest pleasures. As the Dutch philosopher and Christian scholar, Erasmus, says, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.”

Learning and discovering new ideas helps us develop mentally and often leads to great ideas. Here’s an idea you’ll like: Call us at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online for a quick 15-minute chat. We promise we’ll discover something fascinating together. There are many ways to enjoy life and our commitment to you is to make sure we unearth a flood of them.

Call today and start a new chapter in your life called “Future Financial Freedom.” We’ll provide the hot beverages if you visit us in the office.

Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®