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The Holiday Magic of Jolabokaflod
Say it ten times fast — and then give this Icelandic tradition a try
The Nordic way of life seems to have grown in popularity in recent years. I suddenly find myself surrounded by folks who can not only properly pronounce the word “hygge” (HOO-guh), but school me on its practice. Bake more rolls, you say? Light more scented candles? Happily! Never have my many homemade quilts been so trendy! (Thanks, Grandma.)
I am very easily persuaded when it comes to such delights as curling up in one of my cozy sweaters and reading a good book.
Speaking of books, let me know if you have as easy a time enunciating this one…
Jolabokaflod.
Yep. Try again.
“YO-lah-BO-kah-flot”
Delightful, isn’t it? The word is almost as delightful as its meaning.
Yule Book Flood.
To my ever imaginative (and Catholic-raised) mind, this roughly manifests itself as a mental image of Noah’s Ark rising afloat on a colorful and heavy tide of leather-bound tomes. An endless sea of ink and pages drowning all of creation while the Ark itself is decked in holiday greenery and red velvet ribbon.
