Bikes of New York (Part 6)

Amuse-bouche:

Roommate, doing laundry: “I decided just to put in my clothes, so I didn’t throw those other towels in there like I said I would.”

Me: “Who’s Mike Lowe?”

Today’s Wonderful Word: “Jolabokaflod.”

Definition: an Icelandic tradition in which books are given as Christmas presents and opened on December 24, after which the evening is spent reading the books.

Etymology: “Jolabokaflod” was first recorded in English between 2015 and 2020. “Jolabokaflod” comes from Icelandic Jólabókaflóðið, literally meaning “(the) Christmas book flood,” with Icelandic Jól meaning “Christmas,” a cognate of English “Yule.” “Jolabokaflod” has been a tradition in Iceland since 1944, when the country gained its independence from Denmark during World War II and paper was not being rationed like other goods.

Example: As midnight approached, the quiet hum of pages turning filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere during jolabokaflod.