Did you know that the people of Iceland have a tradition of giving books to each other on Christmas Eve and then they spend the rest of the night reading? This sounds like a perfect opportunity for some hot chocolate, cozy pajamas, and a warm fire.
A book is a gift that keeps on giving.
They allow adults to learn something new. An adolescent to escape into a fictional world. And children to learn new words. Some books are read over and over again to the point the reader knows the story by heart. Others are passed down from generation to generation. A book is a way to open imagination for little kids or for family members to connect over a favorite place.
For me, reading is a favorite place. It is called escape. Not that I want to escape my life because I every dream I ever had came true in ways even better than I imaged. But I love to travel and escape is a favorite location.
Giving the gift of reading can become a tradition in your family.
You can choose to give a book as a gift on Christmas Eve and then read it together that night. There may be a favorite story you read year after year. Our youngest liked to read The Night Before Christmas to the family every year. Older children may even want to pick a book to pass down to a younger sibling or friend as a gift (as an added bonus, it makes room for new books for them!).
Depending on where you purchase your books from, many companies will send a book or books to underprivileged children so that they too can enjoy the joy that comes from reading. In other stores, you can purchase a book as a donation to a collection box or drive. As an example, customers at the Barnes and Noble location in Union Square in New York can purchase a new book and donate it to the New York Public Library. This is a great way to teach children about helping others.
My 90-year-old mama and I exchange books. Once we’ve both read a book, it is donated. Mama loves reading and she loves donating books. Pre-COVID-19, I flew from Arizona to Oklahoma with a suitcase filled with books. I emptied the books at Mama’s house and refilled the suitcase with books from her. With COVID precautions, our books are piling up. I’m really missing my mama and our book exchanges.
Giving books can help bring us together.
In a year where we’ve spent so much time apart, books can bring us together this holiday season. Send a story that was your favorite growing up to a younger member of the family. Did you learn something new this year? Buy a book on the topic and send it to a person you think would like to learn about it too. Dreaming of your next trip with family or friends? Find a book on a place you’d like to visit and gift it to those you want to go with so you can plan together.
