Imagine a Christmas Eve where the crackle of a fireplace, the scent of hot cocoa, and the rustle of wrapping paper all revolve around one magical thing: books. Welcome to Iceland's ...

or “Christmas Book Flood,” a Christmas Eve tradition popular in Iceland. Each member of the family receives a new book on Christmas Eve and can spend the evening engrossed in reading.

Forget Santa: Icelandic children are visited at Christmas by 13 mischievous trolls or “Yule Lads”, the offspring of a murderous ogress called Grýla. Every year, children leave shoes in their ...