In Iceland, Christmas Eve and books belong together. Inspired by that tradition, the All Things Nordic collection offers a gift for every curious reader: festive stories, remarkable words, imagined conversations and journeys across the North.
Start with the Christmas Eve book flood
Inspired by Iceland’s Jólabókaflóð, Jólabókaflóð 2026: The All Things Nordic Almanac brings much of the ATN world into one illustrated annual reader. Stories, essays, literary extracts, traditions and photographs take you from the Faroe Islands to Sweden, Finland and beyond. It is the ideal first gift for someone who has yet to discover the collection — and a book to open on Christmas Eve.
For someone who loves Nordic Christmas
Hilda Lainen’s expanded Christmas in the Nordic Countries explores the traditions, celebrations and folklore that fill the Northern winter with light. Give it to a reader who would happily follow Christmas from country to country, perhaps with a future winter journey to Iceland in mind. It is also available in hardcover.
For someone dreaming of Denmark
Hilda Lainen’s Christmas in Denmark brings the festive focus to one country: candles, shared tables and the warmth of gathering while winter settles outside. Pair it with Christmas in the Nordic Countries for a gift that travels from Danish homes and the lights of Copenhagen to the wider Nordic world. It is also available in hardcover.
For a Christmas story to share
In The Night the Yule Cat Saved the Yule Goat, Hilda Lainen brings two figures from Nordic Christmas folklore together in an original tale. It is a gift to open with a younger reader and enjoy aloud during the holidays. An Italian edition is available too.
For a reader fascinated by language
What do the words people use reveal about the lives they lead? Ingrid Hanssøn’s Nordic Words explores ideas from across the North through the language used to express them. Give it to someone curious about Nordic culture, from everyday life to the ways people understand community and nature. The English edition is also available in hardcover; there is an Italian edition for readers who prefer it.
For someone drawn to Icelandic sagas
Jon Andreas Gunnarsson’s Introducing Hrafnkell’s Icelandic Saga opens a door onto medieval Icelandic storytelling. It makes a gift for a reader whose curiosity about Iceland reaches beyond its landscapes and into the literature people have passed down.
For someone who enjoys an unexpected meeting of minds
Petter Danielssen’s Conversations That Never Happened imagines encounters between figures from Nordic history and culture. Choose it for someone who likes distinctive personalities, surprising connections and the pleasure of asking what remarkable people might have said if they had met.
For the food lover
Lumi Nordströmm’s Eating the North follows the connections between food, place, climate and tradition. It is a gift for the cook, the traveller or anyone who believes a meal can tell a story about where it comes from. Tuck a recipe you would like to make together inside the wrapping.
For the traveller
Alma Skovby’s Jutland: The Soul of Continental Denmark invites readers to discover Denmark’s peninsula through its landscapes, towns and character. For someone who likes to travel first through images, Marit Kari Solberg’s Oslo: Where the Fjord Meets the Future offers a photographic encounter with Norway’s capital — and perhaps a reason to explore Oslo in person.
For the sports fan
Petter Danielssen’s The Nordic Game: Sports Across Scandinavia and the North is for someone whose interest in sport comes with curiosity about the places and people behind it. It opens another route into the Nordic world, alongside ATN’s books on history, culture and travel.
Make it their own Nordic book flood
Begin with the Jólabókaflóð 2026 almanac, then add a title chosen for the person receiving it. A Christmas enthusiast might love the two Hilda Lainen Christmas books; a curious traveller might prefer Nordic Words and Jutland. Explore the complete ATN Book Catalogue for every title and its purchase link. For a gift in hardcover, choose Christmas in the Nordic Countries, Christmas in Denmark or the English edition of Nordic Words, and check the delivery date shown for your location before ordering.
Suggested Online Sources
ATN Book Catalogue · Jólabókaflóð 2026 · Christmas in Denmark · Christmas in the Nordic Countries
