“Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down.” –Meik Wiking, The Little Book Of Hygge: Danish Secrets To Happy Living.
Did you know that according to statistics, the Danish are the happiest group of people in the world? But how and why you may ask… Well, many believe it to be because of a 5 letter word called; Hygge. (pronounced Hoo-ga) While Hygge didn’t originate in the Danish language, It was the Danes who fell in love with the concept and essentially spread the word beginning in the early 1800s and never looked back…
What is Hygge? Hygge can be described as, a sense of warmth, togetherness, and wellbeing. To give you a more formal definition of the word, The Oxford Dictionary describes Hygge as follows: A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or wellbeing. While there is no exact definition of Hygge it is most easily described as a cozy feeling while enjoying the simple things in life. Practicing Hygge is essentially living in a way that makes you feel safe, comforted, happy. It is the small habits or rituals that bring great joy and contentment to our lives.
While Hygge was pretty much instituted in Denmark, you DO NOT have to be from here to practice it! Many people embrace this way of living all over the world who have absolutely no ties to the Danish culture.
Before we get into it I wanted to give you a little background on myself and my ties to Hygge/Denmark. For those who don’t know, I am 50 percent Danish. My mom was born and raised in Denmark and came to the US in her early twenties. Although her immediate family still resides there, She loved the states so much that she stayed. There are many traditions that our family would practice growing up. (Especially around the holidays) Some are traditional and others are specific to the Danish culture. Ex. My mom used to make these little shrimp sandwiches that I loved as well as another danish dish called risengrod (it is essentially rice pudding topped with cinnamon and sugar) My mouth is watering just thinking about it…Growing up we used to celebrate our Danish Christmas on Christmas Eve. We would open our gifts from my grandparents in Denmark that evening and celebrate. We would also make paper snowflakes with my mom around the holiday time. It was one of my favorite traditions/activities as a young girl. Now, with a family of my own, I have chosen to take some of them and implement them into my family. While these traditions aren’t what this blog post is about, I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge all of the special moments that give me that “cozy” feeling which is what so many of the Danish traditions embrace.
Below I describe my version of Hygge and how I practice it in my life. I talk about the things that make me feel relaxed, cozy, safe and comforted…I hope that maybe this post will inspire you to come up with your own special ritual of Hygge!
Setting The Mood
*Lighting candles.
I love to burn several candles at a time. Whether it be during dinner or around the house during the day. It adds such a feeling of relaxation and warmth. Fun fact: It is said that Danes are Europes biggest consumers of candles burning through 13 pounds (per person) per year of candles! I think I now know where my love for candles comes from….
*Dimming down the lights at night or turning them off altogether and using low-lit lamps.
There is nothing I dislike more than a bright white light. Bright overhead lights are a no-no when it comes to Hygge. I have switched a lot of our lamps in the house to a low-light amber bulb. It gives off the coziest vibes. When we lived in our apartment with 0 light dimmers these were amazing. I buy General Electric VintaAline Spiral Amber LED Light Bulb White 60W. $8.49 From Target. I know that there is a time and a place for bright lights, but when I am in relaxation mode which is usually at night, this is the type of vibe I am going for.
*String lights.
Ahh, string lights. One of my favorite things ever to set the mood…and I’m not talking about in the bedroom! I love using these cute little lights in different spaces of our home throughout the year. (Not just Christmas time.) They add such a comfy embrace during a movie night or on a rainy day.
*Light a fire.
Oh, how I missed having a fireplace when we were living in our apartment…In our previous home, we used our fireplace for over half of the year. What is more intimate than a warm fire on a cold winter’s night?
Things That Bring Extra Comfort & Coziness
*Snuggling up in bed with my favorite book.
*Watching a great tv series with my husband.
*A paper and pen. I love writing down my goals for the future, meaningful quotes, and creating handwritten lists/ meal plans. There is something about a handwritten note that is so much more powerful.
*A big, cozy, furry blanket is a must! We have a big faux fur blanket that my mom got us for Christmas one year from ANTHROPOLOGY that we love. It is big enough for our whole family to snuggle up in and is a staple for a movie night.
*Big comfy socks or slippers to wear around the house.
* An oversized soft sweater. This is one of my favorite winter staple wardrobe pieces, whether it be an open-faced longer sweater or a big chunky wool sweater.
*A favorite piece of furniture in your home…Whether it be a big chair or a cozy corner on your couch. When we were living in New York we had a large chair nestled into one of the corners near a window overlooking Battery Park. I loved to read a book there or just cuddle up with a cup of hot tea.
Food & Drink That Warm My Heart
“Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people eat together.” -Guy Fieri
Preparing a home-cooked meal for family and friends is hands down one of my favorite ways to incorporate more hygge into my life. I love to cook. Especially for the people that I love. Knowing that I am nourishing their bodies with love and healthy food brings me so much joy. Lately, I have been preparing soups and stews in my instant pot or slow cooker. Soup tops the list of my favorite comfort foods. I could eat it year-round and am one of those people who can eat hot soup in the summer on a 90-degree day…
One of my favorite nightly traditions, an hour or so after dinner is to make a hot cup of a hot tea or mushroom hot chocolate. It helps me relax and unwind and is much healthier than the old glass of wine at night habit. I do enjoy an occasional glass of wine but don’t like making it a nightly occurrence.
So, in conclusion, while these may not be the exact definitions of Hygge, They are my interpretations and how I implement it into my life. If you take away one thing from this post, let it be, to make sure that you are regularly incorporating little habits or rituals into your life that make YOU feel good, safe, and comforted.
“Strive to make everyday the best day of your life, because there is no good reason not too.”-Hal Elrod
