Have you heard of ‘Hygge’? You’ve probably seen the word bandied about for the last couple of years, but what exactly is Hygge? Not so easy to pronounce but very easy to do!
hygge
/ˈh(j)uːɡə,ˈhʊɡə/
noun
noun: hygge
1. a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).
"why not follow the Danish example and bring more hygge into your daily life?"
Winter (even Autumn) can be a cold, dark miserable time and a change in seasons often has a negative effect on people, so an ideal time to try practicing Hygge, although it can be practised at any time of year. If, like me, you spend a lot of time at home it’s important that you feel relaxed and comfortable there.
How to Hygge at home
Texture is a big part of Hygge so add cuddly soft blankets/throws/cushions to your home to automatically make a room cosier. Some people create a cosy little corner known as a hyggekrog, a great place to snuggle under a blanket and read a book.
Be comfortable, an excuse to wear your lovely fluffy PJ’s! There’s lots of loungewear about for men and women so you can definitely find something that’s both comfortable and trendy and don’t forget some warm socks!
A foundation of Hygge is lighting. Candles are perfect as you should avoid harsh/bright lighting, the warm lighting is soothing and if you don’t have an open fire watching candlelight flickering is relaxing. There are also lots of lovely aromatherapy candles to help your mood. I personally love a warm cinnamon or vanilla fragrance in Winter and during Summer I like a fresh lavender or floral scent. Of course at Christmas you have the perfect lighting with twinkly fairy lights, I actually have white fairy lights in my kitchen which I put on at night rather than use the harsh kitchen lights so you can use them all year round.
Move your furniture. Yes, it sounds weird but pushing sofas closer together, maybe facing each other makes for a cosy atmosphere.
What else is Hygge?
Warm drinks, pretty much any food or drink that’s warm is Hygge. Coffee, tea, herbal tea etc, or indulge in an occasional hot chocolate as a real treat, or maybe a lovely mulled wine. There is a British tea company that sells Danish pastry, Apple Strudel, Chocolate brownie and Around the fire teas, all perfect for Hygge!
Food. Anything that is warm and comforting, the foods you can cook all day such as stew, soup, chilli are perfect. Baking is also considered Hygge, you get that lovely baking smell followed by the joy of eating it. Bread, pastries (Danish pastry!), muffins, biscuits – all good for Hygge. Try baking/cooking together, especially with children, it’s a lovely way to spend time on a cold rainy day.
Hygge together. Put your gadgets away and just enjoy each other’s company. Maybe play a game or just sit and chat, it’s a time to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company. You can also invite friends round and again just chat or have a games night. I always tell my friends to bring their PJ’s when they visit, we then all change and sit about relaxing with a drink and a snack.
Hygge alone. It’s the prefect way to destress, take some time out for yourself, relax and read a book, write in your journal or just listen to some music. We all rush around too much so it can be as simple as just sitting with a coffee and nothing else, no gadgets/social media etc, just a few moments for you to savour your coffee in peace and quiet.
Hygge outdoors. In general Hygge is associated with indoors but it’s also about connecting with nature. Spending a little time outdoors (snuggled up in soft jumpers/scarves/hats, reconnect with nature. You can also bring outdoors in with pot plants or by adding wooden accents such as flooring and furniture or even stone items and shells.
Hygge regularly. Fredagsmys is pretty much the most holy tradition of Sweden. The word origins from two words; “fredag” and “mys”, which roughly translates to Friday and cosy, so Friday cosiness! Every Friday, all Swedes drive by the supermarket to buy ingredients for tacos (taco may not sound Scandinavian, but it is), crisps and dip (also pick and mix style sweets and chocolate). Then, they all sit down in their sofas with their families or friends and watch TV.
Denmark is said to be the happiest country in the World, maybe it’s because of their ability to Hygge during the long Winter months?
Angie Davidson
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