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Hygge (pronounced like HOO-ga) is one of those untranslatable foreign words that suggests a way of thinking that Americans just don't quite grasp (but a fun attempt to define it is here). It roughly translates to coziness, contentment, and lack of anything unpleasant. It can be found in quiet conversations with friends, in candles, fireplaces, fuzzy slippers, a glass of wine, warm blankets, or steaming coffee. A hyggeligt (the adjective form of hygge) environment is your safe haven.
In Denmark, hygge is practically a survival strategy in the long, cold, and very dark winters. The sun goes down around 4 p.m. and doesn't rise again until mid-morning. That means that anyone who is employed in the traditional working hours has little opportunity to experience daylight. And this deprivation drags on for months.
This sounds like a recipe for depression, yet Danes are constantly rated among the world's happiest people. As many have suggested, hygge may play a key role. And, unlike universal health care, generous parental leave, and subsidized college education, the beauty of hygge is that it's something we can easily import to States.
Creating Hygge at Home
Want to have a more hyggeligt winter? Want to transform the dark, cold months into something to anticipate and savor rather than something to grimly endure? Here are some tips:
Start with a little self-experimentation. Look around your home and note what spaces and items make you feel most content and at peace. What is it about these spaces? And what spaces make you feel tense or unhappy? Those might need some addressing. (For example, right now there is a huge stack of books and papers under my coffee table. Every time I see them, I feel a little tense as I'm reminded of the work I'm not doing. Definitely not hygge!)
Start by checking in with yourself and coming up with your personal definition of hygge. And get your family in on the discussion too! Here are some great tips for working hygge into family life.
Think carefully about the spaces you inhabit. Is your home welcoming? Warm? Cozy? Danes generally don't go for big, sprawling spaces but instead pay thoughtful attention to details: lighting, books, meaningful possessions. Less clutter. There are no hard-and-fast rules here (but if you want some ideas, just type "hygge" into Pinterest, or check out this piece). Hyggifying your home is possible at any income level and, at most, may require purchasing a new lamp or two. You don't need to get fancy. In fact...
Remember, hygge is most definitely not fancy. It's not pretentious or status-conscious. No judgment, no posturing. Cast aside your need for perfection. Don't put off inviting people over because you still have to replace those broken kitchen tiles or perfect your recipe for coq au vin. Sharmi Albrechtsen, who frequently blogs about Danish happiness, once told me that trying to one-up or impress your friends and family with fancy food and drink is pretty much the opposite of hygge, as it doesn't foster warm feelings at all. Instead, hygge is modest, comforting, and familiar. This recent trend, then, might just be perfect.
Don't hibernate. Stay social. Winter can foster a real sense of isolation as we hunker down and close the world out. But Danes stay social in the winter, having small gatherings, going to snug cafes, and getting really, really psyched for Christmas. Christmas is huge in Denmark. It seems as if all of December is spent gearing up - preparing food, decorating, visiting friends. And the big event? With the lighting, music, family, friends, and traditional foods, you might say it's hygge at its finest.
Want to read more about hygge and related concepts? Here's a fascinating take on how people can thrive in harsh winters around the Arctic Circle (in Norway, but many of the ideas are similar). Author and reluctant Denmark transplant Helen Russell explores hygge and Danish happiness in The Year of Living Danishly. And I can't wait to see what Danish happiness researcher Meik Wiking has to say in the forthcoming Little Book of Hygge.
Happy winter!
