By Gillian Murphy, G11
The warmth of the crackling fire washes over you as you nestle yourself into a deep pile of blankets, wiggling your toes in comfy socks and wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of tea. This tranquil moment has a dedicated word to capture it: hygge. Or, phonetically, HOO-guh. “Hoo-what now?” you might be asking, but hold on, I’ll explain.
Hygge is a Danish word, or perhaps more accurately, a “Danish way of living.” The definition of hygge is a feeling of coziness, comfort, contentment, and well-being. Even if you have never heard of the word, you have probably had hygge moments before. Both an adjective and a noun, this word gained international fame in 2016 when numerous books were written on the subject, Pinterest boards were dedicated to images that captured the hygge aesthetic, and everyone wanted to jump on the self-care-centered bandwagon. In Denmark it is a centuries-old concept that is well-known to all Danes as an essential part of leading a fulfilling life.
As an approach to being, hygge is not solely about scattered moments of joy. It is focused on always looking on the bright side of things, and carrying a continually optimistic mindset wherever you go. It is about not rushing through the day, but rather, stopping to smell the roses. Hygge is an all-encompassing idea; most aspects of life can be made hygge as long as they meet the important goal of soothing the soul. Baking a cake might be hygge for one person, or perhaps having a small gathering with close friends. The point is that hygge is not difficult to achieve with the proper outlook.
Some examples of Hygge on Pinterest
Let’s take a moment to look beyond what hygge is and examine its impact. On the World Happiness Index (yes, there is such a thing!) Denmark has consistently ranked in the top happiest countries, and in 2019 it snagged the second-place spot. Now, perhaps this is not solely because of hygge (it could have something to do with its universal health care, paid maternity/paternity leave, low crime rate, etc.), but this simple trend reveals the more deep-seated importance of positivity for the Danes. Perhaps this optimism has evolved from withstanding brutal winters and being forced to find joy even in the darker, colder moments, but either way, it is now an essential facet of life in Denmark – and based on the happiness statistics, it is working quite well. Hygge is so important to the Danish that they applied to have it recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
One of the best parts of the hygge trend is how feasible it is to incorporate it into your day. Hygge is about small moments of mindfulness and relaxation, and whether that be lighting a candle in your room, drinking a great cup of coffee, appreciating time with loved ones, or snuggling up with a good book or movie, it can make a world of difference in improving your mood. Even though hygge is often associated with the frigid Danish winter months, that doesn’t mean it can’t be implemented in sunny Cambodia! The important part of hygge is not the external warmth of a fire or a blanket, but rather the internal warmth that a life filled with positivity brings.
If you want to look further into hygge, check out some of the sites below!
www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-year-of-hygge-the-danish-obsession-with-getting-cozy https://www.stylist.co.uk/travel/how-living-danishly-made-me-happier-why-it-can-for-you-too-quality-of-life-denmark-world-happiness/6062 https://www.countryliving.com/life/a41187/what-is-hygge-things-to-know-about-the-danish-lifestyle-trend/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-denmark-unesco/back-hygge-for-happiness-danes-seek-unesco-recognition-idUSKBN1HP1DA