The holidays are upon us and for Danes that means the high season for “hygge”!
What is hygge? Well, it has nothing to do with Black Friday or Christmas bargain shopping. It’s not even about gifts, except perhaps the gift of sharing someone’s company.
Danish flag
There is no adequate English translation, and most non-Danes, like myself, have trouble even pronouncing the word! It is most often translated as cozy or coziness, but it is much more than that. Some say the best way to understand hygge is to look at the definition of its opposite, “uhyggeligt”, which is defined as anything from cheerless and uncomfortable to sinister and alarming.
I once had the good fortune to live in Denmark and study at the university, and I have returned to visit many times since. The Danish family I lived with best explained hygge to me by exclaiming in the moment, “Bill, this is hyggelig (hygge-like)!” The first time this occurred was at a candlelit dinner at their home on a dark autumn evening. The meal was delicious and the conversation between the four of us warm and engaging. I began to see that hygge was subtle and somewhat individual, but it was social nirvana to Danes.
Hygge is a sense of peaceful well being and contentment expressed in a state of comfort and warmth often (but not always) in the company of loved ones. A loving and agreeable person can be described as “hyggelig” and a memorable time with friends might be “hyggeligt”. Experiencing hygge is common at Danish summer or holiday houses in the country or near the sea, but it can happen anywhere.
At its essence, hygge is a state of thought–one that turns us from the fast pace and complexity of modern society to slow down and celebrate the joy and simplicity of life.
According to a recent report on stress, the Danish pursuit of hygge and peaceful contentment may also be a healthy one.
Denmark had not been my first choice as a place to study abroad. The Danish language is difficult, the landscape unremarkable and the weather is often cold and gray. My preference had been to study in Italy. Yet, my year studying in Copenhagen was one of the best of my life and it changed me forever. I found it no surprise that Forbes.com reported the Danish people as the happiest on earth. The love and pursuit of hygge may be a significant reason.
From my experience, hygge has always had a spiritual quality to it–one that glimpses the divine goodness embracing each of us. To me, it’s somewhat like the biblical passage, ”Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Danes may call it hygge, but we’re all capable of seeing the good in our lives and experiencing the same intimate peace and warmth. This year, enjoy a warm fire or some holiday candles and have a very “hyggelig” holiday season!
This article first appeared on Blogcritics.com
Love this! [ Thanks Ruth, it was fun to write. ]
HI Bill! What a wonderful message to communicate warmth and joy of folks together sharing and caring!!! Thank you for giving such an enlightening expression of good that out reaches to all. Warmest Wishes to you! [ Thanks Karen - holiday wishes to you also! ]
Great article Bill – and have a hygge Christmas!
John [ Thank's John - same to you! ]
This was interesting, because I have known as sense of hygge, all my life, and I thought it was the result of being raised in a loving Christian Science home. Now I realize it may have been at least partially based the attitude of my grandparents, who were Danish. But, being raised in Christian Science in a loving home with the support of all the Danish family (my grandparent had 13 children and many relatives ) is a wonderful God-derived heritage. Thanks for the new insight! [ Thanks for your comment Charmian! - Bill ]
Hi Bill: Here is a real family example of hygge. Last Christmas day in 2010, we gathered at Cousin Bruce and Anne’s house in Petaluma. I think there were 8 of us in Bruce’s family (ours) and about 4 in Anne’s and about 4 in Aunt Dotties family. 15-16 in all..We sat down to eat at 4 PM and we did not get up until 8PM! We ate, we talked, we played a fun game that Carmen led: “name the person some tapped to my forehead”. I have been to holiday dinners where it takes 30 minutes to eat and everyone then goes and watches football on TV. The interaction is so minimal I sometimes wonder why people even bother. This particular afternoon and evening was so relaxing and enjoyable. No stress. Every meal I ever had in Denmark was hyggelig. Cousin Thomas even asked once: Is it true that Americans actually go out and just drink without eating together? He could not get his mind around it. Thanks for your article. I do agree that the hygge environment is very healthy. [ Thanks Nina! - Bill ]
Hygge simply means a feeling of well-being during spending time with people you like. In other words, being cosy. Nothing special to Denmark, which is a cold, depressing, racist little country. [ No country is perfect, but my experience has been far from your description! Thanks for sharing. Bill ]