Danish Hygge for True Winter Joy

Denmark consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world, and the reason behind this is often attributed to a concept called “hygge,” pronounced “HUE-gah.”

What exactly is the hygge lifestyle all about? It’s rather difficult to put into words precisely, but it involves practices that make the winter feel cozy, warm, and comforting. We had a chat with Meik Wiking, the founder and chief executive of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, a think tank dedicated to exploring why some societies are happier than others. He helped us better understand the significance of hygge and its benefits.

Hygge is described in various ways depending on who you ask. According to the Hygge House website, it’s a feeling or moment that can be experienced alone or with friends, whether at home or out, and is characterized by coziness, charm, or specialness. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as the quality of being warm and comfortable that brings a sense of happiness. Wiking, the author of “The Little Book of Hygge,” reveals that hygge has been described as everything from the art of creating intimacy to the cosiness of the soul and even cocoa by candlelight. He emphasizes that this concept is deeply ingrained in Danish culture. He told the New York Times that Danes see hygge as an integral part of their culture, just as freedom is inherently American.

Some of the key elements of hygge include togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence, and comfort. Danes have developed hygge to deal with feelings like boredom, coldness, darkness, and mundaneness. While hygge is a year-round concept in Denmark, it’s now becoming a more widely adopted practice to help people around the world get through the dark and cold winter months while maintaining a positive attitude. It’s like creating a sense of warmth and comfort in the midst of what might otherwise be challenging times.

How to Practice Hygge

You can think of hygge as enhancing the ordinary to make it extraordinary. With a mindful focus on and enjoyment of simple moments, Americans could definitely benefit from incorporating more of this into their lives. (America ranked No. 15 in the 2023 world happiness index, while Denmark consistently holds the second spot in terms of happiness rankings.)

Wiking says the true essence of hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness, almost like a mental hug without the physical touch. So, how do you live a “hygge life”? It’s about feeling safe and secure, and you’ll know it when you experience it. It could be snuggling up with a loved one on the sofa on a cold day or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. Here are some examples of hygge practices:

• Reading books while wrapped in warm blankets
• Sitting around a fire sipping a cup of hot cocoa or coffee (Danes are the fourth-largest coffee consumers in the world)
• Enjoying wine by candlelight while having deep conversations
• Cooking a satisfying meal with your family, such as Danish favorites like meat, potatoes, and a healthy dessert
• Going for a walk or bike ride outdoors while wearing cozy socks, gloves, and a hat

Louisa Thomsen Brits, the author of “The Book of Hygge,” suggests creating an atmosphere conducive to hygge by paying attention to details like wooden bowls, cuddling, brushing teeth while your partner does the same nearby, being naked, using vintage textiles, having pendant lights, using circular tables, having burned spatulas, wearing old shoes, and listening to the honking of geese. She believes these small elements can enhance the hygge experience.

Wiking shared an example to help us understand hygge. “One December, just before Christmas, I was spending the weekend with some friends at an old cabin. The surrounding landscape was covered in a blanket of snow, making the shortest day of the year even more beautiful. When the sun set around 4 in the afternoon, and it wouldn’t rise again for 17 hours, we started a fire. We were all tired from hiking and half asleep, sitting in a semicircle around the fireplace in the cabin, wearing big jumpers and wool socks. The only sounds you could hear were the stew boiling, the sparks from the fireplace, and someone sipping their mulled wine. Then one of my friends broke the silence. ‘Could this be any more hygge?’ he asked rhetorically. ‘Yes,’ one of the girls said, ‘if there was a storm raging outside.’ ”

Hygge Principles

Wiking shares his hygge manifesto in his book, which can guide us in incorporating more hygge into our lives. Here are his thoughts and those of other experts on how to enhance our lives:

Atmosphere

• Dim the lights. The most comfortable spaces for hygge are warm, relaxed, and often have a dim lighting.
• Bring out the candles and fireplaces.
• Turn off devices to help you focus.

Togetherness

• Build relationships and share stories. Talk about things like, ‘Do you remember the time we …?’
• Dive into deeper topics that bond people, such as the meaning of life, fears, goals, etc.
• Create a space that is trusting, secure, and supportive.

Gratitude

• Absorb the moment. Slow down and live in the present.
• Understand that this might be as good as it gets.
• Learn to be content instead of always striving for more.

Equality

• Think “we over me.”
• Share the tasks and the attention.
• Practice self-compassion and self-care.

Benefits

What are the benefits of a hygge lifestyle? The main advantage is that it can reduce loneliness and depression while contributing to a greater sense of meaning and happiness in life. It helps us focus on what truly matters in life, such as relationships and purpose. Think of hygge as giving yourself and others a treat, to savor simple moments filled with good food, conversation, and company.

How does hygge impact happiness? Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best: “Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.”

Many people around the world are questioning what defines happiness. It’s a difficult thing to measure and explain. Research suggests that an increasing number of people feel unhappy and “left behind,” especially when there is talk of their country moving forward.

The great thing about hygge is that it’s accessible to everyone and doesn’t require a lot of money. In fact, happiness experts like Wiking hope that hygge can help people better understand that wealth and well-being don’t always go hand in hand. According to research findings, once our basic needs are met, more money doesn’t necessarily lead to more happiness. Instead, we can focus on what brings us a better quality of life.

We know from numerous studies that things like close relationships, gratitude, sharing conversation and food, and being present contribute to happiness in various ways, such as by:

• Increasing feelings of connectedness, security, and kinship to reduce loneliness
• Helping us cope with seasonal affective disorder and the side effects of stress
• Improving relaxation, which can aid in getting better sleep
• Reducing distractions for increased productivity
• Increasing feelings of contentment to counteract anxiety
• Lowering the risk of unhealthy coping mechanisms like excessive drinking or drug use
• Enhancing the quality of life, even for those in difficult situations
• Potentially increasing physical activity if it involves going outside for activities like skating, bike riding, hiking, or walking, which can lower stress levels and boost self-esteem

Conclusion

• What is the concept of hygge? It’s a lifestyle practice that includes elements of togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence, and comfort.
• Hygge is all about creating warm, cozy, and comforting feelings that can contribute to a greater sense of purpose, closer relationships, and happiness in life.
• To bring more hygge into your life, light beeswax candles at home, snuggle up with blankets to stay warm, indulge in clean comfort foods, read books by the fire, and spend a lot of time together sharing stories and savoring the small moments in life. The goal is to focus on being present in the moment.