Hygge? Higgie? Hoogah? Huh?
Recently someone described my profile picture as "the epitome of hygge."
Huh? So, I did a little research on this Danish concept (pronounced hoo-gah) for coziness as a life philosophy and realized that I should probably just move to Denmark. I am really all about cozy. Books, coffee, blankets, sweaters, board game nights, pastries-- those are all my jam (served with jam- yum!). Even the negative aspects of Danish society which, according author Aksel Sandemoseto, include that “you are not to think you are special” and “you are not to think you are good at anything,” are already kind of my mantra, for better or for worse. In the US they recommend therapy for thinking this way, but sounds like in Denmark I’d fit right in.
To learn a little more I picked up The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking.
Essentially, it’s a Real Simple magazine article turned into a cute little book, a hyggebog if you will. Wiking details how to be cozy (hot drinks! candles! wool socks!) interspersed with data on happiness research, recipes and homey places to visit in Copenhagen. For people not up on the latest happiness research, Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest nations in the world. “How can this be?” wondered Wiking, given Denmark’s bad weather and high taxes? He does give some credit to the welfare state saying “We are not paying taxes, we are investing in our society. We are purchasing quality of life.” He notes that universal health care, free education and a well -functioning society all contribute to happiness, but that many of the Nordic countries share those features. What puts Denmark ahead of the rest? The answer is hygge.
Most of the book is not so much about why to hygge, but how to hygge. Although the accoutrements of hygge-- the warm light, natural materials, soft blankets, books and coffee all factor in, the most important aspect of hygge is a comfort in togetherness. This translates to small groups, casual get togethers and communal activities. Things like potlucks, campouts and movie nights at home are preferable to nightclubs or big parties. Political discussions are saved for other times. According to Wiking’s research 3-4 people is the perfect sized group for a hygge gathering. I really connected to the idea that planning hygge gatherings is a way to make socializing more comfortable for introverts and a country that places a high value on hygge is a happier place for everyone. The book goes on to describe hygge gatherings for every sort of season, but concedes that nothing beats winter-time hygge.
And it's almost winter in Los Angeles, meaning the weather finally dropped below 70 degrees. So I am putting on my wool socks, cooking up a pot of Skibberlabskovs and calling up a couple old friends for some Settlers of Catan. Time to get our hygge on.
What do you think? Is the hygge hype in the US just a way for stores to sell more candles or can this concept really increase our happiness?