Hygge: Capture the Feeling

Hygge is the sensation you get when you’re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It’s that feeling when you’re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day.

“Hygge,” a Danish term defined as “a quality of coziness and comfort that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Pronounced “hue-guh,” the word is said to have no direct translation in English, though “cozy” comes close. It derives from a sixteenth-century Norwegian term, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” which is related to the English word “hug.”

I find that during these gray and cold winter days that I am reminded that what I really need is to capture the feeling of hygge.  There is nothing fancy, expensive, or luxurious about a pair of ugly woolen hygge socks—and that is a vital feature of hygge. It’s about appreciating the simple pleasures in life and can be achieved on a shoestring budget. Plus, it’s just fun to say. So tonight create your own hygge and light some candles, put on those warm, woolen socks, get under a cozy blanket, and take a sip from your mug with your favorite tea or cocoa.