It’s the latest lifestyle craze to hit the UK and has been imported from Denmark, where it’s a tradition that’s embedded in their culture.
With no exact translation in English, it’s better to describe hygge – pronounced hoogah – as the concept of cosiness, comfort, happiness and warmth.
It’s about brightening up the dark winter months and creating a mellow space to snuggle up in and relax with your nearest and dearest.
It’s a sort of hibernation, if you like, without the sleeping bit.
The Danes have been proven to be the world’s happiest nation and some commentators partly put that down to their love of hygge. After all, they endure one of longest winters with short days ending at 3 pm and then the darkest of nights.
So, to survive this they came up with hygge to celebrate all the good things in life.
And now it’s heading over here – in fact, it is one of the top three new words in use this year according to the Collins dictionary.
Good food, hot drinks, candles, cosy blankets, warm socks and a roaring fire are the essentials if you want to practice hygge for yourself.
You also need to put away/turn off your electrical devices, ignore the phone and be in the moment.
Talking, playing board games and sharing snacks are all good hygge-isms. As are reading, cuddling and daydreaming.
There’s no hurrying or worrying in a true hygge household, those in the know are contended with their lot.
It massively appeals to us all here in the Be office, who are known for our nesting tendencies, and we can’t wait to get home and light some votives, stoke up the fire and share tea and cake while the Scottish winter closes in around us.
Happy hygge-ing!
