ON THE FIENDISHLY FUZZY FEATURES OF HYGGE by Astrid Bundgaard
The popularity of the concept of hygge , and the notion that it is somehow particular to my country of birth , Denmark , has always puzzled me .
The word is not even originally Danish . According to experts on such matters , it is derived from Old Norse and made its way to our shores via Norway sometime in the eighteenth century . However , although the word still exists in Norwegian , we managed to nick it , and now it is seen as quintessentially Danish . So every Dane is now automatically supposed to be an expert on the concept .
So what is it ? Indeed , I am often asked by people from foreign lands what hygge is .
I guess the answer depends a bit on who you ask . I tend to define hygge as a mood . After all , the Old Norse word it is derived from meant something akin to “ mind ” or “ thought .” With time , it took on connotations of comfort , coziness , and contentment . There are elements of safety and security in the definition as well . So , to me , it is a state of mind . But not everybody sees it that way .
So . Selling hygge .
Coming from a small country with an open economy and a strong trading tradition , Danes are always on the lookout for the next new thing to hawk to the rest of you . And , of course , at some point , clever marketing people discovered that hygge could be used to sell stuff .
So nowadays you can supposedly buy hygge . To obtain it , a must-have list would include real candles , tasty food and drink , comfortable clothes , and quiet music . Hygge is rarely if ever used in connection with , say , a formal dinner , let alone a heavy metal concert .
If your surroundings then contain some wooden things such as tables and chairs , as well as some woolly items like rugs , pillows , or throws , you are all set . Bare walls are a no-go , and there is no plastic in hygge homes , or at least very little .
Oops , I just did it — or not !
So when I prepared to write this contribution for Currents , I deliberately set out to see if I could create the right atmosphere . I sought out a “ Hyggelig Jazz ” compilation on Spotify , lit two candles , made myself some warm Milchkaffee , gazed at my wooden chairs and the woolly rug on the floor . I even wrapped myself up in a woolly blanket .
So did I feel the hygge coming on ? Not at all !
Instead , I paced around as I usually do when I am about to write something , drinking way too much of the aforementioned Milchkaffee for comfort , eating too much sugary stuff , just out of distraction .
Surrounding oneself with certain things clearly doesn ’ t create this particular brand of Scandi Zen all on its own . Personally , I have had intense moments of hygge reading a book in bed . Sitting in complete silence with a friend on a freezing winter ’ s afternoon looking at swans on a lake . Lunching outside with the Harbor Explorers on a hot summer ’ s day in Hamburg . Just to mention a few examples .
So in my view , hygge doesn ’ t depend on where you are , whether you are alone or with others , what you possess , or which clothes you wear . It ’ s in the way we think . It ’ s in the way we treat ourselves and , not least of all , others . And the good news is : it ’ s not that hard .
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