“ The world is smaller than you think , and the people on it are more beautiful than you think .” -Bertram Van Munster , Producer and Director
Actor and Disney superfan John Stamos posted the lyrics to “ It ’ s a Small World ” on his Instagram account as a way to cope during the COVID 19 pandemic . The song ’ s words , Stamos wrote , assure us “ that though we are divided by the mountains and oceans of geography , language , culture , and politics , the same moon and sun that shines on us here shines on Italy , Spain , and everywhere else in the world .”
Try as Disney might , happiness isn ’ t the same everywhere . “ Tell me how you define happiness , and I ’ ll tell you who you are ,” declared British researchers Harry Walker and Iza Kavedžija , stating that the way people define , measure , and pursue happiness tells us a lot about their lifestyles and values .
What makes people happy in other countries , and how can you incorporate their happiest customs into your own life at home ? For some answers , let ’ s tour some places around the world with a special word for happiness , contentment , and satisfaction with life .
DENMARK
I ’ ll start with Denmark , which consistently ranks among the top two or three happiest countries in the world , according to the annual World Happiness Report . Are the Danes so happy because tuition for education and health care are free or because crime and political corruption in their country is relatively low ? Or is it simply Danish hygge ?
Hygge ( pronounced “ hyoo-guh ”) can be loosely translated as “ cozy contentment ” and relates to a subtle but perceptive ambiance or quality of coziness . Appropriate to Denmark ’ s dismal North Sea climate and 17 hours of daily darkness in winter , hygge is about hunkering down and getting snug , perhaps in your jammies , when it ’ s dark and cold outside . Wintertime is when the Danes light candles , build wood fires , and bring out the warm blankets and fuzzy slippers . To show you how much hygge is part of the Danish mindset , it ’ s the root of three everyday words :
Hyggekrog , or reading nooks ; Hyggebukser , or comfortable pants Hyggesokker , or woolen socks
Danes like to plan “ hyggelig evenings ” that involve cooking together , gathering around the table for a hearty meal , and then clearing the plates and silverware and bringing out board games . While one can curl up by herself when rain is pelting the roof and binge-watch a TV series , hygge is heightened by gathering casually with friends , perhaps in a cozy cabin nestled in the woods , surrounded by snowdrifts . Hygge helps people appreciate the things that matter most in life . The word originates from the 16th- century Norwegian term hugga , which means to comfort or console . It ’ s where we get the word hug .
Hygge helps people appreciate the things that matter most in life .
A hygge craze took root around 2016 here in the US , spawned by nearly two dozen books about getting in touch with your inner Dane
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