There have been a number of articles popping up on the internet over the past few months about the Danish concept of hygge.
Pronounced "hooga," "higga" or "HYU-gah," this word is more of concept in the Danish culture that is best translated to, what we would call, "quality time."
But in discussions with my Danish friend and some of the Danes that I've met in the last year, hygge is more than just quality time spent with your family.
Hygge is a feeling of contentment, of happiness and of Christmas time.
Hygge is a mug of hot chocolate after snowshoeing with friends.
Hygge is an afternoon sitting around with your loved ones and everyone is happily reading.
Hygge is comfort in people.According to my friend, hygge is hardly ever experienced by yourself but always in the company of others.
Etymologically speaking, the word hygge is actually a co-opted Norwegian word that showed up in the Danish language around the 18th century that evolved to cover an entire cultural mindset or practice in Denmark.
Considering that both Norway and Denmark have been consistently ranked among the "happiest" of countries on various internet polls and studies (as far as you can measure happiness), I think that the hygge concept should be explored more in Canada, and in Prince George.
Thinking of hygge over the past few days, I have been attempting to recognize our Prince George instances of hygge that are a cozy, standard of the winters here.
I have come up with a few examples: after sledding with the kids and all the snowpants are off and dripping little puddles, there is a quiet moment while our cold fingers are being warmed by the mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Everyone has red cheeks and are tired and smiling.
Another: the smell of homemade cookies baking in the oven and then eating them together.
And another: an evening walk with a friend and the moments in between the conversation where the only sound is the crunching steps of your winter boots on the packed snow.
I have read that hygge can be described as a mood and by recognizing the instances of hygge in your life, you can create more hygge and generally become a happier person.
Apparently, people in Norway and Denmark get excited about the winter and the cold months.
With a few exceptions, the people that I know generally complain about the winter and count it down until it's over.
January is a challenging month for many people who deal with seasonal affective disorder or who are susceptible to the January "blues" and I'm wondering how much of it is because our culture hasn't embraced winter and these hygge moments.
For myself, I have been noticing how exceptionally beautiful the winter has been this year; the eerie twilight reflecting off the snowy tree limbs and our resident little brown birds that overwinter here and flock together to snack on the poplar buds.
I have enjoyed sledding and warming up with my family.I have noticed how lovely it is to curl up with a blanket and read a good book.I have noticed my enjoyment in doing nothing but sitting and cuddling with my family.
I love words.
Hygge is a great word.
We should steal it and start noticing our own hygge as it happens.
