I left my home country Denmark four days before my 50th birthday, to settle in the Spanish Pyrenees. So, to say that I have 50 years of experience in the art of living the Hygge life, would be a lie. I do think however, that I still have quite a long relationship with this way of living, that year after year is a strong contributor to bringing the Danish population at the very top of most international happiness surveys.
With the ambition of inspiring our guest and readers, I would therefore like to introduce you to my very best insights and experiences with this lifestyle, that is known to increase the perceived quality of life, so undoubtful necessary in a time where an increased number of people report a falling sense of joy and happiness in their lives.
After best ability, we have tried to implement this feeling of hygge in the Minds & Mountains Eco Lodge, as we believe it holds some very interesting, well documented, and valuable elements in the pursuit of a happy and meaningful life, as well as elements of great potential to a more sustainable future.
As Hygge comes in many shapes and forms, I shall start by saying that this article will not cover all aspects of Hygge. A more detailed discussion would require a longer piece of writing, which is already available for those interested in learning more.
I will however point in the direction, and hope to raise curiosity, by highlighting what I in short feel is the very essence of Hygge, which can be put into the following areas.
Let me begin with the most important and immediately noticeable element : the lightning
Hygge lightning
if you ever find your way to our Eco Lodge, you will notice the sure absence of direct bright light. To a Dane, this would feel the same way, as a vampire feels about direct sunlight. To create a hygge atmosphere, you will need a lot of candlelight, combined with dimmed lightning, from various well positioned, and best-case vintage lamps. Denmark holds a very clear world record in the consumption of candlelight per capita; the Danes burn an impressive 6 kilo of pr. year. Funny enough, the second largest consumer of candlelight is Austria, where Doro comes from, so you can imagine why we are known as the “Candlelight couple” here in Spain.
In Denmark, living candles are here, there and everywhere, all year round, creating that special cozy dimmed lightning, which sets the very foundation for creating a hygge atmosphere.
If the candlelight burns out, you must surely be able to create similar lightning with one of the many special designer lamps, that most Danes have grown up with, due to the many famous Danish lamp designers, such as Arne Jacobsen and Poul Henningsen. Even the most low-budget student in Denmark, will make sure to have the small apartment lit up by a designer vintage lamp, as true hygge will be almost impossible to create without.
Dressed for Hygge
The word Hygge, is in Denmark possible to be put in front of many words. That also count for clothing, where the perhaps most common phrase is “Hygge trousers”. The hygge trousers, is often somewhat baggy and worn-out cotton trousers, worn by most Danes when they want to feel relaxed, and just cuttle up in a “hygge-corner” of their home, with a good book, calm music, and the inevitable cup of tea or coffee. These trousers are amazingly enough also more than welcome in various social settings. If you are inviting friends and want to make sure to have a relaxed and non-formal gathering, you will often invite by saying “Just come in your hygge-trousers”, which will indicate the dress-code as very casual, and not to dress up for the occasion.
On top of your hygge trousers, Danes will often wear hand-knit woolen sweaters, always of course with a scarf, which can be used year-round, making most outfits suitable for the rapid changing weather and rain. A very often companion, why Danes will always have an extra sweater around, as well as an umbrella, which makes up the classic look of a Dane in most seasons
The exception, where the average shorts and t-shirt will be more common, will be on the favorite day of the year. Summer. (a well-known, self-ironic joke in the cold and grey weather Denmark).
As many Danes are obsessed with everything second-hand, you will often proudly hear a Dane tell when and where they bought their secondhand clothing, that gives that extra hygge-feeling to the look, as well as the conversation around.
At our Eco Lodge, you will be able to borrow hygge shoes just after entering. Not that we do not allow you to wear your own shoes. Just that we know, which shoes to wear to have a more hygge time.
Hygge-talk
And speaking of conversation, it is quite an art form to speak hygge, which takes quite some years to master. As hygge has the higher ambition of letting people feel relaxed, comfortable and safe, it comes as no surprise that not all topics are welcome in a hygge setting. Shared memories of good old days, in the company of the ones you shared the memories with, is highly prioritized over topics such as work life, the daily news, or other troubling matters. Should someone by accident bring up for instance a political subject, or in other way create a somewhat potentially conflicting atmosphere, you will quickly hear someone asking to “Please turn up the hygge”, indicating a wish to quickly turn away from the subject to something that can reestablish the cozy atmosphere.
Having said that, hygge can also just as well be practiced alone, without any sense of loneliness appearing. If you are by yourselves, and someone calls to ask what you are doing this evening, it is more than appropriate to say “I´m staying home to hygge”, which will not be met with a sensible remark about your lonely evening, but rather a “Oh good for you. Sounds hyggeligt. (hygge-ish). Wish it was me”.
Hygge Food
Hygge food could easily fill several books, or a documentary in multiple seasons, as hygge only seldom is outlived without at least a little “hygge treat” on the side. It is most often quite sugary food, such as sweets and chocolate, combined with one of the numerous variations of hygge cakes. Hygge food is the culturally ingrained ticket to eating something sinful, without thinking about the consequences.
As we love to hygge in our Eco Lodge, but at the same time want to support and promote a healthy lifestyle, we have therefore invented quite a lot of healthy hygge food, with our plant-based carrot and mocha cakes, as some of the most popular examples.
Slightly more healthy alternatives do however occur, such as when the new potatoes arrive, where the Danes will make sure to serve everything with potatoes, with the Danish potato “Smorrebrod”, as a classic. Most often, they are however only supporting the very many meat dishes, such as Danish meatballs, in a highly meat consuming country.
Also, here we have our own alternatives, such as our celery steak with new potatoes, grilled pointed cabbage and yogurt dressing
Hygge food is of course both made in a slow way. The longer it takes to cook or make, the more hygge-Ish it is to consume it. Having grown and picked your own ingredients, and prepared the food together, will moreover win over any bought alternative, as it has that extra hygge x-factor.
Danish bon fire bread is another famous hygge food, that we often make at our eco-lodge, as it holds the many ingredients to a hygge moment, sitting under the stars around the bon-fire, making slow food, while exchanging cozy stories with friends. It doesn’t get much more hygge than that.
Hygge decoration
As Danes prefer to hygge at home, which is the most distinct differentiation from other Nordic countries alternatives to hygge, you will find Danish homes to be quite detailed in every little corner of the house. If you want to start decorating your home with more hygge elements, one golden rule is not to go after how things look, but how they feel. If things make you feel safe, relaxed and happy, you are on the right track. If they are used/vintage, even better. The history it brings to the house, will most definitely contribute to the extra hygge.
Bringing nature in to your home is also a particularly important element in hygge decoration. Leaves, branches, pinecones, and more, will all increase the hygge factor, as nature provides that sense of feeling calm, relaxed, and happy, which is what hygge is all about.
A seating area in front of the fire stove is almost mandatory, and the place most Danes describe as their favorite hygge place, which also counts for our Eco Lodge.
Hygge at Minds & Mountains
So, to conclude. Hygge can in my opinion be boiled down to being mindful about the little things in life, which makes you feel safe, relaxed and happy. It is the absence of digital distractions, only wrapped in comfortable clothing, living candles, and great company and food.
While modern life centers around money, infinite growth, status, and technology, hygge stands in stark contrast as its opposite—connected to simplicity and nature.
Our escape from the modern business life in Copenhagen, to a more simple and much happier life, would not have happened, had it not been for those special hygge moments in places like our little cottage by the sea, or my aunts cabin in Norway, far away from the city, that gave us time to reflect on what truly matters to us in life.
At Minds & Mountains, we therefore very much use Hygge, as a way of guiding our guests to zoom in on what matters in life, creating the foundation for true reflection, and motivation to change your inner compass. This practice will often contribute to the feeling of being safe, warm and secure, when being present in the moment, and enjoying the small pleasures in life, and designing spaces to feel at home.
Furthermore, we believe that Hygge is part of a regenerative philosophy – a way to be present to how we are part of something bigger. Just like Minds & Mountains is part of the mountains.
Hygge, in its originally and purest form, is the opposite of over-spending, and therefore an obvious way of getting world consumption, pollution, and nature exploitation down. As hygge, mental and physical well-being and happiness goes up, the problems facing future generations could go down. What´s not to like?
Hope this introduction to Hygge created some explanation and inspiration on how to bring some more hygge into your life. If you are in doubt on how to start, maybe try to put on some worn out trousers, sit down with a cup of tea in your favorite part of your home, light a candle, put the phone far away, and start reading that book you never found the time to begin. Then you are already one a good start.
Hope you have a hygge day.
Mikkel
