You might have noticed the current obsession with the Danish wellness tradition “hygge,” or at least the hashtag #hygge, which is nearing 3 million posts on Instagram. Pronounced “hoo-gah,” it sort of sounds like “hug” and is synonymous with comfort, coziness, conviviality and warmth during the long, dark winter.
If you look at the Instagram posts, it’s all about hot cups of cocoa or herbal tea steaming beside a pair or two of feet snuggled in handknit woolen socks, a blazing fireplace in the background, scented candles on the side table, and cozy cable-knit blankets. It’s about feather-down mattress toppers on your bed with poetry books squared stylishly on one corner with—you guessed it—a couple’s handknit woolen-socked feet artfully adjusted just so into the frame.
I, however, think hygge is more about finding inner silence, stillness and warmth. You just have to draw the line between hygge and couch potato. It’s not about being lazy. It’s about connecting—with yourself and your loved ones.
For me, my favorite hygge ritual is to make a huge pot of veggie soup from my morning foray to our farmers’ market and catch up on Netflix movies or journal a bit. The doggies are close, warm and soothing. The Hubs might be next to me reading the news on his iPad. After the sun goes down and we sip on our soup, bedtime isn’t far behind. It’s a pretty perfect way to spend a winter day.
– Kimberly Cihlar
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