By Ingrid Sapona
If you’re thinking of buying me an Ancestry DNA kit for
Christmas, thanks, but there’s no need. I recently found out I’m Danish. Not
100% Danish – I’ve got a some Greek from Dad’s side and some German from Mom’s side
– but deep down, I’m predominantly Danish.
I got my first inkling I might be at least part Dane earlier
this year from a BBC series called Coast. The series focuses on countries whose
geography is dominated by their coast. It was during an episode on Denmark that
I first heard about “hygge” (roughly pronounced: whoog-eh).
Besides being a funny sounding word (especially as
pronounced by series host Neil Oliver, who has a heavy Scottish accent) I had a
visceral connection to the word. As Oliver described it, to Danes, hygge represents
a kind of cozy, contented happiness. It reminded me of the German notion of gemütlich – a term my mother
often used – and gezellig, a Dutch word. (Funny that all these hard-to-pronounce
words – hygge, gemütlich,
and gezellig, feature hard g sounds.)
But, the way Danes used the word in sentences, hygge clearly looms larger in
the Danish culture than the analogous words to for Germans and Dutch.
After learning the word, I tried introducing it to friends
one afternoon as we relaxed with a drink and some nibbles after a great day on
the lake. My friends listened politely as I explained how the coziness of the
cabin, the sharing of food and drink, the camaraderie of the sail, and the
relaxed conversation all made for hygge. Despite my efforts, they didn’t embrace
the concept the way I did.
Anyway, after that I started hearing references to hygge
here and there in the news. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve heard it
too, as it’s gotten a fair bit of press this year. One of the reasons non-Danes
have been talking about hygge is because of the possible (actually, I’d say
likely) connection between hygge and the fact that Denmark consistently ranks
among the happiest countries in the world.
So, when I read about The Little Book of Hygge – The Danish
Way to Live Well, I immediately ordered if from the library. Meik Wiking, the
author, is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. (Believe
it or not, it’s a think tank.) Anyway, the audio book came in last week and –
besides enjoying Wiking’s accent – I came to the inescapable conclusion I’ve
got Danish blood flowing through me.
Wiking has been looking at whether hygge is “an overlooked
ingredient in the Danish recipe for happiness”. It’s fascinating stuff. He
compares the meaning and use of hygge to Germans’ use of gemütlich, Dutch use of gezellig,
and even to the way Canadian’s use “homey”. One of the most interesting
differences is how hygge can be both a noun and a verb. Here’s an example he
gives of it used as a verb: “Why don’t you come over and hygge with us
tonight?” (Gemutlich, gezellig, homey, and cozy aren’t used as verbs.)
Another thing that really sets hygge apart from similar words
is how much Danes talk about – and focus on – hygge. Indeed, they even rate
social events in terms of how hyggelige (pronounced: whoo-ge-ly) they are.
Wiking’s conclusion is that hygge is a defining feature of Denmark’s cultural
identity, much the way having a stiff upper lip is part of British cultural
identity, and the way freedom is central to Americans’ identity.
Wiking distilled down the things Danes do to cultivate hygge
and they are all things I’ve always tried to pay attention to. Wiking says it’s
about creating intimacy and taking pleasure from soothing things. It’s also
about being together with loved ones, shielded from the world and able to let your
guard down. And, it can also be about being alone and enjoying some of life’s
simple pleasures, like a cup of tea and some sweets.
The good news is that there’s an art of hygge, which means
that with a little effort, you can bring hygge into your life. Wiking suggests
starting by creating a soothing atmosphere with some candles in a space that’s a
comfortable, cozy refuge from the storms of daily life. Then, invite some
friends and family over to make memories. Be sure to take in the moment and focus
on gratitude and equality. All these things sound simple, straightforward –
perhaps even obvious. But, they’re also things we often let slip from our daily
lives as we rush about.
So, my dear friends, as someone who is reconnecting with the
Dane inside her, my wish for you this holiday season – and all through the
coming year – is that you create some hygge for yourself and for those you care
about. Happy Holidays!
© 2017 Ingrid Sapona
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