Hygge

Many writers instruct English-speakers to pronounce this word as "hoo-ga" but when I hear it said by Denmark natives, my ears hear the "oo" that is more common in French or Hungarian. That is, the mouth and tongue form to say "ee" while the lips form to say "oo". Either way, it is certainly not an instance where the word is spelled like it sounds.

Hygge tends to resist a hard-fast definition, so I'll list some things that I've read regarding the term. Coziness. Absence of stress. Company of friends. Happy childhood memories. Well-being. Simple pleasures. Comfort. Conviviality. Warmth.

Some physical items often related to hygge: unscented candles, sweaters, woolen socks, scarves, mulled wine, well-designed lamps.

I recently received the The Little Book of Hygge -  Danish Secrets to Happy Living, and I could not put it down. In the book, Meik Wiking offers a totally Dane-centric view of happiness, but this is not surprising. The Danish are consistently ranked as being the happiest people in the world.

All through 2016, books and blogs published hygge-related material. In a turbulent year, maybe it was just the right time to spread the hygge gospel around the globe. For me, I'm embracing the concept and finding a lot of enjoyment in the mindset it encourages. Now about that Poul Henningsen PH 5 pendant lamp... Do I need one or two?

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