Hold on to your hygge. It makes sense that the Danish concept, loosely translated as “comfort” and “well-being,” was invented in a place where winter is dark and weather is often inclement. As a tried-and-true New Englander, no stranger to prolonged winter, the topic piqued my curiosity. I must possess the American version of this lovely notion, I thought. Perhaps I could beam myself up without the need of a trip south, just by invoking a little hygge.

            Come to find out, I’ve been practicing hygge for eons – whenever I light the fire, pull on a cozy sweater and Afghan, and snuggle up with the cat and a good book, I’ve got hygge. Or when I have my besties over for a meal and good conversation, I get hygge. At family gatherings and even with work mates in the office, I have been having my share of hygge.

            To make the most of it, I did some research. … First of all, it’s pronounced with a guttural “HYOO-guh” as many websites demonstrate. I found numerous articles on the topic as this cultural phenomenon continues to intrigue the United States on the heels of the mindfulness craze and with nearly as much fascination. I first became interested in the idea while watching a Danish program on Netflix – and my next step was to invest in a book on the subject – there are many to choose from. Now in the depths of winter, it seems a day doesn’t go by that I haven’t thought of hygge – especially now with the Winter Olympics on and the desire to nestle by the television, watching athletes give their best.

            It was born out of the dark days – sort of like a medieval epic – think “Beowulf” or “Lord of the Rings.” People at some point learned the value of comfort and camaraderie. Denmark has up to 17 hours of darkness per day in the winter, and people spend more time indoors as a result, meaning there’s greater focus on home entertaining, according to a BBC report.

            Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, writes in his book “The Little Book of Hygge” how we can embrace the long, cold, dark days of winter in a way that is characteristically Danish. “Danes are the happiest people in Europe according to the European Social Survey, but they are also the ones who meet most often with their friends and family and feel the calmest and most peaceful. Therefore, it is with good reason that we see a growing interest in hygge,” writes Wiking. “Journalists are touring Denmark searching for hygge; in the UK, a college is now teaching Danish hygge; and around the world, hygge bakeries, shops, and cafes are popping up.” His book covers the entire hygge umbrella, touching on the all-important way it leads to happiness.

            On a more superficial level – and this is something American marketing is latching onto – hygge is about creating a retreat, which is typically about bringing on the candles, applying throw blankets, wool sweaters and other warm coverage, plus delicious baked goods, hot cocoa, tea or coffee. It seems the perfect vehicle to sell stuff.

            A more recent poll has found that Finland currently holds the top spot as the world’s happiest country with Denmark second. I may not live in a Nordic country but believe that hygge is achievable.

            Reading further, I realized I can do it during office hours, on weekends, and in any season. Might it be accessible in a garden? In fact, it’s even better without Wi-Fi so camping, hiking and gardening are perfect scenarios – if you have a firepit or an outdoor gathering spot, you’re well on your way. A bonfire to celebrate summer solstice is as hygge-worthy as a fireplace in a cabin retreat in winter.

            I asked a friend’s Danish husband to explain the concept to me. He told me it’s not something you can buy but rather a state of mind. Brian, a merchant marine engineer who grew up in Denmark, clarified: “It’s something you create whether listening to music and having a cup of tea or driving along the beach and chatting with my daughter – it’s about being present in that moment. We can say it was hyggelic that you came by and had a cup of tea the other day to talk and catch up. That part – the connection – is what constitutes hygge. Things take the time things take,” he explained, giving the impression that the Danish culture is not a rushed one like ours.

            “Hygge” writes Wiking, “is the antidote to the cold winter, the rainy days, and the duvet of darkness. So, while you can have hygge all year round, it is during winter that it becomes not only a necessity but a survival strategy. That is why Danes have a reputation of being hygge fundamentalists and talk about it… a lot.

            “What might be unique for Denmark when it comes to hygge is how much we talk about it, focus on it, and consider it as a defining feature of our cultural identity and an integral part of the national DNA,” writes Wiking. In other words, what freedom is to Americans, thoroughness to Germans, and the stiff upper lip to the British, hygge is to Danes.”

            So, you see, I, and maybe you too, have been hyggelic – like forever. I just didn’t put a name to it. I look forward to a summer hygge as well with the smell of fresh, mown grass, saltwater and suntan lotion, not to mention the feel of the sun on my skin. But let’s just focus on living happily in the moment that is now.

            “It is those crisp, blue mornings when the light through your window is just right. It is about gratitude and savoring the simple pleasures in life. In short, it is the pursuit of everyday happiness.” – Meik Wiking, author and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute

The Seaside Gardener

By Laura McLean

On February 10, just on the eve of Valentine’s Day, an event was hosted at the Elizabeth Taber Library: Swipe Right! A night of Romance Novels and Reviews. Enjoying the newer room in the back of the library, many come to read and discuss various romance books and novels, as well as receiving some reviews from librarians, read-alongs, and treats.

            The event was hosted by librarian staff, which offered insight into many of the books on display around the room. Some of the books discussed and on display were A Court of Wings and Ruin (from the ACOTAR series) by Sarah J. Maas, Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, The Ginger Bread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore, Icebreakers by Hannah Grace, and many others.

            Library Director Elizabeth Sherry, Head of Adult Services Emily Newell, and Children’s Librarian Macy Davis sat by a table with a stack of their choice books, reading passages to the entranced circle of readers.

            As Valentine’s Day nears, sometimes it’s hard to find events that encapsulate the holiday beyond “buying stuff” and that focus on the love and emotion of the holiday. This reading and discussion event served as an opening to the week of San Valentino, allowing moments of thought and reflection into a holiday that often boils down to heart-shaped chocolate boxes, not that there’s anything wrong with those!

            Valentine’s Day also happens to coincide with the holiday weekend for Presidents’ Day. The Elizabeth Taber Library regularly hosts many similar events, including the Banned Book Club or Cozy Cup Book Club and many other seasonal events, such as Black History Month Storytime on Monday, February 17 at 10:30 am.

Elizabeth Taber Library

By Sam Bishop