Hygge rage!

[ilovethewinter]

Thought this was the best place to write this as am with like minded people.Is anybody else fed up with people's interpretation of Hygge.I had been reading about the Danish lifestyle and how their levels of happiness and contentment were high compared to ours,and decided to look into how to achieve this.However people I have spoken to just seem to see it as another consumer spending Opportunity! I know creating the right relaxing atmosphere is important,but just spending loads on fluffy socks,candles and throws is to me defeating the object.They seem to think it's just another reason to get stressed about looking the perfect part and image.Whereas really this couldn't be further from the truth as it's about feelings of wellbeing and simplicity. What are you,re thoughts?

I agree with you. Best let them jump on the bandwagon and fall off again as soon as the next thing comes along. They don't get it. You do. don't let it ruin your sense if hygge.

Yup. I hope DS feels the same moments of connection and general snuggly-ness when we have our nights in with our imperfect blankets and socks!

The search for hygge doesn't start with a visit to ikea :)

Thank you,pleased I'm not on my own. Doesn't start with a trip to Ikea,love it!

I hear you.

Also, I imagine that the Danes' high levels of happiness/contentment etc. are more connected to Denmark's low levels of wealth inequality than to their knowledge about he comforting effects of hot drink in a cosy environment.

Totally agree.

I'm sick of seeing hygge this and hygge that. It's become the weekend supplements' latest obsession.

I totally agree! It actually gives me the rage now. And anais you have hit the nail on the head!

I agree, it's not about commercial wankishness, it's having a cosy, comforting environment to relax with your loved ones in. For me that's sitting with my crochet, fire on, candles lit, glass of wine, lamps lit, dog curling up and my family around me. That's what brings me wellbeing, not a bloody expensive trip to Heals or some such!

"I imagine that the Danes' high levels of happiness/contentment etc. are more connected to Denmark's low levels of wealth inequality"

^^ This, 100 times! And possibly their impressively high consumption of spirits, though that just might be the Danes I have known (slighly alarmed memories of being offered a shot of something about 100% proof at breakfast time before heading out for a long day's hiking).

That and excellent jazz music, of course.

Do we honestly need to be told about Hygge? I piked the book up the other day and leafed through it expecting some amazing gem of thus far untapped wisdom to leap out at me, but no.

Winter. Light candles. Snuggle under a nice fluffy throw. Curl up on the sofa and watch telly with a hot chocolate.

How is this in any way new? Unless you've just landed in northern Europe from Somalia or Mars, don't you already know this stuff?

I'm sure I read somewhere that the Danes have the highest per capita anti-depressant consumption in Europe.

But hot chocolate after a walk, fires, fluffy socks and fairy lights (candles give me a sore throat) are all good. So yay to hygge the concept, yah boo sucks to buying books about it.

YES!!! Couldn't agree more. What even makes an item of clothing "Hygge" FFS?

I spent a day in Denmark recently. The day was gray, the sky was grey, the sea was gray, and the light was dim indoors. Everybody wore black or gray. Yes, there were really nice cafes and I met some lovely people and saw a lot of bikes.

Hygge is byllshytte!! Warning, Daily Mash link

Couldn't agree more. I read about Hygge a couple of years ago and I compared it to my cozying in on a winter evening, chilling with my DH or friends and enjoying the relaxation of a low key evening together. And yet, even as I was reading that 2 years ago, a tiny warning bell sounded in my brain "wait until The Guardian runs a weekender on this".

Lo and behold, everywhere you turn, everyone is trying to shove Hygge down your throat. Spend spend spend! No no no!!!

We have lots of Danish relatives.. Hygge is more a concept than a selling opportunity.. Its just become fashionable over here after a few books..

I love going to their homes , (especially in winter.. they are so WARM!) and the candles etc.. but yes, Denmark has its own problems especially around their thoughts on immigration.. ( and high taxes, but it does pay for pretty much everything) also basics can be v expensive ..

We have a fairly 'hygge' vibe in our house house but have for some time, ..they bring us loads of candles and homeware, when they come over .. (i just wish we could ship over some of thier fab furniture!)

That Daily Mash link is brilliant :) I love the idea of huge but totally agree it's not something that can be bought - that's the whole point!

It's funny, Danes also have the same consumer pressure to perform hygge "properly". If you go round their houses, they all have decorated in exactly the same way, got exactly the same designer knick-knacks, the same faux-naive paintings on their walls... it's all identical. (and they're as miserable as everyone else, the reason they poll with high levels of happiness is that the survey translates "how happy are you?" to "how content are you?" and it is seen as being up your own arse to say you're not content. There is massive social pressure to appear contented. Hence the high levels of anti-depressant and alcohol usage)

Much of it (I only am aware of the Norwegian aspect) is more to do with an appreciation of nature, each other's company. Walk in the woods with your family, than have a nice dinner together.

No throws or candles required. It's taking joy from the small stuff.

I need to confess, I'm a hygge consumer . The exact type you're talking about. I've bought the books, read the articles,made the hot chocolate in my Emma Bridgewater mugs. I have a white company rocking chair with a fleece on it. I compulsively buy soft glow white fairy lights and I have more candles than a diptyque store. I have a hygge Pinterest board and I'm not sorry...runs away.

Scandinavian style is gorgeous but the one I am thinking of is not cosy. Beautiful though. I try to emulate it.

www.minimalisti.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/scandinavian-style-interior-living-room-ideas-gray-sofa-and-rug.jpg

decordots.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Cozy-Scandinavian-style-bedroom-nook-with-big-window.jpg

www.digsdigs.com/photos/scandinavian-rustic-kitchen-designs-27-554x382.jpg

Sorry. Cannot do pics on this site.

'S all a heap o'crap. Best ignored.

We all have our own 'hygge' thing. Christ how boring would it be if we all had the same hygge.

Sometimes I can't get over how unoriginal journalists are. All these clever people. The whole world to write about and they pick one thing.

We have a very similar thing in Holland and it's called 'gezelligheid'. The main difference is that you can't do it on your own, it needs to have other people there to be gezellig. It's more the atmosphere and lighting than anything else. Not as marketable as hygge and I swear that's why hygge has taken off and gezelligheid hasn't - gezelligheid doesn't require any particular accessories

It's a bit like the Welsh word Cwtch.
It's not bloody rocket science is it?! It's winter. Light some candles, have a whisky, put some woolly socks on and cwtch up.

I like the cozier end of the Scandinavian decor spectrum, I must admit. But the ubiquitous super-commercialising of the concept of hygge is getting a bit wearing now. And yes, it's not exactly rocket science that some candles, an open fire, a cozy blanket and chatting over a hot drink with friends cheer you up when it's chilly.