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?

Actually I wonder if it's a slightly reactionary thing after years of minimalist type interior design that we've realised we quite like our homes to be....well, homely!!

I've always loved a cosy throw, a huge mug for my tea, that kind of thing. I'm assuming that's apparently hygge but to me it's just homeliness

What do people do before we heard about this amazing new concept? Sit around on our own, shivering in the cold and dark? Err no.

I had never heard of hygge until last month on MN.
I've been doing it for years and never knew.
I thought I was just being cosy for winter. Who'd have thunk it! I'm trendy.

Cummenroond sounds like a great concept. You could have a box of after eights with some of the empty wrappers left in the box on the sideboard to add to the atmosphere. Salted peanuts as snacks left artfully around the room. Possibly a fan heater whirring away if it was exceptionally cold outside.

Also the smell.of long unused heaters heating up the dust....a 'reduced' baileys, and some garibaldis that are presented, whisked away because they are soft, then after a whipered conversation brought back again, then settling down to watch 'Convoy' or an old Two Ronnies

For clubbers/youth its 'cummenroond: forasmokemate'

"Hygge is the new salted fucking caramel."

The Hygge-Critical will probably like this article:
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/22/hygge-conspiracy-denmark-cosiness-trend
NB, long read /essay.

Brilliant article!

Last night, DH was drinking whisky in his underwear.
I asked what he was up to and he said he was in Hygge mode

I thought it was a great article, especially highlighting that it's less about candles and socks and more about community, but can also show a darker side; conformity, distrust of outsiders, avoidance of difficult topics/questions etc

Jumping in bed early to watch Home Alone in mismatched pjs even though the kids don't sit still for more than a few minutes at a time. Not a trip to IKEA 😩

I've spent a quite a bit of time in Denmark over the past year.

My take on it is that 'hygge' cannot be bought and is highly unlikely to be sourced in Ikea. I can't put it into words but the 'hygge' I've experienced is far more down to people, conviviality, warmth and laid-backness than home accessories.

I wouldn't even try to replicate it here!

It'll blow over.

I wonder what marketing genius said "I know! Lets hype 'hygge' - nice and catchy and forrin-but-in-a-good-way".
The German word is 'Gemütlichkeit btw, but really truly does not trip off the tongue, does it?

I was just coming here to link to that Guardian article!

I think in Denmark it's a more natural thing, and doesn't lead to consumerism because when you live in Denmark you already have thick blankets and stuff. Because you live in Denmark, and get 2.5 hours of daylight in December.

Went to Denmark a few years ago and liked the concept of 'hygge' but clearly it's become a stupid trendy buzzword in this country which is slapped on 90% of my spam emails. Just wait til they move on to the next thing, I guess...

Are people in Denmark currently being bombarded with the particularly British concept of elevenses - complete with some rather earnest British person explaining that all the Danes are pronouncing it wrongly and only British people can really say it or can really understand it. And no it's not just about having a coffee and a couple of biscuits some time during the late morning - it's about the whole feel of the event and the communality of it and frankly you really have to live in Britain to get the full spirit of elevenses. Sod it, I'm going to self-publish a book called "The Little Book of Elevenses" and flog it to some easily-impressed Danish people who happen to be looking for stocking-fillers and make myself a small fortune.

I agree with you! Hygge is doing my head in at the moment.
I understand the concept, it's much more than lighting some candles and being cosy. It's about togetherness, closeness with friends/family, enjoying the simple things; in my mind it's the opposite of consumerism.
But I lived in Denmark for a bit and even though people are nice and cool, and seem happy, it's not Utopia...

To be fair, hygge is equally an Norwegian word, in fact it originated there :) I don't know why they always say it's a Danish thing. To me, hygge is when I am cuddled up on the sofa with my woolly socks (grandma knitted them, so free), a nice blanket that I have had for years, tv on, candles lit and some nice snacks. Hygge doesn't cost anything. Well depends on what you eat I suppose :p

Backing I think you're onto something but maybe elaborate it a bit more - 'elevenses v teatime', involving the different approaches to cakes and coffee/tea...

Meh, I thought this was about a new line from Ikea

Definitely could do with a nice cwtch in this cold weather though.

Tiffin.

The Danes would love tiffin.

the " issue" with hygge is. It is something different for each person.

It is really about a state of relaxation and enjoyment. About making it so you feel utterly good and comfortable. Mostly together with others, however it isnt always.

You can hygge med a book.. Or watching a movie.

However snuggling up under a blanket and watching a movie drinking tea. doesn't = you "hygger dig" You can do that without getting to that good place mentally. However it CAN mean just that because you do get to that state of mind.

to me (I grew up in Denmark my passport is Danish) Hygge is not something you can buy anything towards. Most hygge comes naturally by being with people I love and care about. Usually there is food or at the very least tea / coffee involved. Alchohol can be involved .. it 100% is if my father and I " hygger os" (a nice bottle of wine and a steak and 100% we get there) However for my late mother that would not have worked. With her it would have been for many a seemingly chaotic scene of her 7 siblings and their 17 children all together in a way to small house playing board games with tea/coffee and cookies readily available..

Both are a form of hygge However they don't seem to have anythign to do with each other. As it comes back to the state of mind. That moment where you loose track of time and you just relax into enjoying that moment unaware of the time passing and anything but that moment in time.

You can't buy it. However I have so many childhood memories that are just exactly about my family having a hyggelig tid (time)

Hyg jer

www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/hygge-is-byllshytte-20161103116473

This sums up my feelings perfectly...

Backing I think you should make that book

I can honestly say that I in Denmark never experienced elevenses in the way you can here in the UK.

(However we do have some darn good wiener brod that works well with a cup of coffee around 11)