It’s the perfect way to spend a chilly winter’s evening: snuggled up around the campfire, feeling cosy and warm, and deep in conversation with a few favourite friends. There’s something delicious in your mug, a soft glow from the fire, and a distinct feeling of contentment among your happy crowd: all of it classic hygge, the distinctly Danish philosophy for living.
Pronounced “hoo-gah”, hygge translates as “cosiness of the soul”, and it’s all about relaxing in one happy, shared, indulgent moment. To cultivate hygge, the Danish believe that you need to make time for activities and rituals that connect you with others, awaken and indulge your senses, and make you feel peaceful and content.
One of the best places to cultivate hygge is in nature, so in winter, why not take a mini-escape deep into the rainforest to wander an easy trail or tackle a breezy biking adventure, or practise yoga together on a windswept beach? Afterwards, collect some wood, build a campfire and stir a pot of hot chocolate while marshmallows toast over glowing hot coals, or stage a cosy night in with good friends and full glasses.
Cultivating hygge
One of the more delightful things about the concept of hygge is that it celebrates all things natural. First, you need to hygge, by wrapping yourself in soft, soothing, natural fabrics that make you feel good (think wool,
