Hygge: the Art of Staying Cozy

Hygge. Hygge hygge hygge. You’ve seen the word on Pinterest and all over Instagram, hygge posts captioned “self-care,” or “winter wonderland.” How is it pronounced? And more importantly, what does it mean???

Hygge (HYU-guh), according to the dictionary, is “A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)”

Outside of Danish culture, hygge has come to represent a lifestyle that prioritizes beauty, connection, authenticity, and comfort, especially during the winter months. It appreciates the unique joys of winter, instead of constantly wishing for spring. Hygge has the power to connect us through times that make us want to drift apart. And that’s all well and good, but how exactly can we experience hygge?

Let’s start with the basics. Hygge is all about enjoying the simple pleasures in life, and it can happen year-round, but as the New Yorker says, “Winter is the most hygge time of year.” We’re surrounded by knitted sweaters, legwarmers, cozy socks, plush slippers, and steaming cups of tea or hot cider. 

In our next post, we’ll break down some of our favorite hygge staples!