The Danes Are The Happiest People For “Hygge”. What Is It?
People who live in Denmark are happier than in any other country. Why? We can answer that question with one word: “Hygge”. This is a word that has no translation in Portuguese, but Hygge is about personal well-being, sharing moments with loved ones and enjoying your own home.
Who doesn’t like to stay indoors when it’s cold, sharing coffee with your sweetheart or your kids, and reading a book while holding a cup of hot chocolate? It would be monotonous if we did this every day, but repeating this act with some assiduity is certainly not monotonous, but it does bring us great happiness.
Even when it’s not cold, you can exchange the blanket on the sofa for a balcony or a walk where words and company are worth more than steps. One way or another, I’m sure you got the idea, and you’ve come up with various ways to put that very original Danish word in your life.
Feeling good and comfortable to be happy
When we ask Danish people about their own definition of Hygge (a local word that has no translation into any other language), they say it’s about doing what makes them happy. Hygge is more of an attitude or a lifestyle, it is looking for the most welcoming place in the house, spending time with loved ones and letting go of obligations. This is the key for this Scandinavian country to be considered the best to live in, even though it has such adverse and severe weather conditions in winter.
During the very cold months, the Danes spend most of the day in their homes (there are only 4 hours of light a day) and that is why they attach such importance to the decoration of the home, the comfort of the furniture and the space of the houses . They also pay a lot of attention to the activities that can be carried out within their own home : reading, watching a movie, cooking, playing, learning, talking… and above all, sharing moments with the family.
Intimate places, guaranteed happiness
Minimalist decor style is not “allowed” in Denmark. In reality, it is not very chosen because it reduces the feeling of comfort, of feeling protected and sheltered. That’s why warm colors like orange and red are used for decoration, and they buy thick wooden furniture and useful accessories and objects.
The intimacy of spaces or environments is also related to lighting. Even though it is night most of the time, many hours of the day people prefer to use candles or lamps with soft lights, such as a fire, to heat or light the room. No white and very powerful lamps.
Another point that deserves attention are the fabrics that are chosen, not only for clothes but also for pillows, curtains, and blankets for beds and sofas. They are thick, earthy and comforting.
For the Danes all this is the definition of happiness. And it’s not settling for staying at home… it’s enjoying home when there’s no possibility of going out. Or even when the weather allows them to go out!
Can we all enjoy the “Hygge” concept?
This model of Danish happiness has already been exported to other parts of the world. Why? Because even in cities that are not very cold, they have realized that spending time at home with family and friends, drinking a coffee, a beer or a wine, or having an ice cream and doing what we like, will always be comforting. .
Something that we must keep in mind is that Hygge is not only related to winter, although in Denmark the winter is so long. The philosophy can also be implemented in the hot summer months anywhere in the world. Why? Because it’s a way of living and feeling good, and it has nothing to do with the climate, even if it’s somehow part of it.
In Helen Russell’s book “The Year We Lived Like Danes”, the experience of a foreigner making the most of Hygge is detailed. The author says that Hygge is all about being good to ourselves, about not denying ourselves pampering, about not punishing ourselves, about looking for those moments of happiness that are in the small things: a piece of chocolate, a chapter of her favorite series, a book you adore, some music and the warmth of a hug.
If we were to stop and think about these “amenities” we would realize that it really is these things that make us feel good and be happy. Everything else is accessory, it’s mundane: the true feeling of well-being is not found in a full closet or a state-of-the-art car, but in shared time with those we love and in activities that bring us comfort. This is to live Hygge!
