I’d read about the concept of hygge [pronounced hYOOgah or hooga] a few years ago and thought it interesting.  It’s a Danish cultural expression that roughly translates to the English word “cosiness”.  Loosely described, it’s embracing of home, friends, family, togetherness really in a “go big or go home” kind of way.   But you can also hygge solo.   So it’s not so much a thing you do but it’s a way you live and think.  Although they really embrace hygee in the winter when people spend so much time indoors, it’s a yearlong cultural practice.  With Denmark (despite the long, cold winters) being known as one of the happiest places on earth, I figure the Danes must be on to something with this concept.

With the hustle and bustle of a new job and commute, days becoming shorter, nights longer, plus the cold and barrenness of winter that’s making it’s way to the East coast, I’ve decided to embrace hygge this Fall/Winter.  With my family scattered all over the globe and not having my dearest close to me, it’s important for me to do what I can to embrace intentional living and cosiness this  Fall/Winter.  Kinda like a preemptive strike to beat the winter blues which can come although I love the winter season most.  I like the way one author on the subject describes it —

Hygge was never meant to be translated – it was meant to be felt ~ ToveMaren Stakkestad

so embrace and feel I will!

My last knitting F.O has started the ball rolling.  I finished the blocking of the Leafy Washcloth and it’s been in use from the day I took it off my blocking board.  It’s a small thing, not the largest F.O. I’ve made, but adding it to my decor has already given me and my home some hygge and it’s really been wonderful.

Have you heard about hygge before?  Share in the comments if you have or haven’t.  Here’s wishing you and yours some hygge this Fall and Winter!

More on the subject can be found here, here and here (I like this article best).