Get a Little Inspiration from the Danish term ‘Hygge’ to Make a Cozy List for Winter – Here are My Ideas to Have a Hygge Winter

The Danish concept ‘Hygge’ that refers to finding joy, comfort and warmth in simple things of life, can be used to make a winter wish list.

Last night, the temperature dropped down to -2 degrees, and the wind just made my nerves freeze, leaving a shivering chill all over me. I told myself that I was done going out in that terrible cold. Yes, I would rather be content with my blankie, my book, my coffee, and of course, Netflix (oh, I have a long queue waiting to be finished) than be in a perpetual state of sickness.

So, here I am embracing the renowned ways of the Danish tradition to keep up with the darker days of winter and express gratitude for the warmth and comfort they are blessed with. A feeling of contentment seasoned with a whiff of happiness that Danish named ‘Hygge’.

If you’re wondering what Hygge is, here it is-

In 2017, the word ‘Hygge’ (pronounced as HYOO-guh in English), secured its place in The Oxford English Dictionary which is defined as a Danish ‘quality of cosiness and conviviality’; a way of resorting to ‘simple pleasures, such as warmth, food, friends, etc’; a celebration of bravery to survive the long Scandinavian winter. It is derived from the Norwegian ‘hyggje’ meaning ‘comfort’ or ‘coziness’ and gradually made its way to English which is related to ‘hug’.

Thenceforth, hygge has inspired people worldwide to incorporate the practice into their lives, appeared in thousands of warm-and-cozy Pinterest and Instagram images, and has been one of the great topics under the Lifestyle niche that bloggers cannot avoid writing.

Ways to Have a Hygge Winter

To me, hygge is reading my favorite book, cherishing my childhood memories, getting my hair done, sticking my face to the windowpane to feel the warmth of the sun, watching my best movie, and many more. To keep me occupied this winter and to make sure I don’t miss anything from my list, I’ve designed a nice and cozy list to get me through the winter. Are you with me to hit the list? Let’s jump in!

Reading comes first

Am I the only one who thinks winter is the best time for reading? I think everyone will agree with me. When it gets freezing outside, you want to curl up on your couch with your favorite book. Aha! that’s what defines ‘comfort’; that’s what I want to do this winter. My reading list is not getting any shorter and I wish to finish it before I see a new year. If you don’t read normally, I can assure you this cozy season will entice you to make a habit of that. The options of Page-turners are infinite, there is a good read for every mood. Start selecting now before you run out of time.

Flavorful Family Feast

To sustain the bitter days of winter, the Danish tradition resorted to some simple practices, one of which was relishing homely food with family and friends in front of the fireplace. Thus, family feasting evokes a sense of ‘comfort’, ‘contentment’, and ‘togetherness’. It’s like commemorating the little joys of life amidst the toughest time. While the tradition sounds like a seemingly common idea, gatherings like these create the most cherished memories, especially when you’re homebound with -3 degrees of cold outside. There is nothing more soothing than indulging in warm, healthy yet flavorful cuisines with your best people. So, bring the flavor into your life as well as on your plate. The more people the merrier the season!

How About a Spooky Wintry Night?

My list of horror movies has not been updated since The Conjuring2. One of the reasons is that I get restless from the anticipation and the outcome haunts me for many days. However, this time I am a little up for it. Since a quiet, chilly winter night perfectly sets the stage for a gothic movie evoking horror in your spine, I want to seize the opportunity to include some movies on my list. If you want to get spooked, your perfect time could not be any better.

A Good Old Fashioned Game Time

I remember as a kid; the puzzles bewildered me. The memory of those tiny pieces containing the magical power to make a gigantic waterfall, or a beautiful Princess has remained fresh in my mind. Would you not want to revisit such childhood delights if you ever get a chance? I would love to have one ‘hygge’ game time in a good old-fashioned way. I would also want to settle for some card games (7 Wonders, Hanamikoji, Codenames, Catan, and of course Monopoly) that are the best for brainstorming and passing the time.

Try Your Hand in Baking

No matter how many easy-to-make recipes crowd my list, I would not be convinced if You claim that baking is a piece of cake. I firmly believe that it requires a lot of acute measurements, the art of mixing perfect ingredients, and an intense devotion. Thankfully, we have plenty of options to learn (credit goes to The Great British Bake Off and of course Instagram and Pinterest) which I will be using. So, if a holiday cookie or an oven-baked pie seems alluring to you, do not just scroll it. Put your chef hat on and make the best use of your winter holidays. Who knows what you would come up with?

Unplug your Creativity

If you are anything like me, you’ve scanned all the videos of the famous artist Bob Ross who has ignited life in any inanimate object through his brush strokes. The entire concept of putting your imagination on a blank piece of paper is enthralling. What makes me more dive into it is that painting needs more patience and lots of practice to mold a masterpiece. The dull winter evenings are perfect for learning something that you can make a habit of later. Although we all have hold brushes in our hands (remember those childhood painting contests you have tried to give your best), we can stir that creative mind anytime to portal escape from everyday reality.

Have an Ultimate ‘Me-time’

This is, I think, everyone’s favorite. The most desired and least attained. The latter is the case for everyone (at least for me). If you feel the same as me, now is your chance to make the most of your time (you don’t get such chances very often). Find the best time for you when you’ll indulge in your coffee and do just nothing. Unplugging yourself from all Digital Toxification aids in reconnecting the mundane life with a positive mind. I’m going to grab the opportunity. Are you?

Light up a Candle

My current obsession. I can’t tell if it’s the fragrance or the warmth of light that persuades me. But the burning flame inspires me to go on, and the aura it creates around the abode calms my soul. This is why the 19th-century people used to light up their houses with candles. I find the concept very therapeutic and will continue to stick around my obsession for a while.

Thanks for reading!