Hygge Challenge
Hygge is a Danish word that’s become really popular over the last year or so. It’s a tricky one to translate but really means that cosy, homely, in the moment feeling you get when you’ve got a day off and can snuggle on the sofa with a pet and a cup of tea or when you have a small candlelit dinner party. I wonder if it’s become so popular because Hygge just doesn’t involve social media or IPhones…It’s the antidote to our detached, online, frantic society and now all a bit exhausted with over a decade of it, we’re all beginning to crave some of that Hygge intimacy. At least I am!
Although you can get Hygge any time of the year, I feel like it’s the dark evenings and cold mornings of Autummn and Winter that need the most help and so I’ve decided to inject some Hygge into my life weekly. #hyggechallenge is a hashtag to motivate me (and hopefully you too!) to create some of the cosiness into my life. My aim is to make Sunday my main Hygge day, but extra cookies for those who make the whole week Hygge-y!
Here’s some of my Hygge ideas and plans for the coming months;
Over 20 Ways to Add Hygge to your Life:
- Lighting
- Sewing or Knitting Something
- No Phone Evening
- Weekly Bake
- Menu Planning
- Gratitude Moments
- Cosy Casual Dinner Parties
- Celebrating Traditions
- Listening to More Music
- Perfecting Hot Chocolate
- Beach Trips in all Weathers!
- Watching the Ballet
- Making Chutneys and Preserves
- Eating Seasonally
- Create a Hyggekrog-this is a Danish cosy “nook”
- More Flowers in the House
- Lighting the Fire
- Candles
- Cinema Trips
- Daily Walk-Keeping in the Moment
- Making the House Winter Ready
- Books
- TV Night with Popcorn
- Starting a Bullet Journal
- Drink New Teas
- Artisan Chocolate
- Warm Socks
- Write a Letter
- Bonfire
- Discover Hygge places in the Neighbourhood
- Make Decorations for Christmas
Hygge Challenge:How to get involved!
“Hygge involves comfort, cosiness, a sense of wellbeing, and a relaxed frame
of mind” Judith Friedman Hansen
To celebrate the start of the new season I have decided to have a challenge based around Hygge. The idea of this was to banish any sadness at saying goodbye to summer for another year, and to focus on making life as cosy and homely as possible. This could be by just adding some twinkly, fairy lights to your sitting room or by finally getting around to reading that book!
Every couple of days, until the end of December, I will have a new Instagram post or blog post around the subject of Hygge-think recipes, ideas, tutorials, diys and inspiration!
“To Hygge is to create an enclosing circle of warmth. The primal comfort of an open fire and good company on a dark night are the epitome of Hygge. A cluster of people sitting beneath the encircling glow of a pendant lamp hung low over a table is a common sight in Denmark-the light seems to hold everyone together, to define them as a unit.” Louisa Thomsen Brits-The Book of Hygge
I’d love for you to join in with the Hygge Challenge! Simply tag #hyggechallenge in any social media so I can check out and re-gram your Hygge moments!
“Hygge affords us places to catch our breath and feel the richness of life.” Louisa Thomsen Brits-The Book of Hygge
Hygge Challenge: Win a copy of The Little Book of Hygge!
To kick start our Hygge Challenge I want to give away a copy of this great little book full of ideas on how to achieve Hygge Happiness at home. To win just leave a comment below telling me what you love best about Autumn or Winter and sign up for my newsletter and make sure you include the same name you signed up for the newsletter with! (European residents only). Giveaway ends November 20th 2016.
The thing I love most about fall/winter other than the out of doors experience is the opportunity to nest and make things cozy indoors like you’ve described! I’ve been practicing Hygge especially in the Winters for the past two years. (We have warm falls but bleak, rainy, relatively snowless winters in our part of South Carolina.). Stringing lights, lighting candles, cozy book corners with piled blankets and fluffed pillows, mulling ciders and tea kettles whistling and loose teas awaiting with warming spices like ginger/clove/cardamom, soups and stews and porridge, a warm oven filing the house with comforting scents, needlework, fireplace chatter, smores and such traditions, cozy scarves, sweaters and Socks, Hygge is a must!!! One of my new rituals has been diffusing an aromatic essential oil blend like DoTerra’s Breathe that spices up the wintery air nicely and helps break dry winter air stuffiness. Dry brushing, wintery skincare. Hygge can also be cozy self care. Love and a happy Fall from South Carolina!
Love the idea of Hygge challenge. For me it is watching a new box set snuggled next to the fire with a cheeky sloe gin. Also having a long hot bath listening to the rain outside hitting the window!
This sounds like just the tonic to a busy lifestyle. My idea would be nice walk near our home through quiet country roads, roast dinner and wood burner roaring when we get back and stories with our two small children. Making me smile already!
I love Autumn so much that I choose November for my wedding, last year – the most hygge-thing ever – ! I absolutly love my wedding pictures full of autumn colored leaves… After the wedding I came in Northern Irleland, where my husband used to work before coming back to Italy, and I really enjoied the rest of the Autumn there… Love your blog, it reminds me the nice – hygge time I spent in Belfast!
The ultimate hygge-moment for me is to sit on the sofa working on a piece of knitting. This kind of creative work with wool in nice colors make me feel totally “hygge”. And it’s something I am only able to enjoy during our chilly months (oftentimes in company with snow) in winter. Summers are hectic always with a lot to do in the garden and I never come to do anything for myself, albeit I must admit, that garden work also gives me some kind of hygge-feeling… Before sleeping, I use to get hygge reading a good book snuggled in my warm duvet.
My Hygge things for autumn are
the smell of fallen leaves
sound of the rain … and wearing wellies
being wrapped up in a massive scarf
but most of all comfort food. The oxtail stew in particular – salivating just thinking about it. And baking. And mulled wine. Summer salad just can’t compete:)
What do I love best about autumn and winter? Guilt-free hot chocolate, crumble made with fruits picked from mum and dad’s garden, and snuggling up on the sofa surrounded by lots of candles!
We have a wood burning stove and I love when Autumn arrives and it is time to start using it again. I adore the smell of woodsmoke and as for the flames, I could just sit and watch them for hours!
The best things about autumn and winter for me are going for a walk on those cold crisp mornings when the sun is bright and sky can be bluer than in the height of summer. From our house I can be into fields within 10 mins and suddenly the world comes alive. I’m away from the technology and stresses of life, with the dogs running along side. Somehow it’s more enjoyable on a cold morning than in summer. It’s the freshness of the cold air I think. I also really appreciate arriving home for a lovely hot cup of tea after prolonging the hygge moment.
I love winter because the world contracts at night to family, friends and the woodburner. No need to rush around and fill the hours of summer sunshine; relax, light candles, talk, eat food and connect. The joy of arriving home and the peace it contains. The change of the season restores, ready for the spring life again x
I revel in the warm colors of Autumn – especially the way the light changes, here!
I love how the weather almost forces me to stay inside and be cozy – how it causes me to want to have a place where people can come in out of the cold and relax and rest.
I have recently set up a hygge area in my apartment. I have a wide open living and dining area. I don’t have a dining room table so I have a love seat with two end tables and the Christmas tree. This is where I read and cross stitch. Of course a candle burning…very cozy.
Now that Christmas is over, decorations are put away. Here in Northern Michigan we have at least three more months of snow and early sunsets. One element that helps us “hygge” is to redecorate the mantle and keep the green pine garland and white mini lights up. I decorate it with paper snowflakes. Every night my husband and I enjoy the glow of the fireplace, candles and white lights. Helps keep a cheery atmosphere all winter long.
I love autum/winter season as it brings the family, adult children and Grands indoors together. We sit by the fire, do puzzles, hot chocolate in our mugs and popcorn a plenty and doze off and on. How seeet to look across the room and see grandchild and parent asleep in one another’s snuggle with warm blankets.
Winter, is my busy time at work…. with that being said I feel am more organized. I actually take time out for me, knit, crochet or maybe a massage~
Winter is my family’s time to light the fireplace drag out all the covers and quilts and set around talking, visiting, simply being together. Live our life at a slower pace. Our summers are crazy with 2 teenage boys. Winter is a welcome break.
Lighting a white candle each morning with gratitude. Giving thanks as I sit quietly in my cosy chair and watch the glow of the candle. To be able to have this time to be in the moment as I read my daily afirmations is so peaceful. Hygge.
Potluck soup nights and games with friends.
I love days like today, its cold out and I’m snuggled on the sofa with my husband and kitten
Hi, great post, but in the US, doesn’t “homely” mean “ugly.” Did you mean “homey?”
I live in Arizona and it doesn’t get cold very often. However, last weekend it was 39 degrees when I got up. I went to Starbucks for a hot coffee and a pastry. I read for 2 hours, chatted with people, then went to a French lesson. That’s a very hygge day for me!
I have never come across the word Hygee before but often crave the things that you have described. I consider those “hygee” activities nourishment for my soul.
Reading this post, and all the suggestions in the comments has already begun to recreate that Hygee feeling for me.
Thank you. I needed that today.