Sometimes I'm a bit tardy on these trends, living as I do in rural New Zealand at Struan Farm. I'd been noticing references to "Hygge" for awhile, seeing books, etc. I was curious somewhat and finally took the bait on a rainy day in an effort to learn more.
I'm more than halfway through "Hygge: a celebration of simple pleasures, living the danish way" by charlotte abrahams (please note: lower case is author's own, not mine). Hygge, pronounced "hoo-ga," "hue-gah" or "hoo-guh" depending on which source is correct, is a Danish cultural concept of cosy contentment, about enjoying life's simple pleasures with family and friends. It permeates life and has been attributed to the need to adapt to long, dark winters. Since Danes are one of the happiest peoples on the planet (outside of Disneyland, of course), it's worth exploring further. Design concepts include warm light, cosy zones, modestly beautiful comfortable furniture, and comforting accessories (think throws and pillows). And candles, lots of candles. The author explores the concept in the context of food, family, the home, community, and "the soul." You get the idea. There is a good chapter on Danish Modern designers that I found particularly interesting, since hygge (along with craftmanship) is believed to have informed their design aesthetic of clean, functional lines.
So now you can add "hygge" to your list of cultural concepts that don't translate particularly well but are important to the quality of life and society in another country. Like the idea of "wabi-sabi" with the Japanese (finding beauty in imperfection), but obviously something quite different.
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