The Little Book of HYGGE: The Danish way to live way by Meik Wiking

ＴＨＥ ＬＩＴＴＬＥ ＢＯＯＫ ＯＦ ＨＹＧＧＥ: ＴＨＥ ＤＡＮＩＳＨ ＷＡＹ ＴＯ ＬＩＶＥ ＷＥＬＬ ＢＹ

ＭＥＩＫ ＷＩＫＩＮＧ

𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕? 𝑶𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅.

First, I'd like to thank Sankia (@a.perennial.reader) for bringing this book to my notice. It was a sweet (read it and you'll find out), light book that opened my eyes to a lot of things.

I usually don't pick up books that focus on helping you live well or be well, but this was indeed a book worth spending my time on.

The author is a Dane researcher at the Wolrd Happniess Institute in Denmark (hence the title) and explain what 'hygge' is, how it is pronounced (trust me, it is important), how the term originated and what all it means (again, it means hell A LOT).

Hygge is basically a Norwegian word meaning ‘well-being’.

Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down. You may be having an endless conversation about the small or big things in life – or just be comfortable in each other’s silent company – or simply just be by yourself enjoying a cup of tea.

According to him, hygge can be related to a feeling of coziness, comfort, satisfaction or, simply, happiness and joy. The Danes have found hygge in their candles (v important), food, coffee, family & friends, books, wooden tables, homes, offices, outdoors, and in some more candles and fireplaces. Well, that's everything, isn't it? That's exactly what it is. The author has explained why hygge plays such a big role in the life of every Dane, and how it is directly linked to Denmark being termed the happiest country in the world many times over. And honestly? I agree.

Hygge is also a situation where there is a lot of relaxed thoughtfulness. Nobody takes centre stage or dominates the conversation for long stretches of time. Equality is an important element in hygge.

Hygge also focuses on the concept of togetherness. According to the book, although hygge can be experienced alone too, the most hygge you'll ever feel is with friends and family, playing games, having dinner, and a new concept that I came across, while having 'swap parties'.

Swap parties are basically get-togethers where you invite your friends and family and everyone brings something they no longer wish to use but which is too good to be simply sold in a flea market. In swap parties, people swap these things and take home something 'new', attached with the memories of the previous owner and an evening of merriment.

Here are the five dimensions of hygge, according to the author:

1. 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑇𝐴𝑆𝑇𝐸 𝑂𝐹 𝐻𝑌𝐺𝐺𝐸

2. 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑂𝑈𝑁𝐷 𝑂𝐹 𝐻𝑌𝐺𝐺𝐸

3. 𝑆𝑀𝐸𝐿𝐿𝑆 𝐿𝐼𝐾𝐸 𝐻𝑌𝐺𝐺𝐸

4. 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐹𝐸𝐸𝐿 𝑂𝐹 𝐻𝑌𝐺𝐺𝐸

5. 𝑆𝐸𝐸𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝐻𝑌𝐺𝐺𝐸

While the Danes have a different understanding of all of these dimensions, they more or less depend on the person experiencing hygge, and hence, can vary greatly. What binds all types of activities that make a person experience hygge is the feeling of joy and safety that they provide.

To paraphrase one of the greatest philosophers of our time – Winnie-the-Pooh – when asked how to spell a certain emotion, ‘You don’t spell it, you feel it.’

The best thing about the whole concept of hygge is that is focuses on simplicity and not extravagance. The more a person invests or spends money on something, the less hygge they experience from it. Old, rustic things are what hygge is all about.

This book also helped me get to know Copenhagen a little better and love that beautiful city a little more.