Hygge

By Gianni Caruso

Denmark practices hygge, which involves relaxation, meditation, and low lighting. This contrasts with the fast-paced U.S., which has bright lights everywhere. People in the U.S. are way more aggressive.

The concept of hygge benefits Denmark. Danish people are more down-to-earth than Americans, and the United States should take note and adopt the concept.

Denmark's long winter is darkest in mid-December when the weak sunlight lasts only about seven hours daily. Ever since the Viking Age and even earlier, people living in the Scandinavian region have held winter celebrations to bring light and joy to the darkness. After Christianity was introduced into Denmark around 958 AD, the festival became known as Christmas.

Danish Christmas is celebrated in the evening on December 24, and the country virtually shuts down. Even the city buses stop running between 17.30-22.00 so everyone can enjoy dinner with their families. Denmark's electrical and gas utilities can measure a spike in usage when people across the country turn on their ovens to cook the traditional roast duck, roast pork, or roast goose. The traditional side dishes are caramelized potatoes and pickled red cabbage.

People in Denmark practice hygge and almost religiously honor it, with over 70% of the total Danish typically doing hygge. People can practice hygge at their homes by dimming the lights, creating a warm atmosphere, and enjoying the people around you with a glass of wine or hot chocolate for the children. Reading books is also a good way of participating in the hygge concept. People usually make a “hyggekrog,” which is a comfortable place you find relaxing and usually located in the kitchen or living room. People usually take a book and a warm beverage to their hyggekrog. People also think having lots of fuzzy soft blankets and big puffy pillows to surround yourself with helps with practicing the concept of hygge.

There isn't another concept, but there is a similar word that most Americans use to compare hygge. “Coziness” Most Americans consider the word coziness to be the concept of hygge. At the same time, they are not entirely the same. As an American, when I think of the idea of hygge, I also think of the word coziness. Besides the phrase coziness, I don't think there is another idea or concept of hygge in the U.S.

Practicing the concept of hygge could go 1 of 2 ways in the U.S. I believe some Americans would accept the idea of hygge in the U.S. Still, I think some people would not want this concept to happen in the U.S. So I guess if they were to bring this concept to the United States, I feel like all Americans wouldn’t accept it. There would be people against making it just another problem in the U.S., so I think it would hurt the country because we don’t need more problems involved with this country. But I think there could be a good side to it too, that would have a very low chance of happening because people don’t even accept themselves in this country. I doubt they would also want to deal with the concept of hygge. Hygge can be put into many environments, and I do NOT think the U.S. is one of them, although I like the idea of Hygge.