At work I am on the Wellness Committee and someone suggested we do our next “corporate challenge” on the Danish concept of Hygge. This is a concept I am very aware of with my Scandinavian ancestry and involvement with a local Scandianvian group here in WA. If you follow @thesaltyexchange on instagram you might remember that when I took over the stories on Monday, November 2nd I took a picture of my Zoom board meeting with the Daughters of Norway. I got involved with the Daughters of Norway back in 2012 after helping with their annual Scandinavian Fair. I worked as the event coordinator for the venue where they hosted their annual event (since November 2010). Over the years, I got to know the ladies (who I lovingly referred to as my “Nanas of Norway”) and every year they would invite me to attend their monthly meetings. Finally I did and I have been a faithful attendee ever since. They have become friends and family that I never knew I needed and have taught me about Scandinavian traditions not just from Norway but from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
Regardless of how excluding the name of the organization can sound, it is extremely inclusive. Even if you aren’t Scandianvian but are married or related to someone with Scandinavian descent, you can join! Their purpose is to celebrate the traditions, customs, and stories from their homeland. As a natural leader, I was asked to be on the board relatively quickly. I think they liked the idea of getting some of the younger generation involved. So now 7+ years later, I have served on the local lodge (Nellie Gerdrum #41) board since 2013 in various positions (Trustee, Vice President, President, and currently as Judge). I, along with the current President, am hosting a virtual Scandinavian Fair this year due to COVID cancelling the 21st annual in-person event and already our little local lodge has reached over 200,000 people from all over the world with our Virtual Scandianvian Fair facebook event (event link will have archived videos and content after November 7th, 2020).
My top takeaway from being a member of this amazing group is the passion that comes from learning your heritage and taking part in celebrating it. A concept I heard years ago was the Danish word Hygge. I loved that it incorporated so many of my favorite parts of being Scandinavian and most of all that it isn’t really so much of a word but more of a feeling. See a rough translation below:
[hu-guh] noun
A calm, comfortable time with people you love, a complete absence of frustrations or anything emotionally overwhelming. A quality of coziness that comes from doing simple things. Often enjoyed with good food and drinks, warm blankets and candlelight.
Also known as the Art of Happiness.
Happiness… who doesn’t want more of that in their life, amiright?! There are a lot of ways you can incorporate hygge into your environment, especially during the winter months…from décor (add candles), crafts (make a wreath), cooking (see Glogg recipe below), reading (set aside time to relax), etc. The list of things that are considered ways to bring you joy and happiness is extensive. Some of my favorites are lighting a candle (no scent, purely for the flickering lovely light), making a home cooked meal (I prefer easy and in the crockpot), reading a good book while curled up in a cozy blanket, or even turning on my “fireplace” (a heater that looks like a fireplace) and wearing my fuzzy socks are all ways in which I find my hygge in the midst of the colder seasons. Year round I enjoy hygge in playing outside, painting, gardening, crafting and doing this…co-blogging for The Salty Exchange by sharing what I love.
Here are some of my favorite resources to learn more about Hygge:
Beginners information on hygge:
Ideas for hygge at home:
Shari’s favorite books on hygge:
Scandinavian Gatherings by Melissa Bahen
The Little book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Making Winter by Emma Mitchell
The perfect season to make a pot of gløgg (a spiced drink that Scandinavians associate with hygge and also Shari’s favorite part of German traditions too):
Happy Hygge to all, and to all a good Fall & Winter!
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