Cozy is in. Just search for words like hygge on Amazon and you’ll see. Not familiar with hygge?
Hygge: (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used to acknowledge a special feeling or moment. It can be alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary, but is always cosy, charming or special. Synonyms include charm, happiness, comfort, kinship, and simpleness. From hyggehouse.com.
Why is this trend toward coziness so popular?
Maybe because people see it as an antidote to our hectic, over-scheduled, over-complicated, modern lifestyle. In the midst of our hurry-up, get-it-done lives, we yearn for that warm-fuzzy-cozy-contented feeling.
Especially at Christmas.
Don’t most of us cherish an idealized Christmas that involves images like chestnuts roasting by a cheery fire? Meanwhile our reality is a lot more hectic and un-cozy.
Wouldn’t a healthy dose of cozy make the busy holiday season more enjoyable? I believe we can achieve something of that hygge feeling in the midst of our sophisticated modern lives.
But it won’t happen without intention.
How to have a cozier Christmas season
Pay attention to ambiance
The Danes have taken hygge to an art form, carefully arranging their homes for optimum coziness. You can up the coziness factor in your house by warm soft lighting, happy music and soothing scents. In addition, make sure you have comfy spots to sit and talk. For a start, try eating normal family dinner by candlelight or tossing a cinnamon stick in a pan of simmering water.
Prioritize heart over hype
My comfort foods are not necessarily the same as yours. Likewise, my most cherished moments of the season are not the same as yours. Choose your family’s passions and comfort above trends, chic style, or whatever the neighbors think is “in”. Play the music you love, display your wonky homemade decorations with pride, and bake the cookies your family likes even if they aren’t “Christmassy”. Do whatever you most enjoy to celebrate the season, not what Pinterest says the season is supposed to look like. (Pinterest may have some great recipes or ideas that help you achieve your perfect Christmas coziness within budget, though.)
Do less, not more
Cut back on the list of must-dos. What will happen if you scale back on decorating? Spend fewer hours on holiday baking? Buy each other fewer gifts? Cross a few parties or programs off your calendar? Where would the sacrifice of doing less provide more time for doing something relaxing with friends or family?
Savor more, Rush less
Take time to slow down and enjoy the foods, friends, and activities that brighten your day and rejuvenate your spirits. Hygge is mainly about paying attention to the small things and simple moments that bring us joy. Don’t miss yours!
Develop a mental cozy filter.
When making choices between options, ask yourself which will result in greater contentment or create less overall stress. Maybe the kids (or grandkids) would be happier baking cookies rather than going into the city to a special Christmas program. On the other hand, if the thought of sticky, sugar-encrusted counters stresses you out, heading for the city may boost the happiness factor more than a baking session. There is no right answer here. Each of us can define our own brand of cozy, but none of us will achieve it if we don’t choose wisely.
Be intentional about getting together
A large part of the hygge feeling revolves around being with other people. Fill your Christmas season with magical moments by connecting with the important people in your life. No fancy decorations or fruitcake required. Just you, a friend or two, and time to visit. If you hate sitting around drinking tea, invite friends to join you for a hike, a trip to the slopes, a lively game of Pictionary, or whatever else you love to do. Cozy doesn’t mean boring!
In conclusion, I leave you with my terribly original Carol of Coziness
Fill the pot and add Darjeeling
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Tea will help the hygge feeling
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Candles, friends and time together
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Cozy days despite the weather
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
