Comfort and Joy
The Fireplace by Edouard Vuillard, 1901, Collection of St. Louis Art Museum
Music selection: Warm and Cozy playlist on Spotify or YouTube
The weather in Arizona has finally turned a bit chilly, so my thoughts have turned to sweaters, hot drinks, and the fireplace…in other words, all things cozy. The Danish have the word hygge (pronounced hoo-gah), which is the art of creating an atmosphere of coziness, warmth, and refuge. It’s taken hold around the world as we all make an effort to be more in the moment, enhance our personal relationships, lose our digital distractions, and relieve everyday stress.
In this painting, Vuillard portrays his mother enjoying a bit of hygge, reading in a chair with her legs outstretched to be warmed by the fire. He was known for painting quiet scenes of everyday life, mainly in his family’s home. He would say his paintings weren’t portraits, but of people in their homes. The decorative aspects of the interiors play as important a role as the figures.
How about taking a break from decorating, shopping, writing cards, or baking to create a bit of a hygge environment for yourself? Here are some ideas:
dim the lights and supplement with candles (soy or beeswax) and a fire in the fireplace if possible
set your phone and devices aside
put on your cozy clothing - loose fitting with soft fabrics that you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing outside your house and some wool socks
grab a hot drink in that favorite mug that feels nice in your hand - maybe hot chocolate or some golden milk?
indulge in your favorite comfort food - yup, permission to pause healthy
put on some relaxing music, whether it’s classical, jazz, sounds of nature, or the playlist I’ve linked to above
Of course, inviting family and friends into your hygge environment is greatly encouraged. Playing board games, putting together a puzzle, or watching a movie could complete this cozy picture. Keep it simple though - forego the beautiful charcuterie boards for some hot drinks or popcorn, or maybe even some cake - no stress! Saying the word “hygge” reminds me of “hug,” which I think would be a nice addition to the mix!
If you’d like to learn more about hygge, you can check out The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. Yes, that’s a thing!
Comfort and joy…words of the season…that’s hygge. But there’s no reason not to return to that experience year round.