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Cakes and Tea

Kathleen's Blog

January 2019 - Hygge in America

1/1/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
​A couple years ago, a Danish word, hygge was all over housewares ads and decorating articles. We were urged to buy pillows and sheepskins, light candles, and drink hot beverages while entertaining our friends. I mostly ignored it as media hype, but on closer inspection of the term, I came to believe in the concept. All articles about hygge begin with a definition because there is no exact translation of the word in English. Here are a few explanations to give you a feel for hygge in winter:
​

“Hygge is a centuries-old lifestyle that will brighten the long days ahead. It embraces positive thinking and enjoyment of everyday experiences. Its focus is on togetherness and prioritizing the people you are close to. Hygge is the removal of annoyances and the emotional overwhelming.”
                                                                          -Jenny Parkhurst, the Knoxville city mom's blog

​
“…it's a wholesome Danish concept of coziness…”

                                                                          -Elle magazine

“Hygge has been called everything from the ‘art of creating intimacy,’ ‘coziness of the soul,’ and the ‘absence of annoyance,’ to ‘taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things,’ ‘cozy togetherness,’ and my personal favorite, ‘cocoa by candlelight.’ Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling 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 and the 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.”

This last quote, which gets to the meanings I find most interesting, was written by Meik Wiking, in his book, The Little Book of Hygge, Danish Secrets for Happy Living. He is the CEO of Copenhagen's Happiness Research Institute, so he ought to know.

As a person who has always been involved with the feeling of a place or a situation, I see hygge as the embodiment of how physical space and simple, yet thoughtful actions impact and ultimately improve mood. In cool weather, I always want to be cozy, to have the fireplace or woodstove going, candles lit, the kettle on the stove, ready for tea. I always want things cozy, charming, and special. I want comfort, togetherness, wellbeing. This fits so well with the philosophy behind the ancient tea ceremony principles of humility, simplicity, subtlety, and quiet elegance in harmony with nature.
​

Picture
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It's hard (and silly) to argue against these ideas. Who doesn't want to be warm and cozy in an inviting interior when the wind howls outdoors? Meik, as a researcher, finds his information and conclusions about hygge and happiness in data. Which seems sort of anti-cozy, but his conclusions are interesting, if kind of obvious. Consistently named the happiest people in the world, Danes say they experience the most hygge at home, 71% to 29%. He believes “the reason for the Danish obsession with interior design is that our homes are hygge headquarters.” He concedes that Danish winters are atrocious, so people want their homes as warm and inviting as possible.

The part of hygge concerned with interiors is what led it to be seen in America as a decorating trend rather than a change in behavior. If the basics of hygge are to get comfortable, companionable, and cozy, one needn't spend a lot of money. We already probably have a warm throw blanket or two lying around, tea, cocoa, and coffee fixings in the cupboard, and friends willing to come over for a cozy evening of board games or a movie and some comfort food and warm beverages. As with tea, a party is lovely, but making space and time for a calming cup of tea for and by yourself is every bit as wonderful.
​​
Picture

​We don't need the word
 hygge itself; we need to remember the principles. I've always strived for beauty and harmony in my home decor which includes coziness in the chillier months. Of course, we want a cast iron pot on the stove, bubbling with a long-simmering stew, of course I want to be baking a sweet loaf, so the house is filled with an enticing aroma, of course I want to sip a hot toddy by a fire. It's not rocket science. It's remembering to practice the things to make us feel soothed and at peace. Rose's January blog is filled with lovely ideas for cozy winter snacking and warming beverage recipes. My gift to you this month is not to give you a wonderful recipe for Danish pastry.* While fun to make and amazing to eat the step-heavy, methodical, yeast-raised sweet dough, it's even more fun to sit by the fire, with the cat on your lap, reading a favorite book, drinking tea instead.
​
Picture

​*If you've never tried homemade Danish pastry, you owe it to yourself to try it. There really is nothing more delicious. If you are ambitious and would like to try it, leave your email address in the Comment section and I'll email you my friend Merlina's wonderful recipe. She breaks it down into clear steps and makes fresh Danish accessible to home bakers. 
​
2 Comments
Louise E Goldsmith
12/31/2018 06:27:27 am

Here in the Berkshires of Massachusetts we know all about long, cold winters and how important it is to create a cozy and inviting home. Whether coming back from skiing or simply walking the dog, the draw of a fire in a beautiful room with comfortable furnishings, pillows and throws is not only welcomed but much needed. Thank you for your wonderful piece describing the beauty of hygge. Special thanks to Pauli, Frederick and Charlie for the photo op!

Reply
George
1/3/2019 10:04:33 pm

Love the post!

Reply



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  • Home
  • About/Blog
    • Who We Are
    • Our Credentials
    • Tea Travels - Rose's Blog
    • Cakes and Tea - Kathleen's Blog
    • Contact Us
  • The Tea Book
    • The Road Back to Civilization
    • A Brief History of Tea
    • Philosophy of Tea >
      • Harmony
      • Humility
      • Respect
      • Creativity
    • Guidelines for the Host/Hostess >
      • Gathering and Greeting
      • Sharing Stories
      • Sharing Food
      • Sending the Guests Home
    • Guidelines for the Guest >
      • Respect Your Hostess/Host
      • Bring a Gift if You Wish
      • Practice Humility
      • Monitor Your Conversation
      • Arrive with a Grateful Attitude
      • Help if Help is Needed
      • Do Not Criticize
      • Leave Gracefully
      • Send a Thank You Note
    • A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
    • Teas of the World and How to Make Tea >
      • A Sampling of Teas
      • Herbal Teas and Tisanes
      • How to Make Tea
      • Making Iced Tea
      • Tea Concentrate
      • Brewing Tea for a Crowd
    • Tea Utensils and Accessories >
      • Tea Kettle
      • Tea Pot
      • Tea Cozy
      • Teacups
      • Plates
      • Silverware
      • Teacart
      • Tea Strainer
      • Tea Infuser
      • Three-Tiered Server
      • Cream Pitcher and Sugar Bowl
      • Cake Pedestal
      • Trifle Bowl
      • Jam Pots
      • Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
      • Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
      • Linens
      • Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation
    • Tea Menu Basics >
      • Sandwiches and Savories
      • Savory Spreads and Dips
      • Scones and Tea Breads >
        • About Lemons
    • Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons >
      • A Spring Tea
      • An Outdoor Summer Tea
      • An Autumn Afternoon Tea
      • A Winter Afternoon Tea
    • A Calendar of Tea Parties >
      • January: A Japanese New Year’s Tea
      • February: A Valentine’s Day Tea
      • March: A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
      • April: An Easter Tea
      • May: A Mother’s Day Tea
      • June: A Wedding Reception Tea >
        • Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake
      • July: A Picnic Tea
      • August: A Family Reunion Tea >
        • A North American Family Reunion Tea
        • An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
        • A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
        • A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea
      • September: An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
      • October: A Tea to Honor Our Ancestors (Dia de los Muertos)
      • November: A Post Thanksgiving Tea
      • December: A Christmas Tea >
        • In Defense of Fruitcake: Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit
    • A World of Tea Parties >
      • A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
      • A Portuguese Tea
      • A Classic British Afternoon Tea
      • An Indian Chai Party
      • A California Tea
      • A Hawaiian Tea
      • An Italian Tea
      • An American Southern Tea
      • A Russian Tea
      • A French Afternoon Tea
      • A Kosher Tea with Tradional Jewish Foods
    • Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions >
      • An Afternoon Tea for Children
      • A Tea for Our Elders
      • A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
      • An Urban Tea on the Go
      • Tea for One
      • Afternoon Tea for a Large Group
      • A Vegan Tea
      • A Rose Tea
  • Purchase Recipes
  • Resources
    • Bibliography and Resources
    • Menu and Recipe Index
    • Commercial Food Products
    • Glossary