It's time to be cosy, hibernate and get into the Hygge vibe, light the stove and the candles, invite friends and family round for kitchen supper, snuggle down under a warm throw and watch box sets or put on the layers for bracing dog walks in the ever-changing countryside, before dropping into a welcoming country pub.
Of course we have all been doing this for ever but the Danish definition of Hygge is the ritual of enjoying life's simple pleasures. Friends, family, graciousness and cosiness. What could be better?
Hello from New York to you, Marianne! I also think I've been a natural born practitioner of hygge, well before I ever read the word. It's a very enriching practice or even philosophy.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try to email you a wonderful article from The New Yorker Magazine about Leonard Cohen. The article was written by the magazine's excellent editor, David Remnick. Think you will appreciate the article, particularly in light of last week's Nobel prize award for literature. xo
Hygge has seized the zeitgeist, hasn't it, Frances? I am seeing the word everywhere at the moment, although, as you say, lots of us have been practising it most of our lives. It is a lovely philosophy and now we are spending time every summer in Scandinavia, I feel very drawn to all things Nordic!
DeleteThank you so much for the article - I have emailed you. Fascinating! I did wonder why Bob Dylan and not Leonard Cohen, but feel he would be very philosophical about it anyway - I think he commented that it was like giving an award to Everest.
What a wonderful word -- hygge -- it is perfect for this time of year -- just before the madness of December...
ReplyDeleteIt is - like a hug - and perfect for the change of seasons when we are all still feeling enthusiastic about the onset of winter and the memories of summer are fresh.
DeleteLove your header and the word hygge is like Broad says - perfect.
ReplyDeleteSo important to create those special moments Molly. Lovely to see you again x
DeleteThe Great Dane and I treasure those moments of hygge - and you can imagine the fun he had all those years ago trying to describe to me what I knew as 'cosy'. Your table looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOf course, you have married into the scandi philosophy! Just another way of defining what we all probably already do in the cold northern climates, but charming too. Thank you - my husband took the photo while we were getting kitchen supper for some of our visiting offspring. So lovely to see them x
DeleteFirstly, your candlelit table, adorned with food and flowers is the perfect invitation for friends and family to indulge in hygge; thank you, for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, as Frances mentions above, I, too, recently read the article she's referring to, and yes, you MUST read it! It talks about Cohen's Marianne, and his final goodbye to her, which went viral. One thing that has stayed with me after reading it, is how Cohen reminisces about how sweet she was to place a fresh gardenia at his writing desk daily, scenting the room so freshly, along with a hearty sandwich as a much welcomed treat for lunch. Of course, the beautiful Marianne, being Norwegian, exuded hygge!
Have a wonderfully whimsical week~
Poppy
It's my screen saver at the moment, Poppy, having taken over from summer scenes in the Baltic - time to move on from summer and embrace the pleasures of autumn. I really enjoyed the article! I is lovely that he remained friends with Marianne and what a perfect and gracious way to say goodbye for now. Scandinavian women seemed to be steeped in home making and nurturing and Marianne was certainly practising hygge. I often feel she was really the love of his life, but he wasn't a man who could be pinned down, sadly for her.
DeleteThat sounds like the most perfect way to live. Enjoy the company of others and the simple things in life and you can block all those bad noises out.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to focus on what is good and positive in this uncertain and sometimes frightening world we live in, friends, family, warmth and light. We are so lucky.
DeleteHygge is a terrific word. I think coming in to the wood burning fire after being outside is one of the real pleasures of this time of year.
ReplyDeleteOne of the first things we did when we moved to our Suffolk cottage was to put in 2 wood burning stoves so we can enjoy cosiness and warmth through the long East Anglian winters. It's good to focus on life's pleasures, Wendy. Lovely to see you again!
DeleteHello Marianne,
ReplyDeleteI love the word Hygge. It has a wonderful sound and is new to me. Snuggling up by a fire and watching videos sounds perfect to me.
Hope your weekend is special
Helen xx
Scandinavian people know how to make the best of long cold and dark winters and hygge is the perfect philosophy for doing this. Something most of us already practise anyway, but still charming. The word certainly seems to have seized the zeitgeist! Lovely to see you again, Helen xx
DeleteI missed this post, somehow, but yes, I'm anticipating this sinking into the darker time of the year, but sinking comfortably as into an embrace. We've never been away from home when the clocks fall backward that hour, and it's also our first fall in over 35 years without a woodstove or fireplace. Never mind. I made chicken soup over the weekend, and that was a good start. I'm knitting socks, and we've a stack of books here and perhaps it's time to buy a few candles for our temporary home -- Hygge to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteCandles,cushions and throws are my prescription, Frances. I suppose you will be back in Vancouver when winter sets in - I wonder if you have a stove or fireplace in your new apartment? We once turned down a house because it lacked a fireplace, but in the country it is expected. City living has different priorities. Enjoy your stay in Bordeaux!
Deleteliving life in a vibrant and positive way is blessing and i see this in your writing and this very gorgeous table
ReplyDeleteCounting blessings is always a good approach, I think. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteThat looks so inviting and cosy! Hygge seems to be featured everywhere in the media this autumn! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteIt is the new buzz word for a concept as old as time in Northern countries, isn't it? Couldn't resist using it though, especially as we spend time in Scandinavia each summer and feel very much in tune with the ethos there x
DeleteI love the combination of graciousness and cosines! Perfect.
ReplyDeleteVery scandi! Really relishing this lovely space between summer and winter.
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