How To Spend A Rainy Day: The Danish Art of Hygge
Author: Julianna Cooper, Challenge America Program Coordinator
In honor of our monthly theme of “April Showers” coming to a close for the CAVARTS community, I wanted to share a bit about a concept that we can take along with us throughout the entire year to help make our rainy days, chilly days, and life in general just a little bit cozier!
The Danish word hygge (pronounced “hyoo-gah”) isn’t simply a word with a direct translation; it’s more of a concept. Hygge is about coziness, surrounding yourself with the things that make life wonderful, like friendship, laughter and security, as well as tangible things like warmth, soft light, good seasonal food and drink.
Hygge encourages embodying feelings of contentment and comfort through the simple, mundane experiences of the everyday - appreciating and enjoying life’s small pleasures.
Because of this, hygge is also a wonderful way to practice both mindfulness and gratitude, as it encourages being present in the moment and fully appreciating your surroundings and experiences - noticing what is without judgment, and taking a moment to give thanks for it.
So how do we “create” or “practice” hygge?
Think about what makes you feel cozy, comfortable, and content! Hygge is personal, and can be interpreted differently by each person. What brings you a sense of hygge might be different than someone else - it’s discovering what makes you feel peaceful.
Hygge often involves disconnecting from technology and the digital world, embracing togetherness through face-to-face interactions and activities such as reading physical books, playing board games, or crafting. It’s also important to create a physical environment that makes you feel safe and relaxed!
Here are a few ideas for tangible ways to practice hygge:
Play relaxing music
Light a candle
Cozy up with a cup of tea under a soft blanket
Read a good book
Enjoy in quiet company or tranquil solitude
Make a hygge “mood board” with pictures or clippings - you can make one not just for a rainy day, but for different seasons as well!
Here’s a rainy day “hygge mood board” that we created to get you started!
