Long Summer Days
Hi everyone! As the weather starts to warm up, at least in the US and the UK, we are starting to look forward to spending more time outside. In places like Scandinavia, where winters can feel very long and dark, the summer means spending time outside and enjoying the long hours of daylight. Of course, it isn’t summer yet, but it will be before we know it! So, in today’s blog post, we want to explore some ways in which Scandinavians might “hygge” themselves, or enjoy themselves, in the summertime!
What is “Hygge”?
“Hygge” is a Danish word without a direct English translation. The best way to describe it would be the feeling of happiness or coziness you get when taking pleasure in simple things, like a good cup of coffee or being with your family. We use “hygge” and variations of the word (hyggelig, hyggeligt, hygger) as a noun, verb, and adjective. It is a very important part of Scandinavian culture, as it brings people closer together and helps us remember to appreciate the small things in life.
The Popularity of “Hygge”
Back in 2016, there was a huge surge in popularity of the term “hygge” in the US and the UK. People suddenly became interested in this strange word, and many books and articles were published on the subject. Titles included “The Year of Hygge, the Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy” and “The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well.” The writers of these books and articles tried to teach their audiences how to employ “hygge” in their own lives.
Now, while I think teaching others about “hygge” is great, there is not any specific thing you can do to force yourself to feel “hygge.” It is a natural part of a balanced lifestyle, in which you take breaks from your career or busy life to enjoy time with family and friends, eat good food, and take care of your emotional and mental health. Sure, you can buy some comfortable neutral-colored pillows for your sofa and light some aesthetically pleasing candles, but at the end of the day, what is more important is taking time out of your busy schedule to enjoy yourself!
Summer “Hygge”
These books and articles also have a tendency to focus on “hygge” in the wintertime. We Scandinavians do love Christmas activities, like decorating our houses and cooking lots of food, and huddling inside together in the dark winter is very “hyggeligt”. However, “hygge” is a constant part of Danish and Norwegian culture, so it doesn’t just disappear once the weather warms up. So, let me tell you about a few ways in which we “hygge” in the summertime!
1. Hanging Out With Family and Friends
This is probably the most essential part of “hygge,” because time spent with the important people in our lives brings most of us a lot of joy. In the wintertime, this looks like spending time inside, whether you are cooking and baking together, playing cards or a board game, or just chatting over a cup of coffee. In the summertime, however, the options are endless. You can head to the beach and take a dip in the (usually quite cold) water, or maybe invite friends over to enjoy a late summer evening in your backyard. The sun doesn’t set until very late in the summer in Scandinavia, so late evenings spent chatting, drinking, or playing games are a typical part of a Scandinavian summer.
2. Spending Time in Nature
Next, spending time outside in nature is a typical part of Scandinavian summertime “hygge.” This could take the form of a day trip to a nearby town or an island, a walk in the woods or down to the harbor for an ice cream, or a bike ride in the countryside. Whatever it is, we love to get outside, possibly because we don’t get enough sunshine throughout the winter months and always want to soak up as much as possible in the summer. It does often rain in Scandinavia; however, that will never put a damper on our will to “hygge”! Instead, we might hang out inside, playing cards, baking, drinking coffee, etc., and looking for the next indication of sunshine so we can get back outside!
3. Enjoying Good Food and Drinks
Good food and drink is an absolutely key part of “hygge” in the Scandinavian summertime (and wintertime, for that matter!). As I mentioned before, we enjoy long hours of daylight in Scandinavia in the summer, and we always want to make the most of it. In our family, dinner can take hours, especially in the summer when we are eating outside, because we are just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. Like many others, Scandinavians love to whip out the grill when the weather gets warmer and cook outside as well. Stay tuned for another blog post in which we give you some summer dinner and dessert recipe recommendations! For now, check out our recipe for an elderflower gin soda and a sommer madtærte (quiche with spinach, tomato, and mozzarella).
Leave a comment below to continue the conversation! What do you think about “hygge”?
