As autumn begins to make its way into the picture, we are feeling so excited for the colder weather and seasonal baking to start. Nothing beats the chill of October, with crisp orange leaves falling from the trees while you get cozy in a big warm sweater and fuzzy socks with a hot cup of tea. And, if it’s us, a slice of cake or a cookie is also a necessity 🙂 Anyway, today’s blog post is an attempt at getting us all in the autumn mood by discussing a few ways you can embrace the Danish concept of “hygge” in the coming months. We hope you enjoy reading along and take some ideas with you when you go!
What is “Hygge”?
While we have explained this term several times in other blog posts, this may be your first time gracing us with your presence (if so, welcome to the blog!). “Hygge” is a Danish concept that has no accurate translation into English. 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!
For all these reasons, when it comes to hygge, we are not focused on things you need to buy or particular aesthetics you need to embrace. Instead, we are going to focus on activities that you can try out with friends or family to really get a sense of what hygge is! Without further ado, here are six ways in which we love to “hygge” (a verb in this instance) in the fall/autumn months!
1. Baking (obviously)
This is probably the most obvious way we could start out, as this is a baking blog after all! But it seriously is such a fun way to spend your time with friends or family in the fall months. We think baking is great all year round, of course, but there is just something about the gloominess of autumn and winter that makes it the perfect activity. There are also so many seasonal treats you can make! We love anything with apple in it in the fall, and anything with pumpkin or lots of spices is also delicious. If you are looking for an autumnal recipe, you can check out some of our favorites under the “autumn” tag.
2. Board Games
We are from a family that loves playing board games more than anything else when we are all in the same place! These games range from strategy, like Risk or Pandemic, to card games, like Euchre and 500 (a Danish game!), to puzzles. We are all a little competitive but that just makes it even more fun! We love sitting down at a big table with tea or coffee and some sweet treats, or maybe some wine and snacks, and playing a board game all afternoon. This feels even more “hyggeligt” if it’s raining outside! Trust us, this is one of the most fun ways to get away from electronics and distractions and enjoy some time with friends and/or family.
3. Make Mulled Wine or Apple Cider
Another one of our favorite ways to “hygge” when the weather gets colder is by making hot drinks. These can simmer away on the stove while you do other things, like perhaps play a board game (see above). Or, you can curl up nearby with a good book and wait for your drink to be ready. Whatever you choose to do, this is so enjoyable because these drinks are unbelievably easy to make and will make your entire kitchen smell nice. Just toss the liquid ingredients and whole spices from whatever recipe you choose to use into a bit pot and let that infuse. A few hours later, you will have a wonderful drink that will warm you up right away!
4. Beach Trip
This might be a controversial one, but the Danish part of us loves a trip to the beach in colder weather. Maybe that’s because in Denmark, we lived so close to the water (a fjord, in our case), so our immediate and extended family loved walking on the beach no matter the weather. If it’s not unbearably cold, you can even bring a hot drink or some food with you! This is the epitome of “hygge,” as it combines not only time with family and friends but also time spent in nature. Spending time outside enjoying the weather, even if it isn’t optimal, is an integral part of Danish culture. Plus, as the Danes say, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes! Wrap up warm and enjoy a lovely beach trip regardless of whether the sun tags along or not.
5. Go Apple Picking
Our Americanness might be showing with this one, but going apple picking in the autumn is actually really fun. American autumn is so beautiful, especially on the east coast, and it’s actually really easy and convenient to go apple picking! Find a local farm and go support them while you enjoy time together with your friends. Then head home, make some apple cider, play a board game, and you’ll pretty much have mastered the concept of hygge 😂 Even if apple picking isn’t available near you, maybe you can try finding a farm with some different produce, or just head to a farmer’s market and buy some apples! Anything can be “hygge” if you really want it to be.
6. Walk in the Woods
Finally, head out for walk in the woods to admire the leaves changing. Bonus points if it’s raining! I’m only joking, but I do love a nice evening walk on a rainy autumnal day so it’s a bit spooky; autumn is the season of Halloween, after all! A walk is a great way to unwind and take a break from the business of daily life to just enjoy what you have around you. You get to look at the beauty of nature changing while you witness yet another season of the year and your life pass by! A bit corny, perhaps, but it’s no joke that a good walk is healthy for the mind and body.
We hope you learned something today and have some ideas for ways you can “hygge” this autumn! Leave us a comment below if you have any thoughts or questions on this topic – we would love to hear from you.
