“I first heard of the Danish concept hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) four years ago, and I was thrilled to put a name to the aesthetic that I had been creating in my own home since I first had a home.

Hygge does not have a direct English translation; “cozy conviviality” is close, but it is more than that. Hygge is like wrapping yourself in your favorite soft blanket on a snowy winter’s night, the warmth of a mug of hot chocolate in your hands. Hyggeis that deeply felt sense of gratitude that arises in your heart when you suddenly notice that all is well and that you are happy and having a good time. Hygge is that feeling that commercials try to evoke during the holidays, of loving families enjoying the moment together, surrounded by aesthetic and comfortable things. Hygge is part of Danish culture, and, because they have given it a name, it is something they can consciously create.

In Denmark, all sorts of things can be hygge, like a sweater, a dinner party, and eating cake at a coffee shop. Riding your bike can be hygge. Watching a movie with your sweetheart snuggled under a shared blanket can definitely be hygge. Singing around a campfire can be hygge. And reading a book in your pajamas can be hygge.”

Excerpted from Hag Stone Journal issue: Hygge. Read more about hygge and hygge crafts and recipes by subscribing to Hag Stone Journal