Online Book Club - Wrapping Up January: Winter

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I've joined in with some blogging friends for an online book club, and we are wrapping up this week. By the way, all our readers are invited to join in as well. Each month we'll have a theme to build our book picks around, and our January theme was Winter. 

Although there were many directions possible for this theme, for some reason I thought immediately of the Nordic concept of Hygge. I searched the subject to see what my library had available and soon had a small stack of books on order. A couple of those books haven't arrived yet - looks like others are reading up on hygge right now too!

So what is hygge? The authors of these books all acknowledged that it's not easy to distill down into a simple definition, but my takeaway is that it encompasses the feelings of being warm, safe, and comfortable, and a sense of togetherness with loved ones. And whatever name we give to that concept, if we name it at all, we tend to want those feelings. Especially in winter. 

. . . hygge is about giving yourself and others a treat. It is about savoring the moment and the simple pleasures of good food and good company.

It is giving the hot chocolate with whipped cream the attention it deserves. In short, indulgence. Hygge is about the now, how to enjoy the moment and make the best of it.  (Wiking, The Little Book of Hygge, p215)

The Little Book of Hygge was the first book I looked at, and the only one I read cover to cover. A book about the "Danish Secrets to Happy Living" by the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute sounds intriguing even if you're not familiar with the concept of hygge, doesn't it? It's a big deal to Scandinavians, and in this little book Meik Wiking describes hygge and all the elements that Danes consider to be essential to achieving it. It was a quick read, with a lot of fascinating facts and statistics as well as charming illustrations like the one on the cover. It mentions over and over that the most important aspect of hygge is light, with an entire chapter devoted to explaining the Dane's love of candles and softer ambient light. Hygge also means togetherness, comforting foods, and cozy clothing and surroundings. Wiking includes some recipes, and plenty of ideas for creating a hyggelich atmosphere in your home and workplace, and for hyggelich activities throughout the year. 

See my full review on Just A Second: Recent Reads - The Little Book of Hygge

The art of hygge is therefore also the art of expanding your comfort zone to include other people. ~The Little Book of Hygge

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Hygge: A Celebration of Simple Pleasures. Living the Danish Way by Charlotte Abrahams - I'm still reading this one, as it's probably the one with the densest text. Or I guess I should say I'm skimming it, since I'm going quickly through most and pausing for a more careful read whenever I note something of particular interest. The author is a journalist, and the book combines history and explanation of hygge and all its components with a sort of memoir of her own experience in seeking hygge for herself. She explores Danish design in home furnishings, the Danish mindset when it comes to food and cooking (apparently Danes love sweets and 'comfort' food, and food prep is a togetherness activity), and the importance of being with family and friends. Hygge means living simply and with gratitude, appreciating nature and simple pleasures, and being at peace. 

But essentially hygge was conceived as a concept centred on refuge; on the home as a comforting sanctuary from the outside world and a safe place to withdraw to with your loved ones. ~ Hygge: A Celebration of Simple Pleasures, Living the Danish Way

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The Joy of Hygge: How to Bring Everyday Pleasure and Danish Coziness into Your Life by Jonny Jackson and How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life by Signe Johansen - These two books were the ones I browsed through, enjoying the photos and skimming the text, but not reading in depth. The Joy of Hygge is really a small picture book with recipes and crafting instructions and other brief how-to's and suggestions for hyggelich activities. How to Hygge is a more detailed book on how to do just that. It's got a lot of recipes - most looked more involved than the kind of cooking I usually do, but some were quite tempting - and some careful explanations about how to design your kitchen and home the Nordic way. There's a lot packed into this book, and had it been the first I'd picked up I probably would have read it all the way through. I'm still picking out the many valuable nuggets of wisdom (and recipes!) it has to offer.

Above all, to live a life of hygge requires kindness: kindness to ourselves in the everyday acts that bring contentedness and pleasure, and kindness to others in a spirit of kindship and conviviality. ~How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life

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Making Winter: A Hygge-Inspired Guide to Surviving the Winter Months by Emma Mitchell and The Hygge Life: Embracing the Nordic Art of Coziness Through Recipes, Entertaining, Decorating, Simple Rituals, and Family Traditions by Gunnar Karl Gislason and Jody Eddy - I'm still waiting on these two from the library. Making Winter is described as being full of handcrafts, recipes, and other instructions for creative pursuits that are hyggelich and perfectly suited for the winter months. The Hygge Life looks like a guide for decorating and making the home cozy and inviting, and it also contains a number of recipes. I look forward to seeing them both and will try to review them on Just A Second.

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So what did I learn? Well, the takeaway - at least for me - is that hygge is the cozy and homey brand of hospitality that I already try to practice, but didn't have a name for. Turns out it doesn't have to cost a lot of money or require a huge amount of effort. Much as I admire showy the showy and sumptuous Victorian decor of old, or the sleek clean lines of modern industrial inspired home design; for my own home I prefer warmth and coziness over ornate or avant garde. I'd rather not spend all my time cleaning so I like simple and functional. Of course I want my home to be attractive and decorated intentionally, but I prefer my living spaces to be comfortable and lived-in. We don't do much fancy entertaining, but I love having people over for just a casual gathering - a cookout, a bonfire, or just a visit over a cup of coffee or glass of wine. Honestly, I'd do it a lot more if only we lived closer to people! I'm thankful that my kids have their friends over here all the time, and they seem to feel very much at home. Because that's what we're going for - everyone should feel welcome and loved, and not guests as much as members of the family. 

A few nights ago I had some friends over for the evening, and as we gathered around my dining room table for coffee and conversation, the thought went through my mind that Hey, this is pretty hyggelich! And as she was getting ready to leave, one of my friends thanked me for hosting and said how much she enjoyed my home - I don't remember the exact words other than it was cozy, and I think maybe she said warm or welcoming. I hope the word she was looking for was hygge. 

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. ~Scandinavian proverb

Visit Hopkins Homeschool to find out more about the online book club, and visit all the participating bloggers to see what they've read as part of this theme!

Hopkins Homeschool
At Home: Where Life Happens
The Life We Build
A Net In Time
Homeschool Coffee Break 

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