“That house was a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep, or storytelling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness.” This was written by J. R. R. Tolkien. The last sentence is of particular interest, and as I read it, what comes to mind is hygge, the Danish art of cultivating comfort and simplicity. The cure for weariness is good rest, and perhaps healthy food. The cure for fear is comfort and protection, or a secure yet cozy shelter. And of course, the cure for sadness, if not time, is joy.
Hygge is all about comfort and joy: a soft bed, plush pillows on sofas, extra cushy chairs…a hot beverage when it’s cold or an icy one when it’s warm…plenty of fresh air and the company of loved ones. Taking these elements and tucking them into the countryside, if possible; and if not, being on good terms with our neighbors is a boon. Being light and amiable, a bringer of joy…in all of these, we are living the concept and practice of hygge.
If Tolkien were alive today, he might agree that a perfect house is a hygge house. Many books have been written on the subject, and here is my favorite at Amazon, written by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. It’s well over 200 pages in hardcover, and the most comprehensive, gift-worthy book on the subject.
As we in the northern hemisphere experience longer nights, hygge is especially important as we typically spend more time indoors, preferring that which is warm, cozy and inviting. While we don’t necessarily seek perfection, we would arrive close to it, in our own way, by aiming toward comfort and joy in our home environment, which is the heart of hygge.
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