hygge – the art of coziness

By Tara Bruce

Traveling to Copenhagen to experience the magic of Hygge in Winter firsthand

Recently, I journeyed to Copenhagen, Denmark, arriving on St. Nicholas Day, greeted by a winter wonderland that felt straight out of a storybook. The streets shimmered with holiday magic, every window and doorframe lovingly wrapped in fresh pine garlands, their earthy scent mingling with the crisp winter air. Tables and chairs hugged glowing wood fires, and slender candles stood proudly, their wax cascading like slow-moving rivers, mesmerizing with their quiet dance.

Despite the chill, warmth seemed to emanate from every corner—not just from the fires but from the thoughtful details meant to comfort the soul. Each chair was draped with a soft, woolen blanket, an invitation to linger and feel at home. Real mugs, heavy and warm to the touch, were filled with Glogg—a spiced elixir of mulled wine, rum, almonds, cloves, and raisins that tasted like Christmas itself. Sweet, spiced, and just strong enough to ignite a cozy glow from within.

As night descended, the Christmas markets sparkled under strings of fairy lights, their golden glow reflecting off cobblestone streets. The air hummed with familiar carols, wrapping the city in nostalgia and wonder. It felt as though the world had paused, wrapped in a comforting embrace of joy and stillness.

Even at Hotel Sanders, the coziness continued. The lobby, with its deep inviting couches and softly crackling fire, felt less like a hotel and more like an intimate gathering in a dear friend’s living room. Guests lingered over pots of hot tea, their quiet conversations blending harmoniously with the comforting snap of the fire. Time seemed irrelevant here; warmth, connection, and presence were all that mattered.

This was hygge—a sense of being held by the moment, of finding warmth not just in the physical but in the spirit of shared experiences and quiet comforts. In Copenhagen, I didn’t just experience winter; I lived in its embrace, wrapped in its magic, soothed by its gentle glow.

Hygge is pronounced “hue-guh” and is a Danish word meaning comfort, well-being; enjoying life’s simple pleasures alone or with loved ones. This is a Danish art of experiencing happiness, which allows you to bring unlimited joy into your daily life. This is a philosophy and daily practice that encourages you to feel contentment and coziness by living in the moment, or being fully present and engaging with your surroundings fully with all of your senses.

As the weather gets colder, we tend to want to get cozy with warm mugs of tea or coffee and snuggle by a fire under a blanket with a loved one, or a good book. These are some examples of feeling cozy or experiencing hygge. Hygge is such an embodied part of Danish culture and despite winters with only six hours of daylight and really cold temperatures of -30 C (-22 F), the Danes are ranked as some of the happiest people in the world. Here’s how we can learn from them.

Some ways to take in pleasure from the presence of gentle and comforting things are:

1. Candlelight – light a candle. In the book Anam Cara by Celtic poet John O’Donahue, he talks about the mystery that exists in candlelight. He says, “Candlelight perception has the finesse and reverence appropriate to the mystery and autonomy of soul. Such perception is at home at the threshold.” He reminds us of the beauty in the mystery and how our soul feels at home in the reverence and kindness of candlelight.

2. Creating moments of just BEING – by choosing simple pleasures. Listen to a record, watch the snow fall outside your window, and feel the weight of a quilt surrounding you as you nestle by the fire. Eat warm and hearty foods that are tied to childhood memories, or just make you feel good on the inside. Engage with your senses by fully seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling everything around you with gratitude.

3. Linger longer – Linger after your meal at the table a while longer before rushing to clean up. Decide to be still before moving on to the next thing on your list, and just appreciate the goodness in each moment. “Fika” (fee-kah) is a Swedish tradition that I experienced when I stayed with a Swedish family when I was 12. I remember taking breaks throughout the day to enjoy coffee and pastries or rye crackers and smoked fish spread. Everyone stopped what they were doing and came together to slow down in the midst of their busy day to enjoy each other. I remember the sense of community it created. This was impactful to me as a 12-year-old and something I struggled to cultivate when I came home. But, when I got older and had children, I made sure to create these “fika” moments throughout the day.

4. Nature is grounding – Spend time in nature, even if it is cold, and feel how it invigorates you. Being in nature is so good for your mental and physical health. There is a Norwegian word, “Friluftsliv” (free-loofs-leaf) that means “open-air-living” or the emphasis on the connection between time spent in the outdoors and our overall well-being. Getting out in nature for a little fresh air and movement always boosts the spirit.

5. Create a space to nourish your soul – You want your home to feel like a cozy nook after a hard day at work. Add textures, blankets, and pillows to create the sense of being snuggled or held in your space. Keep the fire going, and add elements to affect the mood and ambiance, like music, candles, and incense. Hyggekrog (hoo-gah-krog) refers to a cozy nook or corner specifically set aside to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. This can be a dedicated space in your home that feels inviting and warm. Maybe you create a little reading nook or a space to journal and meditate with a big, comfy chair and an electric kettle for making tea.

6. Experience gratitude by expressing it – Being grateful is the number one way to remove fear from your brain and move you into a state of contentment and bliss, which is the highest frequency or vibrational state we can experience. Did you know when you live out of such a state of gratitude, it is hard to have disease because your body is at complete “ease?” A simple way to express and feel gratitude is when you wake up every morning- think of one person in your life to whom you can send a note expressing your gratitude. Not only will this make you feel good, but you are also helping someone else to feel good!