There has been an explosion of interest in all things Scandinavian in recent years, from interior design and Nordic noir to fashion and food. The latest trend to sweep the nation is the philosophy of hygge (pronounced ‘hooga’), which was originally a Norwegian term for wellbeing but was adopted in the 19th century by the Danes, who incorporated it into their way of life.
Hygge is sometimes loosely translated as ‘cosiness’, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about slowing down enough to appreciate the value – emotional as well as tangible – of the small things in life. Almost anything can be hyggelig – whether you’re baking pastries, entertaining friends, snuggling up in front of a roaring fire or luxuriating in a warm bath, the key to hygge is to find contentment and meaning in everyday moments.