I have been seeing this all over my social media pages, even seen it on my coloring app, Hygge. Of course, I had no idea what it was....something to do with Christmas traditions from a European nation that is just now going mainstream? Something to eat? Some new holiday rituals? Have I been living under a rock and missed out on something good? Well, the short answer, both yes and no to all.

I'll explain; Hygge, pronounced "hooga" is a Danish concept that "cannot be translated to one single word but encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life." So, the idea comes from Denmark, a European country known for it's long winters, yet consistently ranked as one of the World's happiest nations.

Hygge has been described as an obsession with all things cozy, that favorite blanket, curled up on the couch, or in front of a fire, reading a good book, enjoying a home-cooked meal, anything that leads to feelings of contentment. While this trend has been in Denmark since the 1800's, with the word deriving from the Norwegian word for "well-being" it has exploded in popularity across the pond in the United Kingdom, and more recently here in the United States.

So go ahead and enjoy the peace and quiet, or invite friends over for an afternoon or evening of friendship and fun. Comfort foods, welcoming atmosphere, it's very easy to partake in hygge. Put the phone down, interact with your friends and family, or get caught up reading that book you haven't gotten around to yet. Be comfortable and feel content with your surroundings and life. That seems to be the heart of hygge.

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