Experience hygge in Denmark

“I now know hygge first-hand, experiencing it in homes nearly every day. At my cousin’s brick house in the forest, we sat around the dinner table, picking meat out of local crabs to put on bread for smørrebrød (open sandwiches), talking and laughing, drinking beer and wine. Another meal was in Klitmøller [...] At the table at this cousin’s summer home, the family broke out singing a cheerful song about feasting on various types of herring. Can’t say I’ve done that in the US! Hygge is in the connection we all shared, and it’s in many, many homes throughout Denmark, outside at picnic tables, on sofas by a fire.”

“I was quite enamored by their obsession with things that are “hyggeligt,” or “cozy” [...] Since it’s so cold and, frankly, miserable outside most of the time, “hygge” is necessary in every restaurant, bar, and home. Sure, it would be nice to add a little “hygge” to my life here in Madrid, but if I have to give that up so I can loudly rave and cheer in public to my heart’s content? It’s worth the sacrifice.”