I recently found out that “hygge” is a finalist on the Oxford Dictionaries’ 2016 “word of the year” shortlist. I’ve never heard of this word before, a word best translated through the English “cosy“, although it’s just an approximate translation for: “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” But I’ve heard of the Dutch “gezelligheid”, which I think is a more accurate translation for “hygge” (although one that is much more difficult to pronounce).

I guess these Nordic people understand each other better in what regards surviving the long dark winters, and they invented a couple of ways to do that. On a Google search I discovered that the Internet is full of advice on how to create hygge at home. It’s not a bad thing to learn. Not at all! Now, after finally putting on some Christmas decorations on my house plants, I am wearing my thick socks and drinking a cup of hot chocolate, the cat curled up close to me on the couch, and I’m listening to Christmas carols. This is quite gezellig, don’t you think? Oh, sorry, super hygge? 🙂