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Over the weekend one of our guests introduced me to the Danish concept of Hugge. I initially dismissed it as Ikea, but reading about it further it seems to resonate more with the handmade unique experience that I know some of the community like too.
Turns out I naturally hugge!
What do you think?
The New Yorker is a bit behind the times because hygge (as it is more usually spelled) has been around for a long time but became popular in shelter/home/lifestyle magazines a few years ago. My own opinion is that itās been hyped to smithereens 
In colder climates (and Iām from the north of England - brr) the concept of getting cosy and snuggly when itās cold outside just comes naturally. Where I live now (Florida) I need to know about the opposite of hygge!
However there are many aspects of Danish life that seem strange to Americans. 
I wrote this recently and the video is interesting.
@jaquo is right, IMHO, hygge has been overhyped. Not to mention itās a cold climate concept that doesnāt work in many areas. Here in Florida our ādonāt worry, be happyā attitude comes from the song by Bobby McFerrin, as well as the concept of āisland timeā and Key West.
As a species we humans need to practice whatever sort of modalities bring us relaxation and internal peace. Iāve been a practitioner and teacher of Tāai-chi for some 30 years.
The first time I had heard of it was the weekend.
I can see that itās inappropriate to be prescribing blankets and candles in a hot climate:smiley: Iām from Manchester England originally so well used to drizzle and damp weather that forces you to look for shelter. In my defence was attracted to it due to its non-clinical approach that I would normally have associated the IKEA, scandinavian look.
The idea of the different cultural modalities that project relaxation is super interesting to me.
Iāve been thinking of all the other cultures around the world that have this. Tāai-chi (hope I typed that right) is definitely one. As is the island time Bobby McFerrin analogy. I guess the Hippy ideas of the 60ās fit this too, maybe Surfing cultureā¦
Can you think of others?
Iām from just the other side of the hills (about 30 miles from Manchester) but Manchester was where I was at college - a wonderful place despite the drizzle and damp
Getting back to Denmark, Iāll put forward the āpytā that I mentioned in the article I posted above. Although it has no literal translation in English, itās the same principle as ādonāt worry, be happyā. (Consider too āenjoy yourself, itās later than you thinkā.)
I truly think this should be the anthem of Airbnb hosts. So many (if reading here is anything to go by) seem to worry about minor things or things that have happened in the past so canāt be changed.
In Denmark, theyād be told āpytā.
Shaun Walsh, (he of Strictly Shame fame) has sketch that pyt sounds appropriate. Its when he is considering that ālastā drinkā¦
I think āpyt itā should be the Airbnb strategyā¦ so easy to refer to in any moment of crisisā¦
bad review? -> āpyt itā
awful guest? -> āpyt itā
Untidy checkout? -> āpyt itā
From now on Iām gong to say āpyt itā a lotā¦ well I would if I could pronounce it:rofl:
Iām originally from Stockportā¦ my parents still live in Marple are you from Glossop, Sheffield, Leeds?
Aha! This is why I am up to my ears in winter bookings! Itās that socks-and-fire listing photo!
In between the two - Barnsley
The Danish people are the wannabe rebels of Europe. They are our neighboring country (Iām from Sweden) and Iāve been there for more times than I can count and still each time I get surprised over how different our two countries are. They live simple, have hardly ever any curtains up (whereas in Sweden even bachelors use curtains), show tv-programs for kids about being as naughty as possible and not giving a ā¦ you know what. They have a smoking queen and people drink and smoke around the clock. Last time I was there in the middle of a ānormalā neighborhood when one person had decided to put graffiti on his house in the middle of all of the other houses. Not only did this person paint their house with graffiti, but also their car. It sure lookedā¦ interesting. What you should never do in Denmark is order a pizza though. They must be worst in Europe to make them. I once got one with overboiled pasta inside of a calzone type pizza and they didnāt have ANY spices in it (no salt, pepper or anything) it was not enjoyable at all. Stick to their local foods and youāll be fine.
My dad was Danish and none of us 5 kids developed a taste for Danish foods, except for Aebleskivers. Love those! My Spanish/Native Californian mom was a pro at making them. Alas, I never learned how.
Wow - Thatās an interesting view you have of Denmark. I donāt think Iāve heard any of the things youāve mentioned before. Which cities have you been visiting?
We DO have a smoking queen - So happy she is able to make her own choices as any other adult in Denmark. According to OECD we are also way below average when it comes to both drinking and smoking (actually very close to Sweden)
In our normal neighbourhoods we donāt put graffiti on houses or cars. Of course you can find maniacs here as well as in Sweden
Funny way to generalize about all pizzas in Denmark, because you bought a pizza somewhere, that wasnāt good (I did that in Sweden, Spain, UK and lots of other places too) - But Iāve also gotten som great pizzas in the same countries.
I donāt know that wannabe rebels really are - But I love to live in a country, where everything is not politically correct, where kids can watch Pippi Longstocking and Emil (naughty and swedish), and adult people can drink a beer on the beach without getting arrested. In Denmark we call your country Forbidden-Sweden.
With that being said, not back to the topic: I think hygge is overrated.
We do tend to live inside during the whole winther - Its both cold and dark. We are snuggling in blankets and lighting candles to get through the winter here, eating a lot of chocolate and drinking hot drinks. Thatās hygge
Pyt might be translated best with: Just let it go/Leave it, I think
