Winters in Denmark are known to be cold and dreary. On the worst days, Danes see just seven hours of sunlight, and it’s often only a little glow peeking out from behind the fog and clouds. For many people, these conditions can trigger the winter blues or, as the condition is formally known, seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, the people of Denmark seem to have that gloomy winter feeling figured out better than the rest of us.
Disclaimer: SAD is a diagnosable mental health condition, and for some people, the best treatment might be seeing a licensed therapist or taking a doctor-prescribed medication. The ideas expressed here are not meant to replace professional support.
Denmark is consistently named one of the happiest countries in the world, and in 2024, the Scandinavian nation nearly took the top spot in the World Happiness Report’s annual list. This is all true even as Denmark has some majorly gloomy weather for much of the year, and hygge might have something to do with the country’s joyful reputation.
How hygge might drive away seasonal depression
Hygge has become one of Denmark’s biggest cultural exports, with books and countless articles written about the concept. It’s even common to find home goods and other products in stores, claiming to bring hygge to your environment no matter how far you live from Scandinavia. Hygge can loosely be translated as “coziness,” though it’s worth noting the word’s origins aren’t actually Danish. Rather, hygge came from the Norwegian verb hugga (meaning “to comfort,” similar to the word “hug” in English).
It’s no surprise that such dark and cold countries like Denmark and Norway would embrace hygge. For many up north, the approach is the only way to get through the winter without feeling down or depressed. Instead of dreading those chilly, gray days, Danes (and others in the region) treat them as an opportunity to hibernate indoors, where they can revel in simple comforts. That’s why hygge is often associated with a specific interior design aesthetic, with warm lights, thick blankets, and calming neutral shades.
With that said, hygge is an attitude just as much as it is an atmosphere. Those who hygge-fy their winter days make an intentional effort to invite friends over for dinner or partake in fulfilling indoor hobbies. It’s a refusal to treat winter as a negative or unpleasant experience. If you suffer from SAD, this may be easier said than done; still, shifting how you view the cold-weather months could be enough to lift your spirits until spring rolls around.
Easy ways to practice hygge in the winter
Like the Netherlands’ niksen concept, you don’t have to put much effort into hygge-fying your lifestyle. During a trip to Copenhagen’s Happiness Museum, I discovered a list of items Danish people commonly associate with hygge — since, of course, they would know better than anyone else. Thankfully, for those of us who aren’t born into a culture of coziness, the things on the list are mostly easy to recreate. Here are some examples from the museum’s data:
- Hot drinks
- Candles
- Fireplaces (fake ones displayed on your TV count in a pinch!)
- Board games
- Comforting music
- Sweets and pastries
- Cooking
- Books
- Watching TV
Other ideas include taking a bath, working on a craft or art project, hosting a get-together at your home, and doing puzzles. Most Danes will tell you that hygge is a shared experience, and that’s only one reason to round up your loved ones: A 2021 study also confirmed that social contact can reduce symptoms of depression. If you’re prone to SAD, treat winter as a time to join book club meetings or kick off a weekly game night at your place. You might notice yourself feeling bright and sunshiny, even if the weather outside is anything but.