International Hygge Day Date in the current year: February 28, 2024

The Danish word hygge has no direct translation into English; it describes a feeling of contentment, coziness, warmth, peace, and happiness evoked by comfort. Imagine spending time with the people you love, in a cozy living room with blankets, cushions and a fireplace, eating your favorite comfort foods and drinking hot beverages; that’s what hygge is about.

The first recorded mentions of the word hygge (which can be used both as a noun and adjective, by the way) date back to the 19th century, but the cultural concept of hygge took its present shape in the second half of the 20th century and became an international phenomenon in the 2010s.

Some other languages have their own words to describe concepts similar to hygge (gezellig and gezelligheid in Dutch, Gemütlichkeit in German, koselig in Norwegian, mysig in Swedish), but it is hygge that has taken the world by a storm. In 2016, hygge was named the runner-up for Word of the Year by Collins English Dictionary (that year’s winner, Brexit, was hard to compete with) thanks to several books focusing on hygge that were published and widely marketed in the UK, such as The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking.

Hygge is often associated with the cold season because many of its attributes (hot cocoa and soup, warm sweaters, pie) are Yuletide traditions. However, moments of hygge can happen during any season. Summertime activities associated with hygge include walks and hikes, cycling, barbecues and picnics, concerts, and street fairs.

The origins of International Hygge Day are unclear, but it shouldn’t keep you from getting cozy on February 28. There are many ways to celebrate the holiday; here are just a few ideas for you to check out and get inspired:

• Spend the day with the people you love – or alone, if you feel like you need to decompress and recharge on your own.
• Unplug for several hours and do relaxing things that don’t involve technology (but first post about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #InternationalHyggeDay).
• Snuggle up in your favorite sweater and a pair of woolen socks under a comfy blanket.
• Enjoy a nice cup of warm tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or mulled wine.
• Cook your favorite comfort foods.
• Indulge in your favorite dessert.
• Engage in a creative hobby: write, draw, paint, sculpt, knit, crochet, sew, carve from wood, whatever makes you happy.
• Light some scented candles.
• Reread your favorite book or rewatch your comfort TV show.
• Go for a walk in the park or take a light hike if the weather allows.
• Relax in a luxurious bubble bath.
• Practice mindfulness through meditation or journaling.

Remember that hygge is all about small pleasures that make our everyday life better. Allow yourself to take short breaks and enjoy simple things like a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon or a fluffy sweater.