hygge: [pronounced hoo-gah]

This time of year demands a certain slowness. With that, we’re seeking to find joy in the mundane. If we must slow, we hope to do so with intention and gratitude. For guidance, let us look to the Scandinavians, who consistently rank as the happiest people in the world. Many Scandinavian cities experience the Polar Night, where nighttime lasts for more than 24 hours, so how do they avoid the winter blues? By choosing to celebrate the darkness of winter rather than endure it.

They created the art of hygge, which is hard to describe because it’s more of a feeling. The workable translation we’ve gathered is coziness, comfort, and belonging. It’s the feeling you get when you’re curled up on the couch and the intro track for The Holiday comes on. Or when you’re sitting around your kitchen table with those you love, filled to the brim with good food and merriment. It’s the way the world goes quiet after a fresh snowfall, illuminated only by the flicker of candles on windowsills.

Lighting is a key element of hygge. The Happiness Research Institute studies show that 85% of people associate hygge with candles. That’s where we come in. We invite you to allow hygge into your home and heart this season with the help of our new collection.

Reverie + Relatedness

• Reverie: a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream
• Relatedness: the state of being connected

While it’s possible to hygge alone, we encourage you to share this winddown time with your loved ones. It’s about community. Perhaps this is the recipe for adding more joy to our lives this season. May we indulge in the simplicity of spending time with those we love. While we’re at it, let’s light a candle (or a few). That’s what the Scandinavians would do.