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Readers share how they combat winter and practice "hygge"

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The Hefel family enjoys an occasional, exhilarating "Wim Hof" lap around the house during the cold winter months. From right are Stella and Coos Hefel, and the family Labradoodle. (Photo submitted)

By Caroline Rosacker

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word used to acknowledge a feeling or moment, alone or with friends, at home or out and about. It can be ordinary or extraordinary, and is often described as cozy, charming or special. It was originally a Norwegian term, but made its way into Danish culture in the 1800s,

Hygge  doesn’t require learning how to adopt a certain lifestyle, or purchase anything new. It only requires consciousness, a certain slowness, and the ability to recognize and enjoy the present moment. 

Scandinavians incorporate and practice hygge in an effort to survive the long, cold, dark winters. The undefinable feeling of hygge has been a way for them to break up the mundane, and find moments to celebrate and acknowledge. The simple act of lighting a candle, and the ritualistic preparation of a warm beverage can be enough to lift someone’s spirit. It becomes a natural extension rather than a forced event. They view both their domestic and personal life as an art form and not a drudgery to get away from. 

The Guttenberg Press reached out to subscribers and asked: “How do you stay uplifted during the winter months, especially during a lockdown?” Their comments are listed in alphabetical order by last name. 

Anonymous

From late fall to early spring, what helps us survive cold and darkness is time spent around our small wood stove. Several features of the room or stove help make this time special. The room is small (thus cozy), it has windows that face west, and it is lit by dimmable lights. The stove has a glass panel in its front door, so we can enjoy looking at the fire, too, which is always a peaceful thing to do. We sit by our little stove in the a.m. over coffee and in the p.m. over other beverages. This dedicated time is something we look forward to. As we sit by the stove, we remember the work we invested into stocking our woodracks for the year, an activity that we enjoy, so we are warmed twice over. We let the woodstove raise the temperature in the little room to the low 80s, which allows us to shed some of the multiple shirt layers that winter requires, and creates a sense of summer even with snow outside.

Tracy Elsinger

For me, hygge means a feeling of peace, happiness, and contentment. It can be created in many ways, but among the more notable ones are sitting by a window under a fluffy blanket and watching snow fall outside or watching the birds at our feeders, and savoring a hot cup of tea after coming in from the cold on a winter day. 

To me, winter has always meant a time of slowness; of tranquility; of happiness in solitude, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at all other times of year. All those feelings can constitute hygge, and as such I try to embrace that which many people find difficult about this season. Finding hygge in small everyday things that we might ordinarily take for granted is more important than ever during this difficult winter. 

Another way my family and I like to create hygge is by having small family card parties. We have always played a lot of card games ever since I was child, including pinochle, euchre, and hearts. Some of my fondest memories involve weekend afternoons during the winter when my brothers and an uncle or two would come over for a few hours to play cards and drink hot cider or tea. The feelings of warm family togetherness sparked by those gatherings are the definition of hygge to me, and those card games are among the things I’m most looking forward to doing when things get back to some semblance of normal and it’s safe to gather again. Until then, I will turn to other ways of creating hygge, such as reading a good book or two, doing woodworking, and planning next year’s garden. 

Lisa Finch

To me there is nothing cozier than having a cat, or two, on your lap, a cup of something warm in a pretty mug or teacup, and a book to read and possibly fall asleep with. You could replace the book with a crochet project. Crochet is a craft which I recently relearned and that my mother and grandmother taught me many years ago. I enjoy the process of making something useful and beautiful.

Another thing that I believe is important to keep you feeling positive in the winter is to have things to do that require you to go outside. Since I married my husband, John, I have taken up cross country skiing so that we can ski together. Even small things like having bird or squirrel feeders that need filling or walking a little farther than you have to when you pick up your mail can get you out in the fresh air.

Becky Hefel

When we remodeled our home I knew I wanted a sunroom with many windows, so it would bring the indoors in when we can’t go out. A cozy chair and blanket in the early morning is an especially lovely time to watch nature come to life. The starkness of winter is a beautiful backdrop for a variety of wildlife that graces our yard daily. 

As temperatures dip, we light a fire in the fireplace to ward off the chill. The crackling sound, as the logs ignite, brings along with the warmth an almost instant feeling of security, comfort and peace. It also serves as a reminder to be grateful and use this time to savor life’s simple pleasures. Winter means bringing out board games, hot chocolate and slow oven-roasted meals as each day brings us closer to the renewal of spring. 

Sadie Hefel

In the change of the seasons, I find new rhythms to fit the weather and daylight available in the mornings. During the winter, I like to start my day by lighting a candle on the kitchen table for all to enjoy. On warmer months, I find myself going straight outside to practice yoga. Our family always has music playing in our home, starting from morning until bedtime. I enjoy waking my children up for school with musical artists that offer positive messages, like Owl City and Trevor Hall. Stirring them up with a foot massage, or back massage, gives them a great start to the day.

The sense of smell is an easy, yet powerful way for me to create a space for relaxation in my home and business. I like to use incense, sage, and essential oils. As an active family, we make a conscious effort to spend time together. We have game nights during the week, a movie night on the weekend, and home-cooked family meals daily. A “Gratitude Board,” that we keep in our kitchen, gives everyone a place to note things they are grateful for. Grandparents and sometimes friends of our children write notes on the board. Being out in nature is important to Jason and I individually, and as a family. In this chilly season, we enjoy walks, sledding, playing in the snow with our excitable Labradoodle, and an occasional Wim Hof lap around the house (also known as “The Iceman,” a Dutch extreme athlete known for his ability to withstand freezing temperatures).

Rabecca Hennessey

I believe the idea of hygge is universal, no matter what the season, but autumn and winter certainly inspire me to cozy up!  The cooler days of September prompt me to gather up the summer flowers on my front porch and decorate with sunflowers and mums in the earth colors of burgundy, oranges and deep greens, light the candles and find my favorite red pashmina to wrap up in.

The porch in November then gets adorned with the snow-frosted evergreen limbs, holly berries and poinsettias, along with the red plaid flannel pillows on the outdoor chairs, in time for the holiday season. The fireplace gets turned on more often than not, and taper candles light each window in our big old house throughout the cold winter months.  I turn in early at night during these short days, setting the coffee timer to 5 am - it’s a rush for me to smell coffee perking when I roll out of bed, and starts the day on the right foot! I enjoy the dark early morning hours, reading with my coffee in hand. 

I use these months to spend time in my studio to finish up paintings that were started outdoors the previous summer and fall, and to set new goals for the upcoming painting year. 

In February and March, we look forward to a big snow, so we can get out the snowshoes and appreciate the long lavender sunshadows on the sparkling snow and possibly get inspired to do an outdoor painting on a sunny snow day. I am blessed to have a best friend who makes sure I have something blooming upon my windowsill during the bleak of winter — this year it’s paperwhites!  I’m reminded that life is full of changing seasons, and even in the darkest of winter, there is the promise of something blooming up ahead.

Dan Kuempel

My wife, Deena, and I do what we have to, and make up our minds to stay positive during the winter months. We love the view of the Mississippi River from our home in Guttenberg – even the ice in the winter. 

I was on the road during a past snowstorm, and it was inconvenient. It forced motorists to slow down and change plans, but it was beautiful. The following days the sun was shining and the conditions created hoarfrost, which was stunning. 

Our black Labrador keeps us busy and motivated to get outside. We are participating in a park challenge this year and have enjoyed beautiful scenery and glorious weather in several locations throughout Clayton County. We follow Iowa basketball this time of year, which is something to look forward to. 

It is not always easy for our culture to live a balanced life. In the United States we are brought up to work hard and not take time off. We become over-involved in our careers and kids’ activities. Technology and the news media is something to pass our time, but not always the healthiest thing. The Norwegians are born into a hygge lifestyle. 

The pandemic has effected everyone’s attitude – in some cases it has benefitted. I am currently working from home in advertising. It is nice to not wear a tie, and I have a little more control over my schedule. 

Life is not always a bowl of cherries. There are days you have to look a little harder than usual to make your life as good as you can.

Robbie Reyerson-Nelson

I live in Wisconsin, so you either find ways to embrace the winter months or it proves for a very long season. Winter in Wisconsin — what’s not to like?

I have always enjoyed winter so it is easy for me. The thing I like to do most in the winter is go out for a walk and enjoy mother nature’s artwork. The snow on the many pine trees we have in our area is beautiful. We are blessed with numerous trails to walk on, and a few of these trails are within a block of our home. Taking Murphy to the dog park and watching him run through the snow and over the hills just makes me smile, and it has helped with his social skills. 

There are days that the temperatures can be brutally cold so my walks are not as long. On these types of days there is nothing better than curling up by the fire with a good book or baking. I find that I do much more baking in the winter months versus the summer months. I am one who loves my time at home. I find comfort in just being at home;  the winter months force me to slow down.  In the summer I am outside every waking moment I am not at work, as I love digging in the dirt. In the winter I find comfort in doing those behind-the-scenes things like purging closets, and believe it or not thoroughly cleaning those areas that we just tend to skim over in the summer. I feel by doing so many of these behind-the-scene things in the winter, prepares me for my constant outside time in the summer. Our house is not big by any means but we have been fortunate to have created some wonderful memories with our kids and now our grandsons. Our so called starter home that we built 35 years ago has become our forever home.

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