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'The most alienated among us load up on weapons and express their soul-sickness in blood. Finland, Norway, and Denmark are not without problems, but researchers say what sets the happier nations apart is the premium their cultures place on time spent in...harmonious, intimate contact with friends and family. The Danes even have a word, "hygge," that describes these cozy, high-quality social interactions.'

http://theweek.com/articles/762397/americas-happiness-deficit

3 Answers

+2 votes
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Best answer

Hygge is an interesting word. We have it in my language too.

Often it can be translated cozy (hyggelig) or quality time (hygge).

But a hyggestund could also be spent alone; an evening in front of the fireplace with a good book and a blanket, with a raging storm outside can be hyggelig.

Good news are hyggelig, and receiving compliments too. 

A gesture can be hyggelig.

Even a warm person can be described as hyggelig.

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Very interesting, HegeMarie! And yes, this article does indicate there is no English word to translate "hygge" accurately...

I grew up among Scandinavians, it's my own heritage, and as I think of it maybe there was a certain spirit of warmth, conviviality, appreciation of life, that was quite wonderful. So I am glad to learn of words like hygge, hyggestund, hyggelig!

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Oh, so you have roots in Scandinavia yourself, Virginia?

I like to think that most cultures enjoys hygge, even if they don't have the word that quite covers it ;)
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Indeed yes, HegeMarie, the story is that my great-grandfather was the son of an aristocratic family in Sweden, but he was rather wild. So they sent him on a long ocean voyage to blow off some steam and get the wildness all out of his system. :silly:

Well in New York City, he met a waitress who came from a poor family in Sweden and they fell in love! When he married her, the family back in Sweden disowned him. One thing and another and they ended up here on the West Coast, where they homesteaded, and here we all still live.

* * *

This article is suggesting that the USA has a "happiness deficit," and that maybe if we had more hygge here, as in the Scandinavian countries where the happiness index is high, maybe people would be better off... <3

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That is quite a love story!

I hope they brought some hygge along with them, and that your family held on to it like an heirloom :D

We often refers to Swedes as "söta bror" (sweet brother)

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That is a lovely comment, HegeMarie, I did not know of the term söta bror!

+2 votes
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I think you're right! Families here seem to spend more time on their phones than anything else. Shame!

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Rooster you found an illustration! Remarkable!  <3

+2 votes
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Yep, more hugs are definitely in order.  :)
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:)


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Tink!!! It's you! All she needs is, well, her horns and her skull-in-hand... ;)  <3

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No, no, Virginia, the horns 'n' skull stuff is only for adults... don't want to scare the kiddies.  :)

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(sniff, snuffle) you mean...you mean...not even her fire-lined wings? ;):P 

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No,no,no... the fiery wings are only for telling dirty jokes.  :P :devil: :O :ermm: :) :D

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Oh well okay then...we do NOT want to cramp the style of our Tink...crushing her...:devil:  <3  :sideways:

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Rooster and O'Tink, 's better!

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