Pub Theology 1/7/25 -- Hygge for the new year
It's January, it's cold, and that means it's cozy season! That also means it's time for hygge, a Danish concept that has become recently popularized, inspiring books, articles, TV series, and even Nordic-noir crime novels. So what does it mean?
According to the Danes, hygge is about taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about -- or even by yourself -- to relax and enjoy life's quieter pleasures. The word dates from around 1800, at least in its current meaning, and other Nordic languages have their own, related, words for the same idea. In short, hygge is often about informal time together with family or close friends.
A Danish government website on Danish culture summarizes hygge like this: "It usually involves sharing a meal and wine or beer, or hot chocolate and a bowl of candy if children are included. There is no agenda. You celebrate the small joys of life, or maybe discuss deeper topics. It is an opportunity to unwind and take things slow." That sounds a lot like some of our Pub Theology sessions.
The cold, dark, and wet climate during long parts of the year encourages Danes to spend time together indoors. Thus, winter is the prime time for hygge. Cold, dark, and wet sounds a lot like winter around these parts as well, so we're going to take our cue from Denmark and spend our discussion time this week getting cozy and answering some hygge-inspired questions.
Join us for the discussion tomorrow evening, Tuesday Jan. 7, starting at 7pm at Casa Real in downtown Oxford.
