“When Danes are asked what they most associate with hygge, an overwhelming 85% will mention candles. The word for spoilsport in Danish is ‘lyeslukker,’ which literally means, ‘the one who puts out the candles’… there is no faster way to get to hygge than to light a few candles or they are called in Danish, ‘levende lys,’ or ‘living lights.'” -Meik Wiking, The Little Book of Hygge

I am loving this book by Meik Wiking about “hygge,” the Danish word meaning, “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

I am looking for more ways to experience hygge in my life and lighting unscented candles is one of those ways. The Danes consume more amounts of candles per capita than any other country in Europe (probably the world) but they all serve a purpose of creating an atmosphere of comfortability and coziness to curl up and snuggle together.

I love learning new Danish words from the book too as most of them are compound words where they put together two or more words to say exactly what they mean.

For example:

lyeslukker – candle closer (spoilsport)

levende lys – living lights (candle)

They even add on suffixes to hygge to change the word from a noun to an adjective, such as:

hyggeligt

It is so fun learning about new cultures and how their lifestyles contrast with my own. I want to more fully embrace some of these lifestyle changes for myself and my family.

– Jason