Can the English do hygge?

Once all the new year shenanigans are behind us, we will have the worst of the winter to look forward to. Time, I think, for a hefty dose of hygge and I’m sure you all know what that is. But just in case you don’t, I’ll tell you…

Hygge is a Scandinavian word which roughly equates to getting cozy. I haven’t looked into it in much detail, but I get a general idea of log fires, hot chocolate, hand knitted jumpers and the feeling that outside the wind is howling over a pristine snow scene.

This is a very appealing scenario. Sadly, though, here in southern England we can never be sure of snow scenes, pristine or otherwise. If we DO have snow it is usually in quantities that makes Scandinavians laugh but still causes chaos for commuters, quickly turning into slushy muck for walkers. It also gives us hours and hours of news programmes about travel chaos. Not very cosy.

You see, our weather just can’t make up its mind. One day we have a cold snap so you are ready for lashings of hot chocolate and get in a supply of logs, only to find that, before you can light the fire, it’s gone all mild and damp and the weather is sitting outside the window sulking. You put away the jumpers and go to bed under a summer weight duvet, only to wake in the night freezing cold because the sulky weather has decided to catch you out again and turned icy.

Another day it is dull, grey and depressing and will probably start drizzling relentlessly so that you wish it would just pour down in buckets and get it over with. Sometimes it DOES pour down for days, bringing floods and misery. Again, not very cosy.

As for chestnuts roasting on an open fire at Christmas, you can forget it. It is always mild over Christmas, so you are better off saving your chestnuts for January. Or probably February, just when you are looking for the first signs of spring and hoping the weather might cheer up a bit. But no, it will turn cold just in time to freeze the blossom off the trees, having tricked them into thinking spring has sprung.

When the weather is depressing you need to find a way to compensate for it indoors. I find a cup of tea and a good book helps, and there are plenty of biscuits left over from Christmas to get through (well, it would be wrong to waste them, wouldn’t it). But if anyone has any bright ideas about hygge, English style, I’d be glad to hear them.