The first time I heard the word hygge was during my visit to Copenhagen in 2016. To say hygge was having a moment would be an understatement. The Danish term is the concept of coziness and enjoying simple pleasures. According to The Little Book of Hygge, written by Meik Wiking, the term is “about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things.”

When I was in Copenhagen, people were still out and about in January, but in the book A Year of Living Danishly, author Helen Russell recounts being shocked by the vast emptiness of the little town they moved to during a winter day. Upon doing some research, she learned about the tradition, and that most Danes in the winter are cozied up at home getting their hygge on. “Hygge is the antidote to the cold winter, ... you can have hygge all year round, it is during winter that it becomes not only a necessity but a survival strategy,” mentions Wiking. This explains why the Danes have this concept perfected.

So, how does one hygge?

Candles and lighting are a big part of the equation; according to Russell, “Danes use more candles per capita than any other nation in the world, and burn through 6kg of waxen wicks a year.”

Once you’ve got that golden hour lighting down, the next thing is a comfortable place to sit with pillows and a cozy blanket. Your attire should be cozy as well, warm wool socks and sweaters come to mind. It’s also common to have indulgent food and drink, with gløgg (mulled wine) being most common during Danish winters, but cakes, pastries, warm cider and hot cocoa all make the cut.

Hygge activities include reading books, playing board games, watching movies or listening to music. Something rarely making the list is being preoccupied with ones mobile phone or social media. You can hygge alone or with friends, as spending time with family and friends is a big part of this way of life. Hygge almost always takes place at home, but you can find hygge in a cozy coffee shop. According to Wiking, the Danes almost never consider going out to be hygge.

One of my favorite parts (there's a lot) of The Little Book of Hygge is the suggestion of having a Hygge Emergency Kit, useful for evenings when you want to create the atmosphere of hygge but might be low on energy.

My personal Hygge Emergency Kit includes

• Candles

• Good quality hot chocolate mix

• My favorite book

• Wooly socks

• Matching sweatsuit

• Cozy blanket

• My favorite treats

The Little Book of Hygge is a great read and I could fill pages sharing everything I learned from it. However, I am in hyggehjørnet (read: to be in the mood for hygge) now that I’ve got my cozy corner set up for the remainder of the winter months. I'm looking forward to learning how to practice hygge year round and will surely be frequenting this concept on The Daily Vacation.