How to Celebrate National Hygge Day

It’s the most hyggelig day of the year! Yep, that’s right – there is such a thing as National Hygge Day. And just in case you’re wondering…

What is National Hygge Day?

National Hygge Day is a holiday that is celebrated on March 1 in the United Kingdom. The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the concept of hygge and encourage revelers to spend the day following hyggelig practices to create a day full of coziness and contentment.

Similarly, there is also International Hygge Day which is celebrated ever year on February 28.

Need a reminder on what exactly hygge is? In short, it’s a feeling of warmth and wellbeing; of peace and happiness. But if you need a longer explanation, click here!

How do you celebrate National Hygge Day?

Looking to get into the spirit of the holiday? There are many ways you can spend the day practicing hygge and – in doing so – create an enjoyable day for yourself. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Spend time with the ones you love. Whether it be family members of friends, make a point to be together with the ones you love and whose presence brings you joy. Have a breakfast date with your BFF, invite your family members over for a game night or snuggle up with your significant other. One of the easiest ways to practice hygge is to appreciate the ones you love and to enjoy their company. If you’re unable to spend time with your loved ones due to work or distance, give them a quick call and let them know you’re thinking of them. These random acts of kindness never go unnoticed!

Prepare something delicious and let it cook all day. Celebrate National Hygge Day with a hyggelig recipe. The best hygge recipes are those that take a long time to cook – waiting to indulge in something you’ve smelled cooking in the oven or slow cooker for several hours makes it all the more enjoyable when it’s time to dig in! National Hygge Day is the perfect occasion for your favorite slow cooker recipe.

Don’t forget dessert! Hygge is all about enjoying those special moments, which definitely includes having a slice of chocolate cake or a piece of decadent bread pudding. Life is too short to not eat dessert! Looking for a recipe that is easily shareable? Check out this recipe for red velvet crinkle cookies. Sharing homemade food and desserts by the way — very much hygge.

Unwind and relax. Are there things that you enjoy doing but rarely get to because you’re busy with work, house chores and other obligations? Make time for you today and do that thing you always put off and de-prioritize. For me, something I enjoy doing is writing. I write all week long for work but also enjoy taking time to write creatively for myself. Unfortunately, this tends to be the thing that I always place at the bottom of my priority list, focusing first on taking care of my home and others. In other words, I’m guilty of putting my craft on the back burner. One of the ways I’m spending International Hygge Day is refining a story I’ve been working on. As I often remind myself, life is too short! Make time for you.

Create a hyggelig environment. Light some candles and make yourself a hot beverage. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, light it. As mentioned above, unwind and relax. You deserve it!

Go outside. Spending time in nature is very hygge. Take a walk or if it’s still winter where you live like it is in New York, consider skiing, snowboarding or sledding. Leave your phone inside to make the experience extra hygge.

Get your creative juices flowing. Draw, paint, sew, write, whittle, sculpt, knit, whatever your preference. Being creative is hygge at its finest. As mentioned above, I love to write but I also love to partake in almost ever activity mentioned in that list! Even if you’re not confident in your creative skills, keep at it. It’s amazing for your mental health and you never know when you might stumble upon an undiscovered talent.

Above all else, the best way to have a hygge day is to do the things that you enjoy and to practice gratitude. Appreciate yourself, your loved ones and be grateful for where you are in life. Use National Hygge Day as a reminder to treat yourself with kindness and as another burst of inspiration for creating a peaceful and empowered lifestyle.