Getting ‘hygge’ in the Dimpsey Hut

Here at Dimpsey we’re always looking at ways that we can make your experience even cosier, more relaxing and as chilled out as possible.

Recently we’ve been slightly obsessed with the art of Danish ‘hygge’, which is hard to explain and even harder to pronounce. But we’ll attempt to do both! The Danish word ‘hygge’ (pronounced ‘hooga’) translates roughly to ‘cosiness’. But there’s much more to the unique Danish concept of hygge than just a few rugs and a fire…..

Here’s how we discovered hygge!

Emma came across hygge on her recent family holiday and explains how it all fell into place for her…”We’ve holidayed in the same place in Cornwall for 18 years now – it’s our wind-down and get-away-from-it-all time.  We’re in a house next to a beach on the North Cornish coast, with our best friends and their family, so generally there are around 16 of us there including a grandparent from each family.  It might seem like a boringly samey holiday to some people, but we just love hanging out together, bringing and making great food – our own produced meat and various gin infusions abound, as well as a mound of artisan cheeses from http://www.countrycheeses.co.uk/ in Tavistock.  We hang out on the beach, dig major engineering works, go for walks on the Southwest coast path and chat over long lunches and suppers.

“While we were there, I read an article in the Saturday Telegraph and I could finally put a name to the feeling we get whenever we stay in the Dimpsey Hut – that warmth and cosy companionship of just being – with no distractions and no urgent matters needing attention.  I leant back in my chair and passed it to our friend’s Mum to read – she’s Danish – and as I passed it to her, I said what a great word it was and how much I liked the images that it conjured up.  She looked at me with her wise eyes, and said  ‘What you do here every year is hygge, you make time for each other, you have no other agenda – the nearest English word is cosy, but it doesn’t really do it justice – you do this already and do it very well, that’s why I come with you.’ “

For Claire, who’s a new member of the Dimpsey family, it was a literal literary moment! She had been reading (obsessing over!) Helen Russell’s most excellent book The Year of Living Danishly, and could totally relate to Helen’s new experience of the hygge during her new life in Jutland, Denmark. In fact, Claire thought her Danish roots had been encouraging her to hunker down and hygge in the UK (albeit with a large glass of red and Helen’s book!). Claire says: “Helen‘s writing uncovers the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country and she dedicates a whole chapter to hygge. It’s inspiring and laugh out loud funny. It makes you want to do anything you can do embrace the hygge experience.”

In an amazing coincidence, it was Helen Russell who wrote the article Emma had read, so we now feel Helen is an honorary member  of the Dimpsey family because her writing about hygge brought it all together for us. When you come to stay at Dimpsey you’ll be able to grab a copy of The Year of Living Danishly in the hut – we got one to share with you so you can read about hygge whilst doing the actual thing!

With our new obsession firmly in place, we looked deeper into the idea behind hygge, we just knew it was something that fitted perfectly with the Dimpsey values and experience.

Visit Denmark says that: ‘Hygge is as Danish as pork roast and it goes far in illuminating the Danish soul. In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Friends and family – that’s hygge too. There’s nothing more hygge than sitting round a table, discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are the happiest people in the world?’

So, we want you to get happy, to find your inner hygge and use the Dimpsey hut to be all hygge about life. With our cosy, intimate and warm hut we’re sure you’ll create that atmosphere, no problem at all.

The truly marvellous thing about hygge is that it’s not just for winter! You can still hygge at the Dimpsey Hut in spring and summer and autumn! The Danes use picnics, barbeques and chilling with friends as an excuse to embrace hygge, and we’ve got all this on hand at the hut, so you’ll never miss an opportunity to hygge!

If you fancy getting hygge, you know where to come. And of course, we’re always so happy to hear your feedback about your stay at the Dimpsey Hut – the hygge the better!

For ideas on how to bring the hygge to your home, why not check out this article here from Trouva!

Happy hygge!