ED’S LETTER

Last year, according to CNN, Denmark reclaimed its position as The World’s Happiest Country, snatching it back from Switzerland. Hard to believe, with all that chocolate, but that’s what happened. Not for the first time, either: Denmark has often been number one in the happiness stakes. And apparently it’s all down to the Danish concept of hygge.

Hygge is hard to define, but it seems to describe a prevailing sense of cosiness and calm. It’s about friends and family, and hunkering down together with people you love in a relaxed, warm space, away from all the craziness.

Easy for some, I thought – all that cosiness doesn’t really work here, where our weather is about 250% better than it is in Denmark. No one really wants to hang out indoors around a candle. Although… I did spend one long summer holiday as a kid ploughing through Enid Blyton’s Five Find-Outers series, during which I kept the curtains closed, huddled under my duvet, drank lashings of cocoa and ate toasted buns every chance I got. This was in KwaZulu-Natal – it must have been about 38°C outside every day. It was hell, but totally worth it.

But the weather has very little to do with hygge; it’s more about attitude than circumstance – enjoying simple pleasures as they arise rather than creating the perfect stage set, then sitting back and waiting for ‘the feels’ (as the teens say) to arrive.

HERE ARE THE 10 GUIDELINES MEIK WIKING LAYS OUT IN HIS MANIFESTO IN THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE:

• Set the mood • Be present • Treat yourself • Share • Be grateful • Don’t brag • Get comfy • Ditch drama • Build relationships • Create a safe space

Sounds like the recipe for a good life to me – no wonder the Danes are so happy. For this issue, we’ve embraced the concept, from fashion to food (that toasted sandwich may be a lot of effort, but it’s SO worth it).

So put on some warm, comfy socks, settle into your sofa with your copy of FAIRLADY, cup of cocoa (or glass of lovely red wine) close at hand – and happy hygge to you!