If ever we could use extra doses of comfort and joy, this holiday season would be it. If you’re looking to create a cozy, warm atmosphere, all you need to do is add a little hygge. Here’s my best tips on how you can easily incorporate a little hygge into your holidays.
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Hygge holidays
Being Canadian, we’re actually pretty well set up to for having hygge holidays. There’s a lot of different definitions for what hygge is, but it’s essentially the Scandinavian art of coziness. Yes, they’ve crafted coziness into an art form!
Hygge is about creating a warm atmosphere and being content. You don’t need a lot of money to do this. You would, ideally, be spending time with good friends and family you love.
Both Canada and the Nordic countries of Europe have longer winters with shorter days. More darkness means we’ve got to make more of an effort to bring in extra light. Applying some hygge principals accomplishes this.
Where to start
Here’s a little writer’s secret of mine: The quickest way to find inspiration comes from flipping through magazines and catalogs. I love them all, and have files upon files of articles and pictures I’ve ripped out. Community Natural Foods just came out with their Seasonal Lookbook and I’m not ashamed to admit I’ll be knocking off several of their ideas this winter.
Warming up your home
You don’t have to splash out and shop for new decor to cozy up your home. But you do need to set the stage. Step one in creating a warm environment is lighting – or rather lack there of. Turn off harsh electric lights. Use a dimmer switch if you’ve got one. Light lots of little candles and don’t be shy about putting up Christmas lights – even in unexpected places like the bedroom or your closet to give you a little boost on chilly mornings.
Keep lots of candles on your table to set the mood when you’re eating, paying bills and working from home. Little touches like this go a long way. Check to ensure you’re using cleaner candle options like soy or beeswax.
If you have one of those essential oil diffusers, now is the perfect time to have delicious scents wafting through your home. Nothing brings back the nostalgia of Christmas past than woodsy scents for me. On my snowy winter walk this past weekend, I gathered a bunch of evergreen boughs that had fallen on the trail and made a free, little stair swag.
Treating yourself
While the jury’s still out if we’ll be able to gather together with friends and family over the holiday season, we can still feel a sense of contentment with warm food and drink. Casseroles, soups, meat pies, all these are perfect hygge meals and freeze well in case small gatherings aren’t allowed.
If you want to get really cozy, nothing beats the scent and sense of anticipation from a bubbling pot of melted cheese. Fondue is the ultimate winter happiness meal. If you’re concerned about double dipping, you can easily portion out gooey chocolate or cheese fondues into individual ramekins.
This allows family members to customize as they like. For cheese fondues consider adding truffle oil, chilis or even a dash of maple syrup. For chocolate fondue, cinnamon, orange essence, mint or purred raspberries are fun additions to try. Trust me, kids love the add-ins!
Pssst: L’Ancetre cheese (including their special fondue cheese) can be found at Calgary’s Community Natural Foods. A Quebec cheese company, L’Ancetre was one of the first organic cheese and butter producers in Canada. All their products are ethically sourced and environmentally friendly, too.
When it comes to drinks, think warm apple cider, organic hot chocolate or flavoured teas. (I love citrusy notes at this time of year.) Up the hygge component by heading outdoors to gaze at the stars with your mug of festive goodness and perhaps a fleecy blanket over your shoulders.
Hygge gift ideas
If you’re in the mood to shop and need some hygge gift ideas or would like to up your own hygge game, here are some essentials:
- Blankets – lots of them
- Candles
- Essential oil diffusers
- Festive mugs
- Thermos
- Winter picnic blanket
- Thick books
- Bath salts, bubbles and thick body lotion
- Board games
- Good quality chocolate
- Journal
- A photo album – bonus points for the personal touch.
I’m sure you can find even more ideas in Community’s Seasonal Lookbook! (Available in store or click on the link to download.) I found a recipe for keto sugar cookies and there’s a great section on how to handle holiday stress. I was THRILLED to see that they’d listed Holy Basil (in the stress section) as I’ve recommended it to two friends recently.
Don’t forget, Community Natural Foods offers home delivery and curbside pick up.
Save this post for future reference
Simply save the image below to Pinterest. I hope you’ll follow Travels with Baggage on Pinterest while you’re at it.
MORE COZY IDEAS:
How to create a hygge box for friends (or yourself next year)
What the first bite of a gingerbread person says about your personality
How to look good Christmas morning
This post is presented in partnership with Community Natural Foods. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Travels with Baggage.
Love having the lights dimmed with the Christmas tree on. Getting into comfy pants after work (since we’re not going anywhere ). Lots of movie nights with popcorn too!
Comfy pants for the win!
I stay cozy with warm blankets and good coffee! Nothing beats the smell of fresh java in the room.
Stay home or practice safe social distancing. Put on some candles, cozy up, and zoom your loved ones. I’m following on Facebook and am subscribed to the blog.
Great suggestions!
Making s’mores in the backyard on our firepit.
We are planning to have lots of board games and puzzles days and evenings at our house. We will be trading with our neighbours so that we can all try different games/puzzles without having to break the bank and buy new ones!
Oh the trade. Good idea!
Following on facebook via Heather Howard. All signed up via email p*y%$#@hotmail.com (symbols in place of letters)
Got it!
Fondue is the ultimate comfort food! I would LOVE to recreate it at home. (I like your Facebook page and subscribe) great suggestions!
Thanks, Miranda!
In nice warm PJs in front of the TV fireplace drinking hot chocolate ☺️
Excited to play board games, watch movies and do some crafts and baking with the kids!
Staying safe and cozy means listening to the rules, wear and mask and for the next little while stay at home and avoid gatherings all together. Plan food nights from different countries to think of travel days in the future.
I love to turn on the electric fireplace, cozy up with a warm blanket and watch a movie. Awesome prize! Thanks for the chance to win.
Quiet relaxing time in the infared sauna, an intimate meal with the one(s) you love, good wine and soft music while relaxing together or playing a challenging board game..Life is more than having to be someplace else rather than home.
Christmas tree lights, a favorite special beverage (grog? nog?) and maybe a movie. A fondue would be an extra special treat for us!
Jill
I plan on staying safe and cozy by taking time to read a good book by the fireplace.
Stay home and drink wine, also eat cheese.
I’m making lots of soup. I freeze it and gift my senior neighbours in my condo building.
Staying safe and cozy this Christmas Season, but cuddling up on the couch in front the the fireplace and watching old Christmas Movies. Hope all is well with you Jody during this time. Take care and have a Safe Merry Christmas
It’s great being outside, but you have to be very aware when you have been out in the cold too long. Make sure you are also wearing layers, layers keep heat in. Already fan on FB and subscribed to blog. =)
Fairy lights, hot tea, cookies, movies, Christmas tree, books, board games!
Work from home when we can and hide under cozy clothes and blankets while working. Watching holiday lights online or driving by in our car and minimizing going out to look at lights in person where crowds are.
Following on Facebook under May Lilly
We are nestled in with our buffalo plaid flannel pants, buffalo plaid slippers, under a soft blanket, sipping cocoa out of a buffalo plaid mug. Very Canadian of us, no?
We keep the curtains closed, the Christmas tree on, and snuggle up on the sofa with throw blankets. I absolutely love fondue but haven’t had one since my dad passed in 2007. Thanks for the chance ????
Subscribed and already following on facebook ❤️
Stay home, fireplace on, hot chocolate, cuddles from my kiddos.
Lights off, fireplace on, Christmas tree on, a cozy blanket, popcorn, hot chocolate bombs, and all the Hallmark Christmas movies I can find!
We watch movies, dress comfortably, cook together, and play cards together. Really we have made some delicious meals this year. Baking cookies, and just spending time together is keeping us cozy. We should have a fondue night soon.
I’m following on Facebook and I subscribed.
Thank you, Debbie!
I will be staying home and lighting my wood burning fireplace. It takes mlre time to start than an electric kne butnis so worth it when you do!
subscribe to newsletter and facebook too:)
We’ll be driving around near and far within our cohort , admiring Christmas lights/displays. Rest of winter, probably hibernating infront of the fire, with an occasional outing in the backcountry.
Great ideas
Let’s keep warm this winter and holiday season by staying indoors with a warm blanket, good book or christmas movie and hot chocolate ( maybe with baileys) or physical distancing outside with a great walk in snowshoes followed by a warm fire.
We’re going to cozy up with lots of good books and blankets this holiday (and winter)!
I live with my daughter and my 10 year old grandson. He has never had a fondue before. I feel so lucky to be around a child still at Christmas. So we spend a lot of time together eating, watching TV, playing cards and board games, baking cookies and doing arts and crafts.
Love sharing memories with friends, twinkle light, music and slippers! Yummy scents too!
I love cheese fondue! Already following and subscribing!
Lots of time in front of the fire place and watching movies.
Our three things that are getting us through the last month have been family hot tubs, puzzles and a new puppy!
So many great things!
Hibernation!!
With an endless supply of hot chocolate!!
Stay home. Watch Christmas movies and cuddle up with some warm blankets. Thanks for the chance ????
We are staying safe and cozy playing LOTS of games. I think Santa will be bringing some new games that will keep us all busy over the holidays. Oh and a fire and wine for me!
Hopefully a delish fondue Xmas dinner for two and movies.
Stay safe and cozy at home with a glass (or two) of wine and chocolates by the fire and watching some Christmas classics on Netflix!
Red wine, love actually and fondue of course!
Dress warm and take your vitamins.
Curling up on the couchbwoth my comfy blanket and slippers watching hallmark movies
Getting cozy on the couch with comfy pants or PJ’s and a very fuzzy blanket and watch Christmas movies.
We have been spending a lot of time under fuzzy blankets from Christmases past. Spicy oils in the diffuser and decorative lights all around. Seasonal teas and fancy homemade hot chocolate are filling our days as well.
All such great ideas!
Snuggling up on the couch with blankets and pillows and watching Christmas movies with the family. When they are all in bed I love curling up in a blanket on the couch by the Christmas tree, sipping tea, and listening to Christmas music (better yet when I can see snow falling outside the front window)
I need to do that when the house is quiet!
I love to curl up with a cozy blanket, tea and book.
Get out into nature! Lots of fresh air and room to explore! Snow shoe, cross country ski or go on city trails 🙂
Netflix and heated blanket with wine!
Love cheese fondue! For a safe cozy winter indoors you can’t beat a comfy pair of stretchy pants, cozy blanket & hot chocolate while sitting a room lit with candles & smaller lamps with decorative cutouts to throw patterns on the walls.
I need to keep safe for my kids and grandson who is turning three this year.Would love to tell and teach him all about fondus.
Not too far off now. Once it’s safe to do so, I hope you have a lovely reunion.
Red wine and a fire!
We love having warm drink by the fire ( outside or inside).
We like to have the fireplace going, play some board games, read a book or do some puzzles.
Comfy clothes for family movie or board game nights!
Already subscribed and liked your FB page.
Nothing like curling up with family, having the Christmas tree lit up, playing board games and having sweet baked treats! ❤️
I think the key to being content and cozy over the next few months is to create the space that brings you the most peace . I love staying home because my house is my sanctuary. Lost of candles and essential oils going in the diffusers. Crochet patterns at the ready and lots of good books and wine on hand. Why do I need to be anywhere else???
Wrapped up in a blanket by the fire drinking a blueberry tea.
Is that the kind of tea with amaretto in it?
coffee with a good book
Christmas classic books, puzzles, candles and someone baking gingerbread. Ahhhhh
A good book and warm tea sitting on my recliner in warm and comfy loungewear.