The Norwegian trend we should embrace this winter

Could 'koselig’ be the new ‘hygge’?

If you are discussing comfort, warmth and cosiness over the cold winter months, the term hygge is now commonplace. 

Shops, adverts, magazines and blogs are full of the Danish word that describes the feeling of wellbeing and contentment that you get when you sip from a warm mug of hot chocolate, snuggle under a thick, furry throw or pull on a luxurious cashmere sweater.

Did you know the word hygge originated from Norway and today’s Norwegians now use a completely different term – koselig? If you type koselig into Google Translate, cosy pops up. But it means so much more than just cosy.   

Here’s our take on why we should all embrace koselig this winter:

1. There’s nothing more koselig than entertaining friends and family with good food, in front of a warm fire, in the comfort of your own home. To do this, many Norwegians share a second home with their wider family unit, often in a more rural location. Of course, log cabins are the building of choice, having been used for centuries to withstand the harsh climate. We even talk about ‘the Norwegian Log effect’ our log cabin buildings have – warm and cosy; solid and quiet. The fragrance of pine reminds you of Scandinavian forests. Your imagination starts to take you places. You imagine a wood burner, perhaps a desk or why not just some space to think …
2. Getting outdoors and embracing the benefits of exercise. In Norway, you can ski but a brisk walk or gentle hike in the British countryside, breathing in fresh air and enjoying the sights and sounds of the winter landscape, hits the koselig spot just as well. Even better when you return to open your own front door, step inside, light some candles and settle down to a relaxing, sociable evening.
3. Friendship and collaboration. Koselig can also be used to describe the feeling when you share, work as a team or take part in group or community activities. Despite the long cold, dark winter, many Norwegians look forward to this season as they actively embrace the koselig mindset together.  Indeed, the country has recently been declared the happiest in the world. At Norwegian Log, we have been working in close partnership with our local supplier in Norway for years and, in their [translated] words, “with great co-operation we build log cabins that create an affectionate atmosphere.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

Photo by Sweta Meininger on Unsplash