On Saturday I attended the Claus Cram, a 5 hour long seminar for Santa and Mrs. Claus portrayal artists. In fact I was one of a handful of featured speakers. MK Haley, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and former 25 year Disney executive in their imagineering department was also a speaker. Her topic was Hygge for the Holidays: Bringing Quiet Joy to Your Claus Portrayal.

Until Saturday I had never heard the term Hygge. It turns out that I was not alone. Many of our Santa and Mrs. Clauses had not heard of it either. Now this was not my 1st time hearing MK speak. I knew that we were in for a treat and that I must pay close attention to what she had to share with us.

The word hygge, pronounced “Hugh-guh”, does not have an exact translation in English. However it means “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality the engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” It is a Danish word and a way of life for those who live in Denmark. Being that the Danish people are consistently ranked as some of the happiest in the world, I wanted to know more about this “Hygge”.

As it turns out, Christmas is a perfect time for Hygge, and of course that means Santa and Mrs. Claus as well! With candles, warm blankets, quiet evenings, cozy fireplaces and plenty of comfort food winter is in fact a great time to practice Hygge! Christmas brings with it a feeling of familiarity, comfort, joy, and well being.

It can also be a hectic time with travel plans, finances, decorating, shopping, cooking, many activities, and the hustle and bustle of “Making Christmas extra special this year”. Sound familiar yet? I know that I often feel the most stressed in the weeks leading up to the holiday for all of the above reasons. I think that most of us can feel stressed and overwhelmed trying to make it all happen. And though we all want a nice holiday, at what cost to our well being are we making it happen?

Hygge is very much about being in the moment. Being alone or with close friends and family. It is about being content. Just letting the chips fall where they may and not worrying about anything else. For me, this is something I need to make a conscious decision to practice.

Over the last week I cannot help but continue to turn my mind toward MK Haleys presentation to us. And I have found myself reading a bit more on Hygge. I look over to my small Christmas studio and see many elements already present to help set the atmosphere for it to take place. These elements in and of themselves are not Hygge. True Hygge is a feeling and mindset.

I would encourage all of you this holiday to take a deep breath, sit back and relax. Let the family and friends help with the holiday chores. Kick your feet up and enjoy a good holiday movie or get to that book you have been wanting to read. Turn out the lights and sit with your candles. Bask it the feeling of comfort coziness and let the holidays be merry for you.

I placed a homemade apple pie in the oven and thought that while it was cooking I would share my thoughts with you. And with the oven having just beeped, and the smell of hot apple pie and cinnamon coming from the kitchen, I am ready to do some relaxing and practice Hygge.

Father Christmas of the Three Mountains