My dear people,

You might have heard of the word hygge in recent times. It is the Danish way to describe a “cozy togetherness” in the words of Meik Wiking, from the Happiness Research Institute of Copenhagen.

The first time I heard hygge or hyggelig [t] I was 17. I was living in Denmark at the time and it was as new as all the rest of the Danish words I was learning. Embracing the meaning of it came some time later, although the desire to feel hygge stayed with me since then.

It is true that many of us around the world long for a relaxing time, in a nice atmosphere together with the people we like the most. This is not exclusive to a country or nationality. However, the art of putting it together in a heart-warming, comfortable, slow-paced, simple way can very well be attributed to the Danes.

I can attest that my love for candles, vintage items and tea only grew stronger after the year I spent in Denmark. And it continues to be the case every time I visit. Last winter for example, I travelled there and took a long train ride just to get to AC Perchs Thehandel, (Europe’s oldest tea shop). Naturally, I purchased some of their exquisite tea. The long commute wasn’t an issue for me, neither was waiting in line at their popular Copenhagen store. I knew this purchase would make me happy later on. I was foreseeing a future hygge opportunity!

Recently, someone I met at a party was talking about incorporating more hygge into her life during the winter months here in Jordan. Her idea sparked so much enthusiasm in me! Right after I got home I went looking for “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living” I had read a while back.

It occurred to me that hosting a hygge coffee morning à la vegan wouldn’t be so difficult. I had the most important elements to create a hygge moment:

• A cozy atmosphere at home

• A small group of good friends

• Yummy Danish recipes I could veganize

• Warm drinks and

• Lots of candles

So here’s my take on hosting a hygge vegan coffee morning with three easy ideas you can comfortably enjoy in 2019.

1.Set the mood - A simple yet beautiful table using a white tablecloth, matchless ceramic bowls and wooden spoons can be easily set up at any household. If you add tea lights or candles and play soothing music like that of Danish folk artist Agnes Obel, you’ll be certain to create a very relaxing and soothing ambiance in your home. I also love diffusing lavender or orange and sandalwood essential oils. When it comes to entertaining, my preference is to use white or light colored dinnerware. And of course, using table linens is a must.

2. Set the tone - Make it inviting. Create a relaxing atmosphere in which both your home and your attitude are welcoming and warm. In the invite I sent to my friends (photo at the bottom of this post), I specified that we would have a cozy coffee morning. I also encouraged them to wear comfortable clothes. Warm blankets would be at the ready for people to wrap themselves in. The purpose of small, intimate gatherings like a vegan coffee morning is to cultivate a sense of belonging, of safety, of trust and friendship. Like Wiking says in his book, hygge “…is about experiencing happiness in simple pleasures”.

Here are three top tips to set the tone on your next vegan hygge morning coffee:

• Be mindful - This is a happy moment. This is a special gathering.

• Be present - Try to leave your worries and plans for the day outside the door. They’ll be waiting for you when you go home.

• Disconnect - Leave your electronic devices out of sight when you’re in the presence of your friends.

3. Simplify to Delight - A way for me to spread the love for veganism is through recipes I know people will love. My omnivore husband usually gives me feedback and suggestions. (He is a foodie and a fantastic cook, so I trust his opinion.) To make it special, make it #homemade. Here is a traditional Danish winter recipe that is simple to make, it is pretty to look at and it is fun to eat.

• Æbleskiver [a small round pancake usually enjoyed around Christmas time] with blackcurrant jam and fresh berries on the side. In this recipe by Dinner with Julie, I substituted the eggs with Bob’s Red Mill egg replacer and made a vegan buttermilk recipe from Loving it Vegan that literally took 2 min (at the most) to prepare. I also added fresh orange zest to the mix. The combination of these was spectacular. To serve, put the æbleskiver in a nice bowl and top it with a bit of powdered sugar, ground cardamom and vanilla bean powder.

• Poppy seed breakfast buns by Elephantastic Vegan with a homemade strawberry sauce from Num’s the Word blog. You can also make a very easy raspberry chia seed jam in about 30 min. I like this one from Pick Up Limes. If you have Earth Balance vegan spread, it would make it even better.

• Hot cocoa with vanilla + coconut whipped cream. This was the hit during a Christmas party I hosted last year. I set up a hot chocolate bar with shaved dark chocolate, Dandie’s vegan marshmallows, sugar canes and coconut whipped cream. Absolutely divine! The hot chocolate recipe is from The Healthy Apple site and the Coconut Whipped Cream, from the Minimalist Baker. Your guests will surely love them and will likely say “I can’t believe that’s vegan!”

Having people over is a joy and it is also a very personal experience as you’re opening a part of you to those who come. At the same time, there are those who do not like to host and who would rather meet at restaurants. For me, when there’s someone I like someone I would like to connect more with, I simply invite them over. Realizing that by spending time at home with those people I want to have in my life, has had a huge pay off.

To date, most of my closest friends from my expat years are those that I’ve spent time with at home. The dynamic has usually been the same: gathering around homemade food, spending hours chatting, [most of the times with] no make up on, sharing the more personal parts of our lives and leaving aside pretentious and superficial talks. Without having given them the proper name, all these have been very hygge-filled moments.

Human connection is an important part of our expat lives. In the end, the friends we make at post are the family members we get to choose. In the words of Weiking:

“The most important social relationships are close relationships in which you experience things together with others, and experience being understood; where you share thoughts and feelings, and both give and receive support. ”

So there you have it. Three simple ways to cultivate more hygge moments in your gatherings. How about you? Do you have a favorite hygge experience you’d like to share? What is something that gives you a sense of wellbeing and comfort? Would love to know.

Thank you for being here.

Diana