As night falls upon the city it is transformed by light.  Restaurants, bars, and cafes find themselves full of light both inside and outside…lit up by candles.  It starts outside with candles placed outside the restaurant….leading to window sills covered in various shapes and sizes of candles.  Once inside the cafe the atmosphere is warm, inviting and cozy….all of this is intentional and of great importance to the Danes.

There is Danish word/concept that influences so many aspects of Danish life and the candle represents this in a very visible way.  The word Hygge is difficult to explain in English as there is no direct translation.  The closest word is cozy.  Part of this is due to the fact that Denmark experiences a fair number of short, dark, cold days.  Third places such as cafes, bars and restaurants serve as much needed getaways from the colder outside.  Hygge also has to do with the way Danes view the world.  They are typically a people satisfied with what they have….with the relationships they have.  They enjoy the moments of hygge they experience in a warm, cozy cafe with friends.

One of the reasons Denmark is famous for design/furniture is the focus on hygge.  Due to the climate, Danes spend alot of time inside…resulting in a focus on things such as ambient lighting, furniture design, use of space and candles….all of these combine to create a cozy, warm, inviting space.  So light a candle, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the hygge.

Article and Photograph submitted by Grady Bauer