Congratulations! You and your family made it through another holiday season relatively unscathed, the exception, of course, being Aunt Linda, with her perpetual phobia of orange-hued foods.
Now that you have the decorations boxed and put away until next year, the last things on your mind are entertaining and gift-giving.
The good news is, entertaining and relaxing can be experienced simultaneously. All you need is a little hygge, as they say in Denmark and these winter gifts are the perfect inspiration.
The season of hygge
Hygge (pronounced 'hoo-guh') is not just a Danish word — it's a way of life. In Denmark and other countries close to the Arctic Circle, winter typically means frigid temperatures and very little daylight.
But rather than approach the season with doom and gloom, Danes embrace the opportunity for relaxing with family and friends, and sharing in the coziness of their surroundings, both indoors and out. They pile on the warmth with layers of softly textured blankets and throw pillows, fires and candlelight, and steaming mugs of cocoa, coffee, and glogg (mulled wine).
If you'd like to bring the hygge home or send it as a gift to loved ones, here are five winter gifts to get you started.
Send hygge in a box
Simplify toasty-ness with an outdoor hooded sweatshirt blanket, aka wearable hygge. Lucky recipients will enjoy wrapping themselves in cozy faux lambswool sherpa. Disclosure: this can also be worn indoors.
Make it a movie night
One of the best things about wintertime is the release of new movies — and these days, they come straight to your living room. Bring the experience of visiting your local cineplex to your comfy couch with this concession-inspired Movie Night Gift Box. It arrives filled to the brim with your favorite theater candy: Gummi Bears, Skittles, Mike and Ikes, and, of course, popcorn — four types!
Wake up and warm the senses
Who doesn't love waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries wafting from the kitchen on those chilliest of mornings? The Breakfast Entertainer Basket will delight all the senses with an array of sinfully delicious cinnamon rolls, Tiffin blend ground coffee, a chocolate swirl loaf cake, and super-thick English muffins with sides of triple berry preserves. Comfy slippers and a robe are optional.
Enjoy the great outdoors all year round
If you've traveled across Northern Europe in the heart of winter, you may have been surprised by the number of locals drinking and dining outside, staying toasty under woolen blankets and heat lamps. You can recreate that magic by setting chairs around a portable fire pit fueled by chunk wood or small logs. Once you get the fire raging, it's time to bust out the S'mores Night Pack. Or, just pass around these delectable dipped s'mores made with gooey marshmallow sandwiched between crunchy graham crackers, and then smothered in milk and dark chocolate. They're so good, you'll forget all about your freezing extremities.
Nestle into the ultimate reading nook
When the stress of the day calls for a low-key evening of self-care, curl up with a good book and a cup of tea or hot chocolate. On those nights when you can't choose between the two, this beverage collection answers the question “Why not both?"
The peppermint bark tea is an organic green rooibos sourced from a Rainforest Alliance Certified farm, blended with flavors of organic peppermint, vanilla, and rich chocolate. Add a plate of galette cookies or chocolate-covered strawberries for the perfect night in.
AUTHOR
Jenn Bussell has worked as a writer, editor, and communications strategist for more than two decades. She’s the co-author & editor of “Have Fork Will Travel: A Practical Handbook for Food & Drink Travel Industry Professionals” and a contributing writer to Centennial Media’s “The United States Presidents: The Best and Worst of All Time | 2020 Election Special.” In addition to writing about food and beverage, travel and tourism, and political history, Jenn also covers fashion and personal style. Her previous work includes a style column for the Washington Examiner and content creation for The Working Wardrobe.