06/12/2025
Denmark is a place characterized by long stretches of winter with little daylight. In Danish culture, recognizing the beauty of darkness and cold weather is part of a philosophy called “hygge.” To combat the cold and the darkness, they focus on slowing down and appreciating the smaller joys of life.
It is second nature to feel the differing energies of the summer and winter solstices. The former is a time for expansion and illumination, the latter a time for reflection and rebirth. People share the excitement of long summer nights when the sun stays out until 9 p.m., but they also share the coziness of an intimate fire in the evening when the sun sets early. During the summer months, people tend to feel more joyous than in the dreaded winter months.
Each evening here in New York, darkness seems to materialize sooner than the day before. As the impending lack of sunlight takes hold, many students feel exhausted and unmotivated. As winter peeks its head around the corner, people tend to stay indoors and make fewer plans. Stepping outside warrants a brisk walk from place to place, as we retreat our heads as far between our shoulders as possible, hoods softening the blow of the unforgiving wind and our hands remaining strictly in coat pockets. When something as simple as walking to class becomes a task met with apprehension, more important tasks and beneficial habits soon fall prey to the same bleak mentality.
Denmark is a place characterized by long stretches of winter with little daylight. In Danish culture, recognizing the beauty of darkness and cold weather is...
