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Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow
Women were made to give life—and they can do that right in their own homes.
Hygge [HYOO-guh] has become a cultural buzzword. When many read about this Danish practice, their shoulders lift in excitement, then fall in exhale. In a culture of rush, hygge appeals to their desire for rest—for slow living, shared moments, and fostered friendships. Hygge has strong ties to beauty, contentment, and well-being. It’s warm and inviting. Hygge is the opposite of hustle. It eschews abundance. It savors. It takes things slow and envelopes you in sanctuary. Hygge is home. When you sit in a comfy chair by the fire, that’s hygge. When you arrange a fresh bouquet of wildflowers on a bedside table, that’s hygge too. Candles, soft furnishings, natural light, fresh-baked pastries, intimate gatherings with friends—these are what come to mind when you think of hygge. But hygge can be so much more.
In Holy Hygge, author Jamie Erickson unites the popular Danish practice with the deep, theological truths of the gospel. She unpacks the seven tenets of hygge: hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest. In addition, Erickson shows how the external veneer of a lifestyle can create a life-giving home only when placed under the hope of the gospel. Holy Hygge provides practical ideas for using hygge to gather people and introduce them to faith in Christ. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions, Scripture references, and a prayer.
Hygge [HYOO-guh] has become a cultural buzzword. When many read about this Danish practice, their shoulders lift in excitement, then fall in exhale. In a culture of rush, hygge appeals to their desire for rest—for slow living, shared moments, and fostered friendships. Hygge has strong ties to beauty, contentment, and well-being. It’s warm and inviting. Hygge is the opposite of hustle. It eschews abundance. It savors. It takes things slow and envelopes you in sanctuary. Hygge is home. When you sit in a comfy chair by the fire, that’s hygge. When you arrange a fresh bouquet of wildflowers on a bedside table, that’s hygge too. Candles, soft furnishings, natural light, fresh-baked pastries, intimate gatherings with friends—these are what come to mind when you think of hygge. But hygge can be so much more.
In Holy Hygge, author Jamie Erickson unites the popular Danish practice with the deep, theological truths of the gospel. She unpacks the seven tenets of hygge: hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest. In addition, Erickson shows how the external veneer of a lifestyle can create a life-giving home only when placed under the hope of the gospel. Holy Hygge provides practical ideas for using hygge to gather people and introduce them to faith in Christ. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions, Scripture references, and a prayer.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2022
About the author
Jamie Erickson
2 books682 followersJAMIE ERICKSON is a former classroom teacher turned homeschool mom. When she’s not curating memories, hoarding vintage books, or playing ringmaster to a circus of her own making, Jamie can be found encouraging and equipping a growing tribe of mothers all across the globe on the Mom to Mom podcast, through her blog The Unlikely Homeschool, and at national conferences.
In addition to writing and speaking, Jamie loves talking faith and family over a hot latte, collecting calories around a table full of friends, and taking grueling hikes with her husband Dain and their five kids (because alas, calories don’t display very nicely on a shelf like other collections).
Connect with Jamie at jamieerickson.com
In addition to writing and speaking, Jamie loves talking faith and family over a hot latte, collecting calories around a table full of friends, and taking grueling hikes with her husband Dain and their five kids (because alas, calories don’t display very nicely on a shelf like other collections).
Connect with Jamie at jamieerickson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
December 22, 2022
I was so excited to read this book, as a Christian, and someone who has previously read about, and begun to practice, hygge. I’ve also read from this author previously, so I had high expectations. I was pretty let down.
The author attempts to create a link between hygge and holy living. The connections are weak. This should’ve been an encouraging Facebook post, or maybe a sermon. The latter half of the book is just a collection of random verses loosely strung together as mini-sermons that really don’t tie into hygge. They feel like every other mom/homemaker/wife book. Very “how to Martha with a Mary heart” vibes.
The author also quickly dismisses the social supports available in Denmark which allow hygge to be available to those in all income brackets. The attitude came across to me as saying, “socialism? Nah, that’s not a factor in their happiness. We should just focus on Jesus!” It comes across very privileged and dismissive.
The first 2-3 chapters are good.
The author attempts to create a link between hygge and holy living. The connections are weak. This should’ve been an encouraging Facebook post, or maybe a sermon. The latter half of the book is just a collection of random verses loosely strung together as mini-sermons that really don’t tie into hygge. They feel like every other mom/homemaker/wife book. Very “how to Martha with a Mary heart” vibes.
The author also quickly dismisses the social supports available in Denmark which allow hygge to be available to those in all income brackets. The attitude came across to me as saying, “socialism? Nah, that’s not a factor in their happiness. We should just focus on Jesus!” It comes across very privileged and dismissive.
The first 2-3 chapters are good.
October 25, 2022
Holy Hygge is such a well timed read for a world that is hell-bent on hustle, while desperate for rest. The word "Hygge" has been commandeered by marketing teams, without an consideration as to what it truly is. The creation of home as a place for deep rest and relationship.
Jamie does a truly fantastic job of explaining how the basic principles of "hygge" fit perfectly within what Christ has asked of us as Christians, to create a space for those around us to feel His love through us.
Jamie does a truly fantastic job of explaining how the basic principles of "hygge" fit perfectly within what Christ has asked of us as Christians, to create a space for those around us to feel His love through us.
January 8, 2023
So good. So encouraging. So convicting. I loved it so much. I’ve read books about Hygge before but I never from Godly perspective with the gospel woven all throughout. Hygge can make a home cozy and comforting, but it’s Jesus who gives it life.
November 23, 2022
I definitely thought I was picking up a book about homemaking, hosting, welcoming people into your home & sharing in the love of Christ together. While the front end of this book seemed pertinent to the subject of the title and subtitle, the further I read, the more it veered off into more of a collection of Bible stories and random pontifications about life. Which is fine and good, but not what I anticipated this book to be about. It seems that the authors own stated thesis in the beginning of the book about wanting to help women that feel ill equipped to open their homes was not met or fulfilled.
October 15, 2022
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this book didn’t really grab me. I think some of the spiritual analogies seemed stretched to tie in with the hygge themes, and each chapter seemed rather repetitious. Good content overall, just maybe not enough to fill a whole book? It is beautifully designed, though, and I liked the list of practical hospitality ideas in the back.
November 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book exploring the concept of hygge from a Gospel-oriented perspective. Subtitled “Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow”, the author encourages us to live with grace, love, and welcome. I especially liked the Appendix, which is full of fun, concrete suggestions to foster connection and faith.
March 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book about using hygge to help shape your hospitality. I've read several books on hospitality, and this one came at it from a fresh perspective.
I'll definitely be reading this one again, and I might even buy it!
An easy, cozy, applicable read!
I'll definitely be reading this one again, and I might even buy it!
An easy, cozy, applicable read!
November 25, 2023
I went into this expecting fluff with a little bit of Scripture mixed in, and honestly I was fine with that. When I think of Hygge, I think comfort. I thought I might get a couple good ideas for hosting, or maybe some motivation for getting through the winter months. And while this book does include those things, I was pleasantly surprised by how much Scripture is also included. I appreciated how the author weaves the concept of Hygge in with biblical principles, though the two are not obviously connected. It was a fresh perspective on hospitality and creating a home that I have not read before.
I’m giving this five stars not because it’s the most theologically robust thing I’ve ever read, but because I really enjoyed all of it. I thought the author’s personal experience with Hygge was unique and brought authenticity to a book that could easily have been written just for the sake of being on trend.
So glad I got to read this in the fall. It was a good read at the right time for me. It’s also beautifully designed, which fits in with the Hygge theme. Would recommend!
I’m giving this five stars not because it’s the most theologically robust thing I’ve ever read, but because I really enjoyed all of it. I thought the author’s personal experience with Hygge was unique and brought authenticity to a book that could easily have been written just for the sake of being on trend.
So glad I got to read this in the fall. It was a good read at the right time for me. It’s also beautifully designed, which fits in with the Hygge theme. Would recommend!
March 14, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you aren’t a fan of markings in books, don’t borrow my copy of Holy Hygge. I’m certain I underlined 75% of it! 😂
WOW. This book brings so much to the meaning of home, our need for rest, and our desire for belonging. It dives in to the practical and the spiritual—exploring Eden, Heaven, and the home we’ve been given in between.
This book is about the rest we as believers find in Christ, but it’s also about evangelism, inspiring us to create the sort of home that points wandering souls to the belonging they can find in Christ.
I will never not recommend this book! It’s definitely one of my all time favorites. It’s beautifully written and I found myself so drawn to the writing style. Unlike many homemaking books I’ve read, this one left me inspired and not burdened by the sometimes overwhelming task of hospitality.
I think I will read this book many more times in the years to come!
If you aren’t a fan of markings in books, don’t borrow my copy of Holy Hygge. I’m certain I underlined 75% of it! 😂
WOW. This book brings so much to the meaning of home, our need for rest, and our desire for belonging. It dives in to the practical and the spiritual—exploring Eden, Heaven, and the home we’ve been given in between.
This book is about the rest we as believers find in Christ, but it’s also about evangelism, inspiring us to create the sort of home that points wandering souls to the belonging they can find in Christ.
I will never not recommend this book! It’s definitely one of my all time favorites. It’s beautifully written and I found myself so drawn to the writing style. Unlike many homemaking books I’ve read, this one left me inspired and not burdened by the sometimes overwhelming task of hospitality.
I think I will read this book many more times in the years to come!
May 24, 2023
A nice read about casual hospitality, being intentional about creating a gathering place of peace.
enjoyable narrator
Quotes:
* Hygge favors the ordinary and familiar. It is unpretentious and imperfect and encourages satisfaction is everydayness. This attitude of gratitude helps them ignore the urge to reach for more. Many Danes quickly admit that having too much of anything undermines its value. Extravagance begins to feel exhausting and overwhelming when it happens all the time. Simple pleasures, on the other hand cultivate contentment.
* Whether you realize it or not, every message you allow in has the power to influence your thoughts and decision-making.
* So often, when we purchase something, we only think about the cost of buying it. But what about the cost of owning it?
* With the help of hygge, the Danes are generally optimistic people, taking the posture of gratitude, satisfaction, and positivity. That’s not to say they never face hardships or less-than-ideal situations, but they’ve learned to be masters of spin. They’ve chosen to reframe their thoughts about their current circumstances to live more joyful lives. Gratefulness turns what we have into enough.
* If you’re having trouble voicing your gratefulness, remember that while practice doesn’t always make perfect, it does make progress. Sometimes in life, you just have to play scales over and over until you get better, until the noose starts to sound like music. In this case, you have to keep saying “Thank you” until you actually mean it.
* Christian women are especially susceptible to the soul-jaundicing effects of hustle. We work under the reckless notion that our cheeks needs to be flushed in heaven from the labor we’ve done here on earth. We are rest-avoidant because, at some point, some well-meaning someone had us all believe that the central aim of our lives is to be useful to God, but it’s not. We’re meant to glorify God. That’s our purpose. The end.
* Let's not waste another minute complaining about the weather. Let's just learn to put on better clothes.
enjoyable narrator
Quotes:
* Hygge favors the ordinary and familiar. It is unpretentious and imperfect and encourages satisfaction is everydayness. This attitude of gratitude helps them ignore the urge to reach for more. Many Danes quickly admit that having too much of anything undermines its value. Extravagance begins to feel exhausting and overwhelming when it happens all the time. Simple pleasures, on the other hand cultivate contentment.
* Whether you realize it or not, every message you allow in has the power to influence your thoughts and decision-making.
* So often, when we purchase something, we only think about the cost of buying it. But what about the cost of owning it?
* With the help of hygge, the Danes are generally optimistic people, taking the posture of gratitude, satisfaction, and positivity. That’s not to say they never face hardships or less-than-ideal situations, but they’ve learned to be masters of spin. They’ve chosen to reframe their thoughts about their current circumstances to live more joyful lives. Gratefulness turns what we have into enough.
* If you’re having trouble voicing your gratefulness, remember that while practice doesn’t always make perfect, it does make progress. Sometimes in life, you just have to play scales over and over until you get better, until the noose starts to sound like music. In this case, you have to keep saying “Thank you” until you actually mean it.
* Christian women are especially susceptible to the soul-jaundicing effects of hustle. We work under the reckless notion that our cheeks needs to be flushed in heaven from the labor we’ve done here on earth. We are rest-avoidant because, at some point, some well-meaning someone had us all believe that the central aim of our lives is to be useful to God, but it’s not. We’re meant to glorify God. That’s our purpose. The end.
* Let's not waste another minute complaining about the weather. Let's just learn to put on better clothes.
February 5, 2023
Overall this book was beautiful. Jesus + hygge + the beautiful blue illustrations made it truly delightful to read. I loved revisiting hyggelig practices, especially in light of the Gospel. My only, tiny complaint is that there were several times where it felt like she spent a large amount of time explaining fairly common theology/Bible stories. But overall I would highly recommend it!
December 17, 2023
“It’s not as if the gospel will not spread if we don’t open our doors, but we’ll be missing an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing if we don’t. God welcomes us into His work”
Maddy sent me this book when I moved to Colorado and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I loved learning about the big ideas of hygge and how it is a mere shadow of Christ’s kingdom, and practical ways to reflect that as you welcome people (believers and nonbelievers) into your home. I’m excited to start implementing these practices when hosting!
Thank you mads<33
Maddy sent me this book when I moved to Colorado and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I loved learning about the big ideas of hygge and how it is a mere shadow of Christ’s kingdom, and practical ways to reflect that as you welcome people (believers and nonbelievers) into your home. I’m excited to start implementing these practices when hosting!
Thank you mads<33
September 23, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The word hospitality originated from the greek word for hospital, so the idea of when someone comes into your home and experiences community and shares a meal they have a chance at receiving HEALING. Very good.
Christ made His home in us. John 14. And the place He Has prepared for us in heaven will not look like a church it will be HOME with rooms and a table for feasting. Yes please!
Christ made His home in us. John 14. And the place He Has prepared for us in heaven will not look like a church it will be HOME with rooms and a table for feasting. Yes please!
February 28, 2024
Literally loved this book so much more than I was expecting! It’s a feel good read that’s simple but deep! If you’re into hospitality this is a great read
February 2, 2024
“Hygge is a feeling for a concept for a lifestyle. In its most unsophisticated forms, hygge is a mindset—a way of making the mundane and necessary tasks of life more meaningful and beautiful.”
I absolutely loved this book! I honestly didn’t know what “hygge” was before reading this book but quickly realized I’ve seen the concept everywhere!
Jamie takes the Danish concept of hygge and shows us how these principles are shared with the way Jesus lived his life on earth and calls us to live too. You’ll learn about hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest from biblical perspective. While I didn’t completely agree with every connection the author made, I appreciate that all of these concepts were backed with scripture.
Just remember as you read to start small. There are so many great ideas for shaping your life and home after the concept of hygge that you may find yourself wanting to do all the things (my hand is up here 🙋🏻♀️), but I’m excited to try incorporating some new (and simple) ideas to our home 🤍
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Rating: Clean
I absolutely loved this book! I honestly didn’t know what “hygge” was before reading this book but quickly realized I’ve seen the concept everywhere!
Jamie takes the Danish concept of hygge and shows us how these principles are shared with the way Jesus lived his life on earth and calls us to live too. You’ll learn about hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest from biblical perspective. While I didn’t completely agree with every connection the author made, I appreciate that all of these concepts were backed with scripture.
Just remember as you read to start small. There are so many great ideas for shaping your life and home after the concept of hygge that you may find yourself wanting to do all the things (my hand is up here 🙋🏻♀️), but I’m excited to try incorporating some new (and simple) ideas to our home 🤍
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Rating: Clean
November 28, 2023
I AM SO INSPIRED!!! Such a wonderful read & I highly recommend!
June 20, 2023
Had some really good quotes sprinkled throughout but for the most part I found myself disagreeing with so much of what she said. She really emphasizes social Justice throughout, many quotes on which I found unbiblical.
Also the links she was trying to draw to hygge felt odd and sometimes forced, and she only focused on the together/hospitality aspect of hygge. It felt like she was reaching most of the time when trying to make connections. More I could say but the short version is, It’s really not one I’d recommend.
Also the links she was trying to draw to hygge felt odd and sometimes forced, and she only focused on the together/hospitality aspect of hygge. It felt like she was reaching most of the time when trying to make connections. More I could say but the short version is, It’s really not one I’d recommend.
July 20, 2023
(3.5) “The gospel isn’t about doing something; the gospel is about what’s already been done.”
This was an insightful about the Danish hygge lifestyle! There are great takeaways from this book that will cause you to consider living your life more intentionally. While Jamie covers the hygge way of life, she constantly reminds you and points you to Jesus–who satisfies and gives life. I really appreciated the chapters on contentment and rest! ⭐️ I received this book from @moodypublishers in exchange for an honest review.
This was an insightful about the Danish hygge lifestyle! There are great takeaways from this book that will cause you to consider living your life more intentionally. While Jamie covers the hygge way of life, she constantly reminds you and points you to Jesus–who satisfies and gives life. I really appreciated the chapters on contentment and rest! ⭐️ I received this book from @moodypublishers in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2022
Holy Hygge is one of those books I will return to time and time again for fresh ideas and reminders. This book is a feast of ideas of why hygge brings value to our homes and lives and is also a buffet of ideas for implementation. It is a sort of cross between Sally and Sarah Clarkson’s “The Lifegiving Home” and Rosaria Butterfield’s “The Gospel Comes with a Housekey.”
The author does an excellent job of explaining the tenets of hygge and showing how the align with different attributes and actions of God and with Jesus’ earthly ministry. I especially appreciate how she encouraged a lifestyle of serving others in our homes but in a way that is also restorative not depleting to the one serving.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone longing to make their home a place of comfort and a place that points others to Christ.
The author does an excellent job of explaining the tenets of hygge and showing how the align with different attributes and actions of God and with Jesus’ earthly ministry. I especially appreciate how she encouraged a lifestyle of serving others in our homes but in a way that is also restorative not depleting to the one serving.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone longing to make their home a place of comfort and a place that points others to Christ.
January 22, 2023
The perfect book to start the year that my word of the year is connection. If you're looking for a book to encourage you to rest, share your faith and love others this is it!
April 22, 2023
4.5 stars. I’m completely impressed with this book. I didn’t agree with all of her theology, but most of it was on point. This book is not a book to learn how to decorate your house hygge (which isn’t what true hygge is about anyway). Rather the author discusses what internal & eternal lessons we can learn from and how to reflect them within our Christian homes.
The chapters of this book are hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, rest, and a home for the homeless. Each one takes these principles and shows practical, beautiful ways to implement them within our own homes and lives.
The book was filled with lots of quotes which caught my eye, and of course I wrote them down. 🙃 see below:
The difference between them and me was that they had learned two simple truths that intersect at the core of their danish way of life — a lifestyle I would learn to associate with the term hygge […]: 1. You can’t always change your circumstances; you can only change your perspective. 2. Your outer life will always affect your inner life. (P. 13)
Hygge is a noun. It’s something you share, something that inspires you. Hygge is a verb. It’s something you do either by yourself or with others. Hygge is an adjective. It describes peace, contentment, and joy. Hygge is a feeling, a concept, a lifestyle. In its most unsophisticated forms, hygge is a mindset — a way of making the mundane and necessary tasks of life more meaningful and beautiful. […] Hygge is simple but sophisticated, warm and inviting, homemade and rustic. Hygge is the opposite of hustle. It eschews over-abundance. It savors. It takes things slow and envelops you in sanctuary. (P. 15)
Hygge has been mismanaged and marketed in order to appeal to the masses. […] the commercialism of hygge has cheapened it. (P. 16)
Hospitality, thriving relationships, well-being, a welcoming atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest — these are the markers of hygge. But they’re also qualified seen in the first Garden home and exhibited by Jesus. (P. 17)
Jesus bookended His ministry here on earth with meals, perhaps because He knew discipleship happens around a table. Vulnerability happens around a table. Accountability happens around a table. […] As the Bread of Life, Jesus knew that inviting someone to the table was never just about eating. It was always about nourishment. I was always about life. (P. 30)
Hygge can help us create the kind of companionship and close community Christ was referring to when He called the disciples to feed His sheep. (P. 33)
Our tables hold a valuable secret the world longs to know. […] Any time we welcome someone to our table and show them the hospitality God entrusted to use, we have an opportunity to meet their physical need but also to address the deep spiritual hunger only the Bread of a life can fulfill. […] the very act of opening our doors and inviting others to the table can both be preventative and intensive care for humanity. (P. 37)
Lest we think Jesus’ home was somehow better or more conducive to nurturing loving relationships than ours, let’s not forget that apart from Jesus, perfection was in short supply in the small town of Nazareth. According to the apostle Nathaniel, up until that point, nothing good had ever come out of Nazareth. His was a home probably much like yours and mine, filled with more than it’s share of constant chatter, unmet expectations, broken hearts, rude relatives, disappointments, hurt feelings, stories of unrequited love, tears of frustration, deafening silence, and even raw rage. (P. 57)
The law demanded retribution. Jesus chose relationship instead. […] He stepped toward her brokenness, never demanding she clean herself up first. (P. 59)
Curating the kind of friendship that bears the scares of hard-fought with-ness has taken an aggressive amount of vulnerability. (P. 67)
The world seems to have more than enough classes in public speaking. What we need is a public-listening class. Hygge is a tool that can help us learn to stop talking all the time. […] you can nurture hyggelige conversations by learning to ask great questions and listening intently to the answers people give and the stories they have to share. (P. 75)
The next time you’re in a verbal tussle and the vein in your temple is beginning to bulge, Ohhh down your fighting words and toss out a good question instead. (P. 76)
Hygge I’m will look like simple service but will sound like the language of love. (P. 79)
The cup of coffee we sip with our roommate at the breakfast table each morning, the quick chat with a coworker as we share an elevator on our way into the office, the smile-and-wave we offer to the playground supervisor each afternoon while sitting in the pickup line — these all become a daily liturgy. We no longer begrudge the monotonous a routine life because hygge compels us to find the extra of each ordinary moment. (P. 79)
Hyggelige traditions invite others into a shared experience and help us nurture with-ness. (P. 80)
Scripture also makes it clear that Christ removed Himself from the noise and busyness of a demanding life to rest. While He certainly could have spent every moment healing more people, training more disciples, restoring more brokenness, He didn’t. At times He withdrew for solitude. Constrained by flesh, He knew the value of carving out time to quiet His soul. (P. 87)
Caring for yourself is a discipline. […] Self-care is understanding the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental abilities your life demands and creating enough room in your life to keep up. (P. 89-90)
Whether you realize it or not, every message you allow in has the power to influence your thoughts and decision-making. (P. 92)
Just remember that how others respond to your boundary is not your burden to shoulder. (P. 93)
If you truly care about your neighbor and hope to draw them into the care of Christ, any words of dissent, disapproval, or debate should be saved for face-to-face conversations. Hygge is about genuine connection. (P. 100)
God splurged when He made home. He decorated with all five senses in mind. (P. 108)
I used to think spending time, money, And energy to make a home look pretty was careless or, at the very least, evidence of privilege and extravagant spending […] Creator God made that first home enjoyable to look at. He gave it both form and function. Both are equally important. […] Beautiful homes are ones in which the goodness of God is revealed to the world. Like the Garden, they display the creativity and comfort of the Godhead. They are not perfect homes, mind you, but rather simple spaces designed to make anyone and everyone who enters feel perfectly at home. (P. 114) (not uncomfortable, lowly, etc.)
So often, when we purchase something, we only think about the cost of buying it. But what about the cost of owning it? (P. 116)
So if you’re going to fill your space with seasonal somethings, do as the Danes and fill it with nature. The moment the flowers begin to wilt or the leaves start to turn brittle, toss them all out and start again. In that way, you’ll be inviting the outside in, recreating the atmosphere of the Garden with both sights and smells. (P. 118)
The Danes recognize that a person can’t ever be truly happy if they’ve never experienced u happiness. I’d they are to fully enjoy life, they can’t run from calamity. (P. 132)
Hygge is comfort in moderation. It is a rational voice that declares, “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still have the same amount of snow.” (P. 132)
God never expects us to be thankful for the pain. All He asks is that we’re thankful in it — that we lean into the goodness of Him. (P. 137)
Forgiveness is not reciprocity. […] When you allow the hurts of others to linger too long without your forgiveness, that hurt turns into hate. Hate simmers into bitterness. Bitterness leads to vengeance on your part. […] When left unchecked, your vengeance will destroy a life. Yours. (P. 139)
A hyggelig mindset is braced by the seasons. It urges you to remember that no matter how bleak the winter, the earth will eventually give way to spring. The snow won’t last forever. To everything, there is a season. In other words, the wound won’t bleed you dry. A scar will form in time. It might feel like that betrayal, that miscarriage, or that assault creates an irreparable chasm in your life, leaving your emotions and perhaps even your gosh in critical condition. But it hasn’t. In time, life will bloom again. (P. 140)
The Danish attitude about the weather reflects their feelings about other areas of life and encourages them to put off negative thought patterns and put on positive ones. (P. 153)
I could move back to Arizona. I could move to Hawaii. I could move to Timbuktu. It wouldn’t really matter. Despite the location of the patch of grass I call my own, it will never feel green enough or warm enough or fill-in-the-blank enough this side of the second Garden of heaven. That longing for something better or best is a remnant of Eden — a chronic case of heartburn that’s been plaguing humanity since that first forbidden bite. […] Like Eve, we often assume that the flashy, just our of reach fruit is better. We look to the careers, the lifestyles, the homes (in my case, the weather) or others and assure ourselves that if we could only have what they have, we would be more satisfied. Then we’d be content. We spend precious time waiting around for a someday life, not realizing that today is the most important day because it’s the only one God has given for this moment. Instead of learning to observe and appreciate the ordinary, we grow disquiet and begin to compare our everyday fruit to what looks to be bigger and better things dangling off the branches of someone else’s tree. (P. 155)
Serving [others] provides perspective. (P. 162)
With the help of hygge, the Danes are generally optimistic people, taking the posture of gratitude, satisfaction, and positivity. That’s not to say they never face hardships or less-than-ideal situations, but they’ve learned to be masters of spin. They’ve chosen to reframe their thoughts about their current circumstances to live more joyful lives. Gratefulness turns what we have into enough. (P. 162)
Gratitude might seem too simple in an over complicated world. At the end of the day, you can only control two things: what you give to the world and your attitude about what the rest of the world has given you. Your friends and family need to see you living in gratitude. When you spend so much time grumbling about a current situation, you draw attention away from the presence and perfection of Jesus. You inadvertently proclaim that who He is and what He has provided is not enough. (P. 164)
If you’re having trouble voicing your gratefulness, remember that while practice doesn’t always make perfect, it does make progress. Sometimes in life, you just have to play scales over and over until you get better, until the noose starts to sound like music. In this case, you have to keep saying “Thank you” until you actually mean it. (P. 164)
Christian women are especially susceptible to the soul-jaundicing effects of hustle. We work under the reckless notion that our cheeks needs to be flushed in heaven from the labor we’ve done here on earth. We are rest-avoidant because, at some point, some well-meaning someone had us all believe that the central aim of our lives is to be useful to God, but it’s not. We’re meant to glorify God. That’s our purpose. The end. (P. 176)
We can’t have an open door all the time. Learning when to close it to the outside world to provide restoration for those inside is just as important for kingdom work as learning when and how to open the door. We can feel free to use the lock. (P. 177)
Remember that rest is not a suggestion. It is a command. As with financial offerings, Sabbath read should be given from the first fruits — the best — of your time. Sabbath is intentional. It’s not time that is taken from you. You’re too relinquish it freely. (P. 181)
The chapters of this book are hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, rest, and a home for the homeless. Each one takes these principles and shows practical, beautiful ways to implement them within our own homes and lives.
The book was filled with lots of quotes which caught my eye, and of course I wrote them down. 🙃 see below:
The difference between them and me was that they had learned two simple truths that intersect at the core of their danish way of life — a lifestyle I would learn to associate with the term hygge […]: 1. You can’t always change your circumstances; you can only change your perspective. 2. Your outer life will always affect your inner life. (P. 13)
Hygge is a noun. It’s something you share, something that inspires you. Hygge is a verb. It’s something you do either by yourself or with others. Hygge is an adjective. It describes peace, contentment, and joy. Hygge is a feeling, a concept, a lifestyle. In its most unsophisticated forms, hygge is a mindset — a way of making the mundane and necessary tasks of life more meaningful and beautiful. […] Hygge is simple but sophisticated, warm and inviting, homemade and rustic. Hygge is the opposite of hustle. It eschews over-abundance. It savors. It takes things slow and envelops you in sanctuary. (P. 15)
Hygge has been mismanaged and marketed in order to appeal to the masses. […] the commercialism of hygge has cheapened it. (P. 16)
Hospitality, thriving relationships, well-being, a welcoming atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest — these are the markers of hygge. But they’re also qualified seen in the first Garden home and exhibited by Jesus. (P. 17)
Jesus bookended His ministry here on earth with meals, perhaps because He knew discipleship happens around a table. Vulnerability happens around a table. Accountability happens around a table. […] As the Bread of Life, Jesus knew that inviting someone to the table was never just about eating. It was always about nourishment. I was always about life. (P. 30)
Hygge can help us create the kind of companionship and close community Christ was referring to when He called the disciples to feed His sheep. (P. 33)
Our tables hold a valuable secret the world longs to know. […] Any time we welcome someone to our table and show them the hospitality God entrusted to use, we have an opportunity to meet their physical need but also to address the deep spiritual hunger only the Bread of a life can fulfill. […] the very act of opening our doors and inviting others to the table can both be preventative and intensive care for humanity. (P. 37)
Lest we think Jesus’ home was somehow better or more conducive to nurturing loving relationships than ours, let’s not forget that apart from Jesus, perfection was in short supply in the small town of Nazareth. According to the apostle Nathaniel, up until that point, nothing good had ever come out of Nazareth. His was a home probably much like yours and mine, filled with more than it’s share of constant chatter, unmet expectations, broken hearts, rude relatives, disappointments, hurt feelings, stories of unrequited love, tears of frustration, deafening silence, and even raw rage. (P. 57)
The law demanded retribution. Jesus chose relationship instead. […] He stepped toward her brokenness, never demanding she clean herself up first. (P. 59)
Curating the kind of friendship that bears the scares of hard-fought with-ness has taken an aggressive amount of vulnerability. (P. 67)
The world seems to have more than enough classes in public speaking. What we need is a public-listening class. Hygge is a tool that can help us learn to stop talking all the time. […] you can nurture hyggelige conversations by learning to ask great questions and listening intently to the answers people give and the stories they have to share. (P. 75)
The next time you’re in a verbal tussle and the vein in your temple is beginning to bulge, Ohhh down your fighting words and toss out a good question instead. (P. 76)
Hygge I’m will look like simple service but will sound like the language of love. (P. 79)
The cup of coffee we sip with our roommate at the breakfast table each morning, the quick chat with a coworker as we share an elevator on our way into the office, the smile-and-wave we offer to the playground supervisor each afternoon while sitting in the pickup line — these all become a daily liturgy. We no longer begrudge the monotonous a routine life because hygge compels us to find the extra of each ordinary moment. (P. 79)
Hyggelige traditions invite others into a shared experience and help us nurture with-ness. (P. 80)
Scripture also makes it clear that Christ removed Himself from the noise and busyness of a demanding life to rest. While He certainly could have spent every moment healing more people, training more disciples, restoring more brokenness, He didn’t. At times He withdrew for solitude. Constrained by flesh, He knew the value of carving out time to quiet His soul. (P. 87)
Caring for yourself is a discipline. […] Self-care is understanding the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental abilities your life demands and creating enough room in your life to keep up. (P. 89-90)
Whether you realize it or not, every message you allow in has the power to influence your thoughts and decision-making. (P. 92)
Just remember that how others respond to your boundary is not your burden to shoulder. (P. 93)
If you truly care about your neighbor and hope to draw them into the care of Christ, any words of dissent, disapproval, or debate should be saved for face-to-face conversations. Hygge is about genuine connection. (P. 100)
God splurged when He made home. He decorated with all five senses in mind. (P. 108)
I used to think spending time, money, And energy to make a home look pretty was careless or, at the very least, evidence of privilege and extravagant spending […] Creator God made that first home enjoyable to look at. He gave it both form and function. Both are equally important. […] Beautiful homes are ones in which the goodness of God is revealed to the world. Like the Garden, they display the creativity and comfort of the Godhead. They are not perfect homes, mind you, but rather simple spaces designed to make anyone and everyone who enters feel perfectly at home. (P. 114) (not uncomfortable, lowly, etc.)
So often, when we purchase something, we only think about the cost of buying it. But what about the cost of owning it? (P. 116)
So if you’re going to fill your space with seasonal somethings, do as the Danes and fill it with nature. The moment the flowers begin to wilt or the leaves start to turn brittle, toss them all out and start again. In that way, you’ll be inviting the outside in, recreating the atmosphere of the Garden with both sights and smells. (P. 118)
The Danes recognize that a person can’t ever be truly happy if they’ve never experienced u happiness. I’d they are to fully enjoy life, they can’t run from calamity. (P. 132)
Hygge is comfort in moderation. It is a rational voice that declares, “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still have the same amount of snow.” (P. 132)
God never expects us to be thankful for the pain. All He asks is that we’re thankful in it — that we lean into the goodness of Him. (P. 137)
Forgiveness is not reciprocity. […] When you allow the hurts of others to linger too long without your forgiveness, that hurt turns into hate. Hate simmers into bitterness. Bitterness leads to vengeance on your part. […] When left unchecked, your vengeance will destroy a life. Yours. (P. 139)
A hyggelig mindset is braced by the seasons. It urges you to remember that no matter how bleak the winter, the earth will eventually give way to spring. The snow won’t last forever. To everything, there is a season. In other words, the wound won’t bleed you dry. A scar will form in time. It might feel like that betrayal, that miscarriage, or that assault creates an irreparable chasm in your life, leaving your emotions and perhaps even your gosh in critical condition. But it hasn’t. In time, life will bloom again. (P. 140)
The Danish attitude about the weather reflects their feelings about other areas of life and encourages them to put off negative thought patterns and put on positive ones. (P. 153)
I could move back to Arizona. I could move to Hawaii. I could move to Timbuktu. It wouldn’t really matter. Despite the location of the patch of grass I call my own, it will never feel green enough or warm enough or fill-in-the-blank enough this side of the second Garden of heaven. That longing for something better or best is a remnant of Eden — a chronic case of heartburn that’s been plaguing humanity since that first forbidden bite. […] Like Eve, we often assume that the flashy, just our of reach fruit is better. We look to the careers, the lifestyles, the homes (in my case, the weather) or others and assure ourselves that if we could only have what they have, we would be more satisfied. Then we’d be content. We spend precious time waiting around for a someday life, not realizing that today is the most important day because it’s the only one God has given for this moment. Instead of learning to observe and appreciate the ordinary, we grow disquiet and begin to compare our everyday fruit to what looks to be bigger and better things dangling off the branches of someone else’s tree. (P. 155)
Serving [others] provides perspective. (P. 162)
With the help of hygge, the Danes are generally optimistic people, taking the posture of gratitude, satisfaction, and positivity. That’s not to say they never face hardships or less-than-ideal situations, but they’ve learned to be masters of spin. They’ve chosen to reframe their thoughts about their current circumstances to live more joyful lives. Gratefulness turns what we have into enough. (P. 162)
Gratitude might seem too simple in an over complicated world. At the end of the day, you can only control two things: what you give to the world and your attitude about what the rest of the world has given you. Your friends and family need to see you living in gratitude. When you spend so much time grumbling about a current situation, you draw attention away from the presence and perfection of Jesus. You inadvertently proclaim that who He is and what He has provided is not enough. (P. 164)
If you’re having trouble voicing your gratefulness, remember that while practice doesn’t always make perfect, it does make progress. Sometimes in life, you just have to play scales over and over until you get better, until the noose starts to sound like music. In this case, you have to keep saying “Thank you” until you actually mean it. (P. 164)
Christian women are especially susceptible to the soul-jaundicing effects of hustle. We work under the reckless notion that our cheeks needs to be flushed in heaven from the labor we’ve done here on earth. We are rest-avoidant because, at some point, some well-meaning someone had us all believe that the central aim of our lives is to be useful to God, but it’s not. We’re meant to glorify God. That’s our purpose. The end. (P. 176)
We can’t have an open door all the time. Learning when to close it to the outside world to provide restoration for those inside is just as important for kingdom work as learning when and how to open the door. We can feel free to use the lock. (P. 177)
Remember that rest is not a suggestion. It is a command. As with financial offerings, Sabbath read should be given from the first fruits — the best — of your time. Sabbath is intentional. It’s not time that is taken from you. You’re too relinquish it freely. (P. 181)
December 29, 2022
2.5 stars is more accurate!
I did not enjoy this one. The first chapter or two got me excited to unpack practical examples of how Christians can implement hygge, but the rest of the book fell flat. My woke radar went off several times, and the theology was lacking. I wanted more practical applications, and it just ended up being musings on different topics. I don't recommend this one, unfortunately. I think I will find a secular hygge book to learn more about it instead!
I did not enjoy this one. The first chapter or two got me excited to unpack practical examples of how Christians can implement hygge, but the rest of the book fell flat. My woke radar went off several times, and the theology was lacking. I wanted more practical applications, and it just ended up being musings on different topics. I don't recommend this one, unfortunately. I think I will find a secular hygge book to learn more about it instead!
April 21, 2023
A little book with a lot of great reminders about what it means to live intentionally and create a space that simplifies what it means to live well
May 26, 2024
This was encouraging and uncomplicated. The writing was fine, and actually the questions at the end of the chapters were very thoughtful.
I think her Scripture application was, erm, *creative.* Using a verse about Jesus resting from the crowds to be the prelude to a discussion on self-care felt off to me. And using what seems to be Christ’s “concentric circles” of social life organization as prescriptive for our lives is just misusing the text. I’ve heard that model before, and it’s just not an appropriate application from Jesus’s life. The Scripture referenced didn’t not always seem to connect to the topic, and I think the book may have blown the idea of hygge out of proportion, put too much of a spiritual spin on it.
I think her Scripture application was, erm, *creative.* Using a verse about Jesus resting from the crowds to be the prelude to a discussion on self-care felt off to me. And using what seems to be Christ’s “concentric circles” of social life organization as prescriptive for our lives is just misusing the text. I’ve heard that model before, and it’s just not an appropriate application from Jesus’s life. The Scripture referenced didn’t not always seem to connect to the topic, and I think the book may have blown the idea of hygge out of proportion, put too much of a spiritual spin on it.
July 1, 2024
learned some sweet things I can put into practice in a season where God has called me to open up my home to hosting + ministry!! too often I find myself reading christian books that hardly mention scripture as much as their own personal ideas, and I really appreciated that the author focused on scripture + theology just as much as she talked about integrating hygge ideas into a Christian life. overall found the book to be a bit repetitive, but I think I would benefit from reading it again in a small group setting and having it broken up a bit!
June 22, 2023
I so enjoyed everything about this book. Her writing style is entertaining, and I liked how she tied in the tenets of hygge with the fact that they all came from God first. She also goes into how we can practically live each tenet and guides a perspective shift where that's needed. This may be a yearly read for me!
January 2, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book. It talks a lot about slowing down, practicing contentment, and living an intentional and meaningful life. It takes some practices from Hygge and applies them to creating a home that is welcoming, Christ centered, and purpose filled.
February 27, 2024
Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson is a book that explores the popular Danish practice of hygge and how it can be implemented in a Christian home.
The book covers seven tenets of hygge, including hospitality, relationships, and rest.
While the author does a decent job of giving details of how hygge can be used by Christians, the book itself was just okay for me. I found myself having to force my way through it.
However, if you are looking for practical ideas on how to implement hygge in your home as a Christian, this may be the book for you.
The book covers seven tenets of hygge, including hospitality, relationships, and rest.
While the author does a decent job of giving details of how hygge can be used by Christians, the book itself was just okay for me. I found myself having to force my way through it.
However, if you are looking for practical ideas on how to implement hygge in your home as a Christian, this may be the book for you.
April 16, 2024
A great book about slowing down, inviting God into your home intentionally, and opening up your home for others. A cozy and inspiring read.
July 9, 2023
Loved this one! Provided practical ways to transform not just your home but your heart to invite others in and the gospel to be shared.
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