Some of you may be wondering why I chose the name Koselig for the business or what it really means. Growing up, my family time was spent with my grandparents and great grandma who are all of Norwegian ancestory. I remember little traditions like eating lefse, krumkake, lutefisk on Christmas Eve (no, thank you!), opening gifts on Christmas Eve, decorating with wreaths, angels, gnomes (nisses), and nativity scenes, but I didn't necessarily understand that those things were tradition in Norwegian culture.
As I grew older and wanted to know more about my heritage, I started digging into traditions and ways of the Norwegian people and I found that they tend to be some of the happiest and healthiest people in the world. What I also learned is that a lot of this way of living comes from a concept called koselig. Some of you may have heard of the term, hygge (hoo ga), which is more Danish in origin and has many similarities to koselig (koosh lee).
The website, That Scandinavian Feeling, describes koselig as this...Koselig is a concept which is deeply rooted in our Norwegian culture. I would describe it as the feeling of coziness and being comfortable, but it often involves being in a social setting with others rather than being alone. It is about being content and creating a pleasant environment. It is about intimacy and warmth. You will feel koselig from anything that makes you feel happy and evokes that warm feeling inside you.
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? Who doesn't want the feeling of of warmth inside?!?!?! That's what I love about the idea of koselig. It can mean different things to different people, but it revolves around connection to people, nature, and self. It brings to mind living each day in a simple, but fulfilling way and taking the time to reconnect. It can be sitting down for a cup of coffee with a friend, talking with a stranger, going for a hike, ice skating at the outdoor rink, lighting a candle or sitting in front of a fireplace.
It's not about big things and it is not meant to put more on a person's plate, but to instead remind one to step back, reflect, and enjoy life. I think we can all use more of that in our busy world!