Hyugge, Lagom and Ikigay: History of the most fashionable lifefile currents of recent years

In the year before last, the world was overwhelmed by Hyugge wave – a recipe for happiness in Danish, seasoned coffee with a nipple, fluffy plaids and a ring laughter of households. Not having time to move away from Hyugge fever, the world with his head plunged into another Scandinavian trend. "Being Lagom means to be moderate in everything," the Swedes passed us, and we willingly followed their rules. As it turned out, the Japanese know about happiness. The philosophy of life "Ikigai" from Okinawa Island is a long, healthy and meaningful life. All these three currents unites the care from traditional Western races prospect. Scandinavians and the Japanese advise us to be more attentive to the world around, detect beauty in it and feel joy in the moment.

Hyugge: d At as

Literal translation of the word Hyugg. It is assumed that it happened from the Norwegian Hugga ("Comfort"), later "Emigrating" in English Hug ("Hug"). Leading specialist in Hyugg, Anthropologist Yeppe Troll Linnet gave this phenomenon the following definition: "Safe environment; feeling of comfort and joy, especially at home, in the family circle; targeted care for children; Civilized behavior, comfortable for others, causing adhesion and trust; A house that can be poor and furnished is not in the last fashion, but clean and well-groomed ". Hyugge does not cure, does not measure the success of money and does not divide people to classes.

Weather taught Danes romanticize the house, see in it a quiet harbor, where you can hide from the drooping northern winds

The word "Hyugge" ancient. It appeared in the XVIII century. Climate, history and state policy of the country – that here comes the roots of this philosophy of life. Here is the explanation, why Hyugga is characteristic of Danes. The local climate has always been narrowing: the rain in Denmark goes about 171 days a year, the average temperature is about 17 ° C in the summer and near zero in winter. It was the weather who taught the Danes to romanticize the house, see in it a quiet harbor, where you can hide from the drooping northern winds.

Hyuggue origin is largely due to history. Sometime to the Danish kingdom – strong and influential – belonged to part of Norway, Sweden and Germany. But over time, the Danes lost the conquered lands. Conflict with Bismarck, according to the results of which the country lost a third of the population, aggravated the position of the once strong power and forced her to shift the focus from the external status on the internal well-being. "All that we lost outside, we will wean from the inside," said Danish poet Hans Peter Holst. Since then, the Danes cultivate their garden using a small area of ​​maximum.

Starting from the XIX century, Denmark is known for socially oriented policies. This is a country where the rights and needs of a separate citizen are put at the head of the corner. Low coefficient of Gini (degree of separation of society), great opportunities for vulnerable sectors of society (children and pensioners, people with disabilities and temporarily unemployed), free medicine and education contribute to the feeling of economic security. "When a person’s basic needs are satisfied, an opportunity appears for communication, creativity and self-development. It is in such conditions that Hyugge arises, "the author of the book" Hyugg. Danish art of happiness »Marie Godberg.

The same position holds the author of another book about Hyugg "Little Book Hyugge: Danish secret of happiness" Mike Viking, which connects a high standard of living Danes and Hyugg. Most of them have private houses, they go to Tesla and get salaries much higher than most of the inhabitants of the planet. Promotional capitalist Denmark has a Slow Life style with his little pleasures. Add to this story the nationalities of Danes, such as modesty, introversion, conformism and desire for conveniences – and you will receive a Danish recipe for happiness and prosperity.

Lagoma: W Sweet moderation

"Lagom – a wide idea that firmly rooted in Swedish mentality. This word is often translated as "Moderation in everything", "not too much and not too little". But in essence Lag – the balance that is suitable for you. For example, water can be lag warm – comfortable temperature for you. You can work in a lag – without overdoing how much you need. Pants can sit on you in Lag – as it should. This word can be used almost in any context, and this is his charm, "the author of the book about the lag of Niki Brantmark. Inexperienced in the Scandinavian trends, the reader may think that the lag arose recently, as a response of enterprising Swedes to the Danish Hyugge. But this assumption is rooted incorrectly. The philosophy of moderation was inherent in the Swedes in the time of Vikings.

Water can be lag-warm – comfortable temperature for you. You can work in a lag – without overdoing how much you need. Pants can sit on you in Lag – as it should

One of the versions is perhaps the most romantic, – Lagom comes from the phrase of Laget OM, which means "around the group". In the Viking Epoch, it meant a fair distribution of resources inside the collective. Imagine: the warm evening of the warriors of the North is sitting by the fire and transmit a common horn in a circle, filled with honey. Everyone pumps not too much and not too small – so to get everything. So lag began to associate with Swedish mode, when what you need is enough, that is, just right.

Also, the origin of the word Lagom is associated with the period of the beginning of the XVII century, when the word LAG was met in Swedish texts, which meant the "law" and "group". Multiple from the word lag was Lagom. Accurate information about when Lagom entered the Consciousness of the Swedes, no. Nevertheless, his relationship with collectivist thinking can be traced in all single words. The last sense transformation of the lag happened during the times of Swedish Protestantism. The concept of increasing more Puritan shade: they were denoted by modesty and care for neighbors, in the handling of which justice and equality should be observed.

Refusing imperial ambitions, the Swedes concentrated on internal prosperity

The desire for justice and equality was the basis of the Swedish Social Democratic Model, thanks to which the country year after year occupies the first lines in all sorts of welfare ratings and happiness. Swedish riches are distributed through fair taxes, and equality is fixed at the level of laws. Similarly, with Danes, Sweden behaves in foreign policy issues. "If you come to the Swede on the street and ask when in modern history, the country participated in the war, most will answer: "Never""," Wrote Lola A. Eckext in his book "Lagom. The secret of Swedish well-being. Refusing imperial ambitions, the Swedes concentrated on internal prosperity.

Nevertheless, the differences from Hyugge in this philosophy quite a lot. Danes chant the joy of simple, but often useless pleasures, lag teaches to be rational in everything and not fill out the life of unnecessary trash. Interior design from IKEA catalogs (which, of course, came up with Swedes) – this is restraint, minimalism and functionality in one bottle. Swedish cuisine is a refusal of semi-finished products, light natural dishes and no feeling of gravity. Swedish lifestyle – this is an exercise in the fresh air, and not at home. The Swedish formula of conscious "Reduce – Reuse – Recycle" is translated as "shortening, use again, recycle". Following this rule, the local reached incredible heights in environmental issues. To be moderate in everything, take care of yourself and others and not to hurt anyone harm – so the Formula of Happiness in Swedish sounds.

Ikigai: I’m punchy perfectionism

Ikigai come from Japan. His exemplary meaning is as follows: in order to live long and happily, you need to find a goal (goals) and follow it with all passion. "This is why I want to get up in the morning," explains the author of the "Little Book of Ikigai" Ken Mogi. That day after day makes us wake up with the first rays of the sun, if we knew Ikigai? Cup of freshly brewed coffee, ringing, like a bell, laughter of a child, a grand project to save the planet from global warming, which you soon proudly present to your superiors. The Japanese use the word "Ikigai" in different reasons: ranging from small daily affairs and ending with global achievements.

The word "Ikigai" consists of two roots: "ICI" ("Life") and "Guy" ("Value"). This is evidenced in his research specialist in the evolution of Ikigai and the Associate Professor of the University of Toyo Eyva Akihiro Khasegawa. Ikigai leaves the roots in the time of Heian (peaceful period in Japan’s history from 794 to 1185): "Gai root comes from Kai, Japanese it means "shell" – The fact is that once the shells are very valued. Accordingly, being a totality of these two words, "Ikigai" Literally means "value of life"". What is interesting, the word "life" in many languages ​​means both life in its global understanding and everyday life. According to Hacegawa, in Japanese, two different words came up with these concepts: ""Dzinsey" – "entire life" and "Seycle" – Life in present ". Ikigai is associated with everyday life: the Japanese are confident that, by filling it with small joys, you will live long and happily.

Ikigai gained global fame recently. For the first time they were interested in the 60s of the last century. Then Western gerontologists noticed that the Life expectancy among the Japanese is much longer than, for example, among Americans or Europeans. Despite the fact that Ikigai became traditional for all Japan, he originated on Okinawa island, presumably in the Middle Ages. Island is known all over the world, firstly, what they came up with karate, and secondly, due to the high percentage of people who are more than 100 years old (read "The rules of life of a countertime man from Okinawa Island"). The secrets of longevity, according to the Okinawans themselves, there are several: healthy eating, mutual support for which the inhabitants of the island, and, finally, Ikigay.

For men, Ikigai is associated with the number of rooms in the apartment / house, annual income and health status, and for women – with the presence of a spouse and family as such

American writer Dan Byuttner in his speech at the conference TED "How to Almue Up to 100 years" leads to an example of Okinawa residents, with whom he managed to talk personally. The master of karate, which turned 102 years old, said that his Ikigai is to improve martial art. The 100-year-old fisherman called so the opportunity three times a week to catch the fish for his family. Woman 102 years old admitted: Ikigai – it is to keep his grandmother on her hands (according to her, it’s like taking off on the sky). What is interesting, according to the study of scientists from Osaka University, for men Ikigai was associated with the number of rooms in the apartment / house, annual income and health status, and for women – with the presence of a spouse and family as such.

Ikigai is closely connected with the tradition of early raises in Japan. "Country of the Rising Sun", or "The Origin of the Sun," – so literally translates its name. The Japanese have worshiped this celestial luminary for a long time, considering it a symbol of life and energy. In the new year, local neither light rose (or do not fall at all) to see the first sunrise. It is from this idyllic picture another calendar year begins. From Buddhism Ikigai absorbed the ability to be here and now and the self-denial, with which the Japanese are taken for their work. This also includes their national traits, such as hard work and perfectionism, thanks to which the inhabitants of Nihon bring the craft to unprecedented perfection. From each of his abilities, everyone – by Ikigai.