Examining the social characteristics underpinning Danish ‘hygge’ and their implications for promoting togetherness in multicultural education

In a time when the world is facing social, political, public health, and environmental upheaval, Danes are lighting candles, baking cookies, and engaging in ‘hygge’, or ‘cozy togetherness’. Interestingly, Denmark also happens to be ranked as one of the happiest, most harmonious and prosperous societies across several global indexes. Could there be a link between the Danes’ propensity for hygge and their independent yet socially caring citizens? Can the hygge movement serve as a lens and motivation for researching and facilitating togetherness in multicultural education? This review examines the intricate, positive relationship between personal and collective wellbeing notable in Denmark. The popular Danish lifestyle concept of ‘hygge’ is situated within the wider, global, interdisciplinary wellbeing research and evidence-base to identify underpinning, generalizable principles for promoting togetherness in multicultural education, and education more broadly.