Helsinki in January...My experience of Scandinavia (has never been to Finland, but Norway, Sweden, and Denmark)... it's very expensive, very clean, lots of tall blonde people... Are they really happier than everyone else? I didn't notice....
Posted on 05/04/2021 8:09:29 PM PDT by Rummyfan
Is hygge still a thing? The Danish concept of comfortable conviviality and all things cozy is supposed to capture the essence of Danish culture and has been marketed as the secret for happy living. A few years back, there was a surge of hygge-related books, articles, and household products. Journalists from around the world were touring Denmark to document various aspects of this unique lifestyle. The enthusiasm around Denmark was stimulated by the nation’s reputation of being the happiest country in the world. However, last time I checked, the designer store across the street here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, had moved its selection of Hygge branded candles to the clearance corner.
If there has been a downturn in the hygge industry in recent years, it may be because Finland, my home country, has surpassed Denmark in the World Happiness Report four years running. Denmark occupies the third place, after Iceland, in the most recent edition, released in March, and its distance to Finland is growing. As reported by multiple media outlets, the Finnish spiritual equivalent to hygge is something far less convivial and much more difficult to pronounce: kalsarikännit, which translates as “pantsdrunk,” refers to the practice of binge drinking home alone in your underpants. If this is a secret to happy life, let’s keep it that way: a secret.
Nobody is more skeptical than the Finns about the notion that we are the world’s happiest people. To be fair, this is hardly the only global ranking we’ve topped recently. ... Give us a break. As reported by a correspondent for the Economist, when a Cabinet member of the Finnish government was introduced at an international conference as “the representative of the happiest country in the world,” he responded: “If that’s true, I’d hate to see the other nations.”
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
Helsinki in January...My experience of Scandinavia (has never been to Finland, but Norway, Sweden, and Denmark)... it's very expensive, very clean, lots of tall blonde people... Are they really happier than everyone else? I didn't notice....
Looks like Cleveland in the winter.
And Cleveland has the happiest people in America.
/s
https://www.statista.com/chart/4019/the-worlds-biggest-consumers-of-antidepressant/
Finland makes the top 10.
Happiness can be defined as the intersection of expectations and expectations met.
If you don’t expect much, you’re more likely happy.
Odd, the Dutch, nearby, are the grumpiest people I have heard of.
‘Happy’ is a loaded word. Content is the word I would use. ‘At peace’ works, too.
Those articles about them being happy is just propaganda to make their socialism look palatable
The Finnish used to be notoriously alcoholic and depressed. Obviously 2020-2021 did wonders for them.
Freegards
To me, the happiest places are the ones in Europe where people go out on the town and socialize in the evening. I saw this on a large scale in both Italy and Spain. Everyone seems to know everyone else and the cafes are filled with happy, talkative people.
The older I get, the American habit of spending the evening watching TV (or surfing the web) is pretty bland and empty in comparison.
On the flip side, I know several Asians (Chinese, Korean and Japanese) who fled their home countries because they could not stand the forced after-work socialization rituals. They are very happy to go home, rest & zone out watching TV.
I like the Dutch. I would never describe them as fun loving exactly, but they do cut loose occasionally. Scandies and the Dutch and the Germans to a certain extent too... highly regimented societies jut below the surface. Italy OTOH.... much freer.
How else could you deal with those winters?!
Iceland? Happy?
This “study” is a fraud. It would be generous to call it Fake News. Iceland is not a happy place or a happy nation. Well, maybe compared to Russia.
A youger brother worked for Shell Oil for a long time. He disliked traveling to the HG there. Had lots of anecdotes about their disagreeable demeanor.
His favorite one about asking directions on how to get someplace: “It is not possible”
Cleveland,
Ouch,,,
Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.
That’s it for the
“Mistake by the Lake!”
Montana in May...
Except for occasions, work, school and sporting events/cultural events, Americans are antisocial.
All my Scandinavian relatives (Norwegians) left 200-150 years ago, settling in Illinois and South Dakota. Then they had the good sense to move to Texas. :D
Finnish....depressed?
How could they be with homegrown bands like Sturm und Drang???
(Do I really need a /sarc?)
Not to be rude, but I once read that definition of comedy is the intentional juxtaposition of two incongruous concepts.
So here I am, faced with an Honest Nigerian, claiming they are sure Iceland is not a happy place. LOL
That’s why any band that can actually make it by touring makes lots of Europe shows, not many US shows.
Freegards
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