Keeping it Hygge: A Thankful November at RED

If you ask the Danes the secret to happiness, they’ll probably mention hygge long before they talk about money or ambition. Hygge isn’t just a Danish word you see on Pinterest in the fall—it’s a feeling, a way of making ordinary moments comforting and special. And as November rolls in and our book club nights take on their own glow, there’s no better time to learn how to bring more hygge into our gatherings (and our lives).

READ: The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

This week, we’re taking our inspiration from The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking. Think of it as a manual for cultivating warmth, coziness, and gratitude—no matter what’s happening outside. Wiking, head of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen (yes, that's a real place), breaks down exactly why Danes are some of the happiest people on earth. Spoiler: It's less about material things and more about moments—candles lit everywhere, soft blankets, time with friends, and that deep contentment that comes from sharing simple pleasures.

You’ll find tons of practical tips in the book. For more about the book and to see what other readers think, check it out here.

Favorite quote: “Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down.”

EAT: Butter Candle & Bread

If hygge had a mascot, it might actually be a candle. Or better yet—a candle you can eat. This week, we’re making edible butter candles. Yep: a warm, melty candle made of herbed butter that you light on the table, then dip hunks of bread into as you chat and swap stories. It’s equal parts cozy and delightfully over the top, which to me is the spirit of every great book club. Plus, it gives everyone a valid excuse to eat a scandalous amount of bread (highly recommended).

Get the full recipe for the viral butter candle right here. Don’t forget to bring your favorite bakery loaf, something crusty that’ll soak up all the flavor.

DRINK: The Dark Horse from The Stables

Candles are hygge, but so are slow sips on a chilly evening—bonus points if your glass steams in your hands. Enter: The Dark Horse from The Stables. It’s a cocktail that tastes like late autumn in a mug: bourbon, apple cider, cinnamon, and just enough spice to make you feel spirited yet grounded. It’s basically hygge in a glass. If you want to really go there, serve it warm and pass around extra mugs.

Find the recipe here, and don’t be afraid to play with your own additions. That’s part of the magic.

Why Hygge Matters… Especially in November

Amid all the holiday bustle, it’s easy to forget grace—for ourselves, for the little things, for time spent together. Hygge is the gentle nudge to slow down, savor, and give thanks. Sometimes the happiest memories are just an ordinary day, a good book, a warm room, and friends who get you.

Let’s choose gratitude by making room for coziness and connection—not just tonight, but all November long.

Book Club Topic Ideas

• What’s your personal definition of “hygge”? How do you cultivate it at home?

• Which of the book’s ideas felt easiest or hardest to bring into your real life?

• What’s the coziest moment you’ve had lately, big or small?

• How does gratitude show up in your day-to-day?

• Share a tradition (family, cultural, personal) that makes you feel warm and happy in cold months

• Butter candle verdict: brilliant or too much? Would you bring it to another gathering?

• If you could design the ultimate hygge night, what would it include (other than book club, obviously)?

  
  

Happy Reading, Eating and Drinking!