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At Relica we love a good story and the meaning behind what people value--so we enjoy occasionally sharing these interesting anomalies (and commonalities) that make us all human. This Thanksgiving, pass on Uncle Morty in the lampshade and indulge in the hygge! In college I majored in International Relations. By far, my favorite class was Cultural Anthropology, where we immersed ourselves in and studied cultural traditions and idiosyncrasies from around the world.  The tradition and value that stayed with me the most was a Danish tradition called Hygge (pronounced "hooga" -- imagine how the Swedish Chef on the Muppets would say it). Below is an excerpt I borrowed from thedanishway.com that I feel most accurately captures the essence of hygge. How many times have you been...

  The Japanese have many words for interesting concepts--one of my favorites is Wabi Sabi. It is an appreciation for the imperfect, the subtle, the humble. And it is seeing the profound beauty that time bestows on all earthly things; a reverence for the cycle of life. In her book about this very concept, Robyn Griggs Lawrence outlines the meaning of both words; wabi is harmony, peace, balance and tranquility--sabi refers to "the bloom of time" or the dignity and grace that accompany the natural progression of aging. I have long been fascinated by this subject of imperfection--both in design and in humanity. Think about it; isn't it really our idiosyncrasies, flaws and vulnerabilities that attracts us to one another? It's what makes us unique, interesting and...