Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Hygge - the modern Mead Hall?


Since mid-December I’ve downed tools from writing book 2 in the Wolf Spear Saga series (mostly!) and taken a break from social media. Some might say it’s crazy, but it’s been marvellously refreshing. The day job had been hectic and I’d been scribbling away at my second novel, as well as reading up on some research material for books 2 and 3 in the series. When I broke up from the day job on 16th December, my brain disengaged from book writing and the outside world.

'Hygge'
I’ve been embracing Hygge, the Danish art of ‘being’ and ‘sharing’, and it got me thinking. This isn’t a new craze that’s never been tried before. This is something the Danish have been perfecting for hundreds of years. It’s something the human race has been practising for thousands of years. It’s simply a case of switching off from all the external distractions of life in our current world and curling up with those you love. It’s about downtime without artificial lights or modern technologies that interrupt us all the while. It’s time to switch off your smartphones, or in the case of our ancestors, leave the swords outside.
Leave your worries outside the door...
Some may argue that television is the modern equivalent to the tales of Scops or Skalds in the Mead Halls, except instead of listening to oral stories of brave heroes we are eagerly watching people dance or bake their way to glory. Here in the Moxon household we’ve had candles and fairy lights on and the whole tribe has been curled up on a sofa surrounded by cushions and blankets. There’s been reading, board games and knitting. I’ve almost completed a knitted tunic that I began in the spring, hoping to wear it for winter. This is now taking shape and I may still have the weather to wear it in. It made me think of medieval women combing raw wool as they sit by the fire. The ancient craft of nalbinding, or knot-making, was the precursor to modern knitting.
If I can just get this knot out...
Surprisingly, or not, all this Hyggelig behaviour spurred my writer’s brain into action. I’ve had plot ideas, promotional ideas and thoughts of exciting twists in future novels. We’ve planned holidays and daytrips or taken 40 winks, sent into slumber by the warmth of the dog beside us (not with the candles burning mind you!). The communal ‘downtime’ not only liberated us from modern society, but liberated our imaginations. It is easy to see how productive this socially engaging enclosure is and would have been to our ancestors in the Mead Halls. Campaigns could be formed and strategized; community disputes discussed and settled; plans passed for building and crop growing.
While the potage boils we'll write a few laws...
Like a warrior whittling runes into a horn cup, dreaming of heroic ventures as he warms his toes by the hearth, so we have been busy making and plotting in our own 21st Century way. There is a saying that ‘the old ones are the best’ and I think the Danes know this very well. Hygge is an old tradition and is still the best way to live, tapping into our past as we move into the future.
Do you Hygge?
The 'other' work in progress!
BE CANDLE SAFE – NEVER LEAVE A BURNING FLAME UNATTENDED
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS COPYRIGHT E S MOXON, OR PUBLIC DOMAIN VIA VISUALHUNT.COM
~ ~ ~

Elaine writes historical fiction as ‘E S Moxon’. Her debut Wulfsuna was published January 21st, 2015 through Silverwood Books and is the first in her Wolf Spear Saga series of Saxon adventures, where a Seer and one named ‘Wolf Spear’ are destined to meet. She is currently writing her second novel, set once again in the Dark Ages of 5th Century Britain. You can find out more from Elaine’s website. Elaine lives in the Midlands with her family and their chocolate Labrador.

Blood, betrayal and brotherhood.
An ancient saga is weaving their destiny.
A treacherous rival threatens their fate.
A Seer's magic may be all that can save them.
WULFSUNA

6 comments:

  1. Lovely to see you back! A great post - were it not for the need to promote, I'd be tempted to do the same. And even though I write a good deal of my stories by hand, I do cleave to my PC too. I can't resist the process of transcribing notes to a nice neat document!

    You have inspired me to write a catch-up email! xXx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carol. You are so kind. I can relate to the process of typing handwritten notes into a lovely blank pc page. I'm thoroughly replenished and eager to dive back into book 2 now! Look forward to your email.

      Delete
  2. Great concept and one I desperately need myself! I'll do my best though:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been a refreshing experience Mark. Even if you make it one whole weekend, I'm sure it will be restorative!

      Delete
  3. Jeg hygger mig hver dag! Selv når jeg er på arbejde. Kan I have et hyggeligt nyt år allesammen.
    (Jeg bor i Aarhus, Danmark btw).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Et hyggeligt nyt ar allesammen sounds good! We shall have to visit Aarhus ;-)

      Delete