Every Norwegian’s dream… cabin!

Every Norwegian’s dream… cabin!

December 2 , 2021 | by:
You know what they say about opinions, right? Everyone has one. Well, the same applies to Norwegians and their dream cabins in nature, called “hytte”. Be it Friday afternoon, Christmas or Easter time, Norwegians flock to their wooden cabins with their cars, to spend quality time with their beloved ones. They even have a verb for this: hytta. One would expect that these cabins would be super stylish, modern and equipped with the latest technology, based on Norway’s lifestyle and standard of living. Wrong. Their “hytte” is wooden and basic. But what is it that makes this escape so special for the Norwegians? 
Basic happiness
A hytte is usually made of wood and is located somewhere in the middle of nowhere – and there is plenty of that in Norway. That’s the point. To be somewhere far away from anything, so that you can disconnect with everything and reconnect with your self, the people you love and nature. Usually a hytte is small and does have the absolute necessary amenities. A proper toilet is often not included. Rather there is a small(er) cabin outside in the nature for this purpose. It is called “utedo”. Peeing outside is part of the hytte life.

Inside the hytte, everything is wooden and the decoration is rustic, usually old and everything looks mismatched, like puzzle pieces from your the family’s history or your childhood. You should expect a lot of copper pans on the walls, old frames, maybe some ski equipment and animal skins. All set!
Sorry, koselig!
Danes are proud of their hyggelig time (rumours say they borrowed this word from the Norwegian language) but Norwegians have their own word for that. And the hytte is the perfect place to have “kos” or spend “koselig”  time. Usually, family members are spread across the country, living or working in different places, so gathering at the hytte is the perfect meeting point for all. A lot of outside activity is expected during a hytte weekend. You know, Norwegians love nature, hiking and cross-country skiing. Or they simply sit outside, in the sun, to get some cool winter tan!

When darkness falls, it is fun time! This includes playing cards or board games, listening to music from the old radio sitting on the wooden table. Reading books is also popular.  The only thing that can break the fun is food. When it comes to it, no fine dining is expected. People carry fruit, lots of  tins and basic ingredients for cooking. After all, it’s all about enjoying the time with your beloved ones. But to hytta is rather exclusive. You are not expected to invite people you don’t really know or not close friends. It is sacred.