A Permaculture Mama’s Guide to a Hygge Holiday

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I’ve been trying to include more hygge in our holiday season over the past few years. I’ve never been one for overconsumption or packed holiday schedules. But sometimes it feels like you’re doing it wrong if you skip those things.

So, intentionally embracing a hygge-style holiday feels like a small act of rebellion!

What I love is that hygge emphasizes many of the same values as permaculture: local, simple, mindful, connected, and seasonal living. And the holiday season is the perfect time to lean into those things.

Below, I’ll share some of the ways I bring hygge into our holidays. Maybe you’ll find something that inspires your own cozy traditions.

1. Create Warmth with Natural Materials

Natural materials are a win-win for so many reasons. For starters, avoiding plastic is important to me for many health and environmental reasons. And since natural materials often come free when foraged outside, we get to skip the plastic and save money, which feels pretty great.

But hygge isn’t just about the aesthetic. It’s about the feeling.

Cozy, soft, natural textures are what really bring that warm hygge vibe into your home. Natural materials have this comforting warmth that plastic and polyester just can’t match. They invite you to slow down and feel more connected to the holiday season.

In our home, we’ve started swapping out store-bought decorations for things we find outside or reuse. It’s feel great to bring these natural treasures inside, knowing they’re not off-gassing chemicals. Plus, it’s a fun way to get the girls involved. 

Collecting pinecones, evergreen sprigs, and drying oranges has become one of our favorite little holiday adventures — and hey, it counts toward our homeschool learning too!

Here are some easy ideas to bring natural warmth into your holiday season:

  • Handmade decor using foraged or reused materials: think winterberries, pinecones, evergreen boughs, dried orange slices, and beeswax candles.
  • Cozy textiles: wool blankets, handmade quilts, natural fiber rugs — these add softness and a touch of home-spun warmth.
  • Homemade nature crafts: You can make a lot of cool things with natural materials, and this is a great way to get kids involved. Try these felted acorns! They’re adorable and simple to make. Here’s a great tutorial to check out: How to Make Felted Acorns.

Bringing nature indoors this way feels like wrapping your home in a soft, seasonal hug, perfect for slowing down and savoring the little moments.

2. Celebrate the Holiday Season with Herbal Comforts

For me, the cooler months wouldn’t feel quite right without a hot cup of herbal tea in hand. Herbs offer that comforting, earthy connection when you’re spending more time indoors. It’s an added bonus that they also help support your health! 

Hygge is all about creating a safe, cozy space for rest and rejuvenation, and herbs are natural partners in that mission. When it’s cold and snowy outside, a hot cup of herbal tea feels very grounding and helps me to maintain a connection to the earth.

This time of year, when holiday gatherings and family time fill the calendar, herbs can also be part of your seasonal traditions.

Herbal tea shared while decorating the tree, a festive simmer pot bubbling during your winter solstice celebration, or a cup of calming chamomile after a long day of shopping and wrapping—it all adds to the magic and meaning of the season.

Here are a few of my favorite herbs to bring into the holidays:

  • Chamomile: Sweet, calming, and gentle—perfect for winding down after a full Christmas day.
  • Lavender: Floral and fragrant, it brings a little summer sunshine into the dark months. (Tip: don’t drink lavender tea on its own—it can be a bit strong. Mix it with other herbs for a seasonal blend.)
  • Roasted Dandelion Root: Supports digestion, which can come in handy with rich holiday meals.
  • Cinnamon: Warming and festive—add it to tea, simmer pots, or baked goods for that unmistakable holiday feel.
  • Rosemary: Fresh and uplifting, often used in winter kitchen wreaths and table decor too.
  • Ginger: Spicy and warming—great for staying toasty on cold evenings and perfect in cookies too!
  • Peppermint: Cooling and soothing—wonderful after a heavy holiday dinner.
  • Elderberry: A classic immune booster to help you stay well through the season.
  • Orange Peels: Not exactly an herb, but they add brightness to teas and simmer pots, and they’re a cheerful, citrusy nod to winter traditions.

Looking for something a little extra special?

Try starting a new holiday ritual:

Little herbal moments like these can become traditions of their own—ones that your kids may remember just as fondly as the lights and gifts!

Want to learn more about how I use herbs to embrace hygge? Read this: 7 Hygge-Inspired Ways to Use Herbs this Winter

3. Cook and Share Slow, Seasonal Foods

Instead of sitting in front of screens this holiday season, why not gather in the kitchen and cook something together?

There’s something about warm soups, hearty stews, crockpot meals, and dishes full of broths, roots, offal, and fermented goodies that just feel like winter. Seasonal eating has this cozy, ooey-gooey vibe to it that fits perfectly with hygge.

And when you share that food with people you love? Even better.

Involving the kids (and other family members) in holiday cooking brings everyone closer. Most of human history has included communal meal prep, and the kitchen was always a gathering place. 

Hygge honors that old way of doing things: slowing down, being together, and savoring simple pleasures. You don’t have to make anything fancy, just make it together.

Of course, real life isn’t always neat and tidy. I’ve learned the hard way that perfection isn’t the goal. While a picture-perfect holiday table looks nice on Instagram, I’ve found that a table with a few crumbs, mismatched plates, and warm hands around mugs is even better. 

A sliced apple and a cup of tea shared with people you love? That’s totally hygge.

That said, I’ve also learned a few tricks for making things beautiful and low-effort. One of my absolute favorites is our Christmas dinner tradition. A few years ago, my sister and I started putting together a big holiday charcuterie table, and now it’s something we look forward to every year.

Here’s what’s usually on the table:

  • Prosciutto (my favorite!) and other cured meats
  • Dried fruits like figs and apricots
  • Jams (fig jam is especially nice)
  • Fresh winter fruits like citrus and pears
  • Fermented vegetables: sauerkraut, fermented root veggies, whatever we have on hand
  • Cheeses (for those who can eat them)
  • Crackers and fresh bread
  • AIP dinner rolls for me
  • Pickles, olives, and anything briny
  • A crockpot of cranberry-orange cocktail meatballs
  • Cookies and pies that can sit out and be nibbled on all evening

Once it’s all prepped, we can eat from it for days. There’s minimal cleanup, almost no last-minute cooking stress, and everyone gets to pick what they love. Honestly, it’s the one time of year I really get a break from the kitchen, and I look forward to it all year.

This slow, abundant style of eating reminds me of something I saw in a documentary once.

It explained how the original “12 Days of Christmas” used to be twelve actual days of feasting, from Christmas Day through early January. Doesn’t that sound dreamy? I’d love to embrace that rhythm someday. Rest, eat, reconnect, repeat.

Over the years, I’ve also noticed something interesting: my body seems to respond best to foods that are in season. When I eat what’s naturally growing (or storing) in that season (roots in winter, greens in spring), it feels easier on my system. Maybe nature really does know best.

4. Gather Simply and Intentionally

I’ve always loved small, intimate gatherings: the kind where you actually have time to connect, listen, and learn about each other on a deeper level. No long to-do lists pulling you in another direction, no pressure to perform or entertain. Just time with people we love.

While I’m excited to begin hosting larger gatherings again once we find our next home, for now, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of small family get-togethers. There’s a certain enchantment to them that feels especially fulfilling during the holiday season.

Here are a few ways we try to create a hygge-inspired holiday gathering:

  • Simple, seasonal foods — like I mentioned earlier, warm stews, fermented sides, and cozy charcuterie spreads go a long way in making people feel cared for.
  • Candlelight — nothing sets the mood for connection like soft, flickering light. We use beeswax candles (and regular candles, too) to make everything feel a little softer.
  • Screen-free fun — board games, card games, puzzles, storytelling, and even drawing together around the table. There’s something special about shared play that doesn’t involve screens. (We also do family movie nights like everyone else!)
  • Outdoor fire pit moments — wrapped in blankets, mugs of something warm in hand. I’m currently dreaming up a fire pit setup that would actually work for cold New Hampshire winters (if you’ve figured that out, let me know!).
  • Live music and storytelling — singing songs together, playing simple instruments, or sharing family stories make the gathering feel alive.
  • Nature walks — this one’s a little tricky in New Hampshire’s icy winter, but I’d still love to incorporate more seasonal walks when we can, even if it’s just a short wander in the woods to collect pine or notice the bare trees.

More than anything, hygge gatherings are about intention. Saying no to the chaos of “too much” and yes to meaningful, slow, present moments. That’s where the real power is, and that’s what I try to remember when I feel like I’m not doing it right.

5. Give Gifts that Reflect Your Values

I love handmade gifts. For me, the idea of holiday shopping in crowded stores or stressing over budgets just doesn’t spark joy. But crafting something with my own hands? That lights me up.

I know not everyone feels the same way about handmade gifts—and that’s okay! But the way I see it is, if someone doesn’t appreciate something I lovingly created… well, that’s not really my problem (sorry, not sorry). 😉

There’s something deeply satisfying about taking the abundance from our homestead—or sourcing from local farms and makers—and turning it into something beautiful and useful. It feels very much like me.

I also like to involve the girls in the process so they can learn what gift-giving really means.

It’s not about “stuff”. It’s about thoughtfulness, care, and sharing something from the heart.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t always how it works out. Sometimes I’m short on time, or it’s too hard to find the right materials. But it is my intention, and that’s good enough!

Here are some of our favorite handmade gift ideas:

But handmade isn’t the only way to give in a way that reflects your values.

We also love giving (and receiving) experience-based gifts. One of my favorite examples? My sister gave the girls and me a gift certificate for a horseback riding adventure last year. We haven’t used it yet, but we’re all very excited to go.

Whether it’s homemade jam, a skillfully tied bundle of herbs, or a simple experience that creates a lifelong memory, the point is to focus on creativity over consumption. It’s about giving something that has meaning.

6. Tune into Nature’s Rhythm

Just like the plants and animals need time to rest and reset each year, we humans can benefit from embracing the quiet stillness of winter…

…instead of pretending it’s summer all year long!

Last year was the first winter I really gave myself permission to slow down. And I have to say it made the whole season (especially the holidays) feel so much more peaceful and enjoyable. 

In years past, I kept our schedule going at full tilt.

I encouraged the girls to play basketball “just to have something to do,” packed the calendar with Christmas events, and tried to keep up with the hustle. But honestly? It didn’t leave much room for the feeling of the season.

So we did something different last year: we rested. We stayed home most nights, except for the occasional gathering or music show. And I realized how hard all that rushing around in the dark had been on my body and my energy.

The holidays often come with a kind of pressure to be everywhere, do everything, and say yes to every invite. But I’ve found that saying no to some of that opens up space for something even better: a slower, more intentional holiday season that actually feels good.

These days, I try to let our activity follow the light…

That means more time at home, cozy evenings in, and a whole lot less rushing around. We still celebrate, of course, but in a way that honors the season’s natural pace:

  • A quiet solstice night by the fire. 
  • A slow Christmas morning with tea and wool socks. 
  • A New Year’s Eve where we go to bed early if we feel like it (which is usually how it goes!).

I still want to be better about getting outside during the short daylight hours for fresh air and movement. But I love being able to eat dinner early and then spend the evening just lounging. 

When there’s fresh snow on the ground and everything feels still and hushed, it creates the perfect atmosphere for rest, reflection, and dreaming for the new year ahead.

One of the things I’m most grateful for is that I’ve created a life where we can honor these rhythms.

Where the holidays aren’t about pushing through, but about slowing down. Where we can find joy not just in the big celebrations, but in the quiet, twinkly, restful moments in between.

And really… isn’t that the heart of hygge?

7. Tend to Your Own Inner Winter

One of my favorite things about Christmas Day is that it’s one of the rare times when the whole world seems to pause.

Most businesses are closed, many people have the day off, and everyone is either at home or visiting family and friends.

There are hardly any cars on the road, and the ones you do see are likely heading to or from a celebration.

It feels like the entire world actually slows down. And that gives me permission to truly slow down, too.

Taking time to rest and replenish yourself isn’t just important—it’s essential…

And yet, during the holidays, it’s often the first thing to get pushed aside.

We pour ourselves into creating magical moments for our families, and while that’s beautiful, it can also leave us depleted. Especially for us mamas. 

The truth is, we matter too. Our energy, our well-being, our inner rhythm—they deserve tending just as much as the tree or the holiday menu.

Winter naturally invites us inward.

The days are shorter, the nights are long, and there’s more darkness than light. Instead of resisting it, we can embrace it as an invitation to slow down and check in with ourselves.

As women, we often need more rest than we give ourselves permission for. Winter, and especially the holiday season, can be a beautiful time to practice stillness. 

To step away from the pressure to “do it all” (goodbye masculine energy) and instead root into the idea that rest is productive, too (and hello, feminine!).

All that extra time after dark?

It’s perfect for ritual. That might mean cozy journaling by candlelight or a soft lamp, taking warm herbal baths, reading, praying, pulling cards, doing a moon ritual, or just sitting in quiet reflection. Do what works for you!

I tend to use this time of year to check in with my personal growth. Where have I been called to lean in, and where do I need to finally lean back and trust that I’ve done enough?

Even a simple solo walk in the cold, bundled up and breathing deeply, can feel like a powerful reset.

This is where hygge becomes more than soft blankets and candlelight. It becomes a tool for soul-tending. A way to mother yourself through the holidays. Not just decorating and baking and hosting, but truly caring for your own body and spirit, too.

Simple ways to tend to your own inner winter:

  • Journaling by candlelight
  • Moon rituals or seasonal reflections
  • Prayer, meditation, or quiet spiritual reading
  • Long baths with herbs or salts
  • Saying no to one more thing (and yes to yourself)
  • Taking slow, solo walks in nature
  • Letting yourself do less without guilt
  • Listening to soft music and doing absolutely nothing
  • Creating a nightly wind-down ritual just for you

Let go of the pressure to make everything perfect. Find peace in enough-ness. Let your home be cozy and warm, yes—but let you be, too.

Your Hygge Holiday, Your Way

The beautiful thing about slowing down during the holidays is that you get to decide what actually matters. There’s no one “right” way to do hygge…just what feels right to you.

Hygge is all about creating warmth, comfort, and joy… in whatever way makes sense for your life. For some, that’s candlelit dinners and handmade gifts. For others, it might be quiet mornings, herbal baths, and saying no to extra events. The transformation happens when we stop trying to do it all and start choosing what truly works for us…

…And sometimes what works is movie nights and pie for dinner (and that’s okay too!!)

So take what resonates. Leave the rest. Adapt it to your family, your home, your season of life.

As you shape your own version of a hygge holiday, consider reflecting on these gentle questions:

  • What feels nourishing right now?
  • What could you let go of?
  • How can your holiday honor both the Earth and your body’s wisdom?

Whatever your holiday looks like this year, may it be cozy, grounded, meaningful, and full of moments that feel good to you and your family.

Love these ideas? Pin this post to Pinterest so you can come back to it later!

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