Today is the International Day of Happiness!
International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20 every year. The International Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012 to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.
as everyone knows
Denmark is one of the 🌍😄 happiest countries in the world!
But this is not a wordless one~
2023
World Happiness Report
According to the just-released World Happiness Report 2023, Denmark ranks second in the world for happiness.
The World Happiness Report mainly measures factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make important life decisions, generosity, and perceptions of corruption, and the final data and rankings are obtained after comprehensive measurement.
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According to the World Happiness Report, happiness is closely linked to social equality and community spirit, and Denmark does well in both. Denmark has a high degree of equality and a strong sense of shared responsibility in social welfare. Although there are nine major political parties in Denmark, none support the abolition of Denmark's welfare state.
Have you ever wondered why the Danes, once notorious Vikings, are now one of the happiest, most trusting, most egalitarian and most democratic peoples in the world?
The podcast Let's talk about Denmark features Christian Bjørnskov, a professor of economics at Aarhus University, to discuss in depth the values of Danes and their welfare state, and how happiness, trust, welfare and democracy go hand in hand.
Are Danes really that happy?
Given the grey winters in Denmark and the restrained character of the Danes, it seems impossible to link Denmark to happiness. Many people think that Danes are very restrained, so it is difficult to tell if Danes are truly happy.
Professor Christian Bjørnskov believes that this is actually because people mistake extroverts for happy people. Danes are undoubtedly happy, but their culture and character make them less inclined to show this.
What kind of happiness do Danes seek?
The happiness pursued in Denmark is a state of life called "hygge", which resembles a comfortable atmosphere and mood. Some say that hygge is like a comfortable feeling of being completely surrounded by good things, enjoying the simple and beautiful parts of life with the people you care about.
During the long winters in Denmark, hygge is mostly done indoors. People play board games indoors or chat with friends over a hot drink. But walking in nature and observing how plants and animals respond to cold weather can also be hyglegt (adjective).
©Niclas Jessen
During the short and volatile Danish summer, hygge revolves around small summer houses in Denmark. There, the Danes tend the garden, host large lunch or dinner parties, and taste the delicious local strawberries.
Why are Danes so happy?
Why is Denmark so happy? Is it thanks to free high-quality education, or free public health care? Is it relatively little crime and corruption, or is it just the comfortable hygge mentality of the Danes?
In this regard, the Danish Happiness Research Institute concluded that Denmark's relatively perfect welfare model makes people feel healthy and safe, and economic development and social stability reduce the factors that make people anxious and "unhappy".
Most health services in Denmark are provided free of charge to patients;
Not only do college students not have to pay tuition fees, but they can also receive grants to help them pay for the duration of their studies;
There will be subsidies for childcare;
Both parents have paternity and maternity leave;
Seniors receive pensions and have carers who visit them at home;
"Although there is suffering and unhappiness in the Nordic countries, some of the main factors that cause these misfortunes have been eliminated or reduced. The Nordic countries have universal health care, and if you get sick, you don't have to worry about economic uncertainty, which eliminates one of the biggest causes of unhappiness in the world. Good government governance also plays a role, with citizens knowing that the taxes they pay are being used to reward a better quality of life for all. ”
——Meik Wiking
CEO of the Danish Happiness Institute
Professor Christian Bjørnskov believes that good family life and social relations, freedom to choose one's own life, basic social security and stable income can all lead to happiness. And especially important for Danes is the very high level of social trust in Denmark.
Trust is a fundamental value of Danish culture and society and an important factor in the happiness of Danes. In Denmark, when it comes to business, government, or personal relationships, mutual trust is by default. People expect honesty, and corruption is very rare in business or civil service.
Denmark's relatively high level of safety compared to many other countries means that Danish children enjoy more freedom and independence than children in other parts of the world. It is common for 8- or 9-year-olds to ride public transport alone and other passengers will watch over them. Even in the cold Danish winters, parents put their children in strollers and let them nap outside. It is generally safe to walk or cycle in Denmark, day or night.
Happiness is inseparable from a sound society
It is also inseparable from each and every one of us.
On World Happiness Day
Let's work together
Embrace the future and discover happiness.
In your daily life,
What makes you happy?
What does happiness mean to you?
Some image sources:
worldhappiness.report
denmark.dk/society-and-business/danish-values
denmark.dk/people-and-culture/happiness
colourbox.com
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