There is a Norwegian word I have come to love: koselig (pronounced koosh-lee). It does not translate neatly into English. The closest words are cozy, warm, and comfortable, but koselig is more than that. It is a feeling. It is the glow of lamplight on a winter evening. It is sitting together without hurry. It is the sense that, for this moment, nothing else is needed.

In Norway, where winters are long and daylight is limited, koselig is part of everyday life. It is not reserved for special occasions. It is something people create intentionally, often in simple ways, to make time together feel calm and complete.

What makes koselig meaningful is not the objects themselves. Candles help. Blankets help. Warm drinks help. But those are only tools. The heart of koselig is choosing to be present and creating space for togetherness.

Why does koselig matter?

Koselig is, at its core, about connection. It is the decision to slow the pace of the evening. The television may be off. Phones are set aside. No one is rushing to the next obligation. There is room for conversation, or even comfortable silence.

This idea is at the heart of why my sister, Teresa, and I began writing our Gnome Adventure Series. In Norway, stories have long been part of koselig evenings. Families gather, children listen, and stories become part of the rhythm of home. We wanted our books to be part of those quiet moments when families sit close and share something simple together.

Norwegian culture places immense value on time spent together, especially during the darker months. Creating warmth indoors becomes a natural response to the cold and the darkness outside. It is less about creating something impressive and more about creating something real. You don’t need to live in Norway to practice this. You only need the intention.

What does koselig look like at home?

There is no formula, and that is part of its beauty. In my experience, koselig often includes simple things such as:

• Lighting a candle or using a lamp instead of overhead lights
• Sitting down together for cocoa, tea, or dessert
• Reading a story aloud
• Playing a game at the table
• Wearing comfortable sweaters and warm socks
• Curling up with a favorite book and a soft blanket
• Letting the evening unfold without watching the clock

None of these things are elaborate, which is precisely the point. Many of the families in our Koselig Kids Club tell us that these are the moments their children remember most. A coloring page at the kitchen table. A story before bed. A small tradition repeated often enough that it becomes part of family life.

What is the value of small, ordinary evenings?

Children remember how a home feels. They remember where they sat, who was beside them, and the sense of being safe and included. These evenings quietly become part of their foundation.

In Norway, candles are often lit daily during winter, not for ceremony but for comfort. It is a reminder that warmth can be created, even when the world outside feels cold and dark.

That idea has stayed with me, and it continues to shape the stories we write and the resources we create for families. Stories, coloring pages, and small shared activities are simply modern ways of continuing old traditions, bringing people together.

How do you bring koselig to your family?

You do not need snow, and you do not need Norwegian heritage. You only need to begin. Koselig is not something you buy. It is something you create. Choose one evening. Turn off the overhead lights. Light a candle. Sit down together without an agenda. Read a story. Talk. Listen. Be present. You may be surprised by how different the evening feels.

And very often, it is the simplest evenings that stay with us the longest. If you try this in your own home, I would love to hear about it. Tell us in the comments.