gezellig

dutch adjective

[hell-SELL-ichk]

1. having company with a pleasant, friendly ambiance
2. cozy atmosphere
3. an upbeat feeling about the surroundings

"a perfect example of untranslatability is seen in the dutch language through the word gezellig, which does not have an english equivalent. literally, it means cozy, quaint, or nice, but can also connote time spent with loved ones, seeing a friend after a long absence, or general togetherness."

"a room can be gezellig, and in this context the word is quite similar to cozy. but gezellig encompasses way more than that. it is closely tied to the company you are in and also refers to the atmosphere that is created when you are together. for that to be gezellig it is essential that you connect with the other person or people. gezellig is what makes you feel good, relaxed, warm, protected - almost cuddled. it's a sense of familiarity, or feeling at home."

christastime in malden, ma - at home with the shumways:

lots of time spent baking in the kitchen

bryan, liz, baby jetta, julie and eli after fancy christmas eve dinner

new baby jetta didn't particularly like her part in the christmas eve nativity pageant

(i, on the other hand, clearly enjoyed my role)

time lapse of our christmas eve sibling gift exchange

the movie looks really frantic, which is actually pretty fitting, but still, it was gezellig

christmas morning in my elf suit and the apron saydi had custom made for me

jeff needs to learn how to make an amazon wishlist - somehow he got a racecar wheel!

skyping/"face-time"ing with siblings/aunts&uncles and cousins/neices&nephews

gezellig, indeed.