Get outside: This winter, embrace the Scandinavian practice of open-air living

As winter approaches and the pandemic wears on, public health officials continue to caution against indoor gatherings.

While indoor dinners with housemates are a low-risk activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indoor gatherings with people outside of that bubble remain a high-risk activity.

Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says his children won’t visit for Thanksgiving.

What should we do if we can’t meet inside, but it’s getting cold outside?

Say goodbye to “hygge” and say hello to “friluftsliv.”

Hygge, the Danish practice of creating comforting and cozy indoor surroundings, was on-trend a couple of years ago.

In Scandinavian countries, friluftsliv — pronounced “free-loofts-liv” — translates to “open-air living.”

The concept was popularized in the 1850s by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, who promoted spending time in nature for physical and spiritual well-being.

The denizens of those northern climes are known for embracing the outdoors in all kinds of weather — a matter of physical health and emotional survival where winters are long and dark.

This year is the perfect opportunity to try it for ourselves.

After all, Fauci recommends opening windows to circulate air as a coronavirus deterrent. If you’re going to be cold anyway, you might as well go outside.

Here are a few ways to enjoy life in the open air this winter.

Warm clothing

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes,” according to those hardy Scandinavians.

Layering is the key to staying warm and comfortable during your winter adventures, according to REI. The outdoor outfitter suggests three layers, which you can peel off if you get too hot:

• Base layer (underwear): wicks sweat off of skin

• Middle layer (insulation): retains body heat

• Outer layer (shell): shields you from wind, rain and snow

An example of cold-weather layering is midweight polyester long underwear top and bottom, a jacket with synthetic insulation, midweight fleece pants and a waterproof/breathable outer jacket and pants. Natural materials such as silk and wool also are options for inner layers.

Add a hat, mittens, wool socks and waterproof, insulated boots, and you’re good to go.

Outdoor entertaining

The patio and back yard were essential to entertaining this summer, providing room for social distancing even among the closest of friends and family members. Bundle up and incorporate these components into a cold-weather party.

• Heat source: If your back yard is big enough and local regulations permit, build a bonfire. A patio or deck is the perfect place for a portable fire pit or chimenea. Less cozy but certainly practical, portable heaters also will keep guests toasty.

If possible, install patio curtains or roll-up shades to help keep heat in.

• Lighting: Candles, hurricane lamps, lanterns and strings of lights add a hygge-style vibe.

• Padding: Provide a weatherproof rug or artificial turf underfoot and a weatherproof cushion under the tush.

• Bundle up: Wrap guests in inexpensive shawls or blankets.

• Food: A fire serves double duty for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Serve hearty soup, stew or chili. Spices like chilies, cayenne, cinnamon, cumin and ginger help warm the body.

• Drinks: Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot spiced cider, mulled wine, hot toddies or butter beer, anyone?

Snow fun

Baby Boomers remember childhood snowy days when moms bundled them up and sent them outside to play — all day long. Kids these days, we hear, are more likely to spend free time in front of a screen. Lure kids outside with old-fashioned winter fun: snowmen, snowballs, snowball fights, snow forts and snow angels.

Make it competitive and see who can roll the biggest snowball or throw a snowball the farthest. Use beach toys, bowls and buckets as molds and make a snow sculpture.

See who can toss a hat on top of the snowman, or put on a blindfold and play pin the nose on the snowman. Stamp out paths in the snow or make a maze of footprints and play tag — no stepping outside of the lines.

Blow soap bubbles and watch them freeze. Fill a spray bottle with water, add a few drops of food coloring and paint the snow.

Do a good deed and shovel your neighbor’s driveway.

Skate away

If skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing aren’t your thing, try ice skating.

Due to the pandemic, public skating sessions are on hold at area indoor rinks, such as Center Ice Arena in Delmont, Kirk S. Nevin Arena in Greensburg and Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington. But if you’re going to embrace friluftsliv, you need to get outside anyway.

Midday public skate sessions, with masks required and social distancing practices in place, are currently available at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center outdoor rink on Neville Island, Allegheny County.

The Rink at PPG Place in Downtown Pittsburgh is set to open Nov. 20, with skating continuing through February.

Covid-19 safety protocols will be in place, including the wearing of masks, temperature checks, limits on number of skaters, social distancing and frequent cleaning and sanitizing.

DIY skating rink

If you’re not comfortable with the crowds and have ample, level backyard space; cold temperatures; and LOTS of water, you can make your own rink.

Do an internet search for “backyard ice rink,” and you’ll find kits of all sizes, from a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand. You’ll also find instructions for building your own.

Get away

Cabin rentals are available year-round in many Pennsylvania state parks, including Keystone, Kooser, Laurel Hill and Linn Run state parks in the Laurel Highlands. Get up close and personal with nature by hiking, looking for evidence of birds and animals or identifying trees. Then return to your simple, rustic lodge to warm up with board games.

Many parks also allow winter camping for the more adventurous.

For information and reservations, call 888-727-2757 or visit reserveamerica.com.

Drink up

Nothing warms the insides faster than a hot drink. Here are three tried-and-true, cold-weather quaffs.

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

3 tablespoons cocoa powder, plus more for serving

3 cups whole milk

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

3 tablespoons brown or granulated sugar

Lightly sweetened whipped cream (for serving)

Directions

Bring ¾ cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in cocoa powder until no lumps remain, then add milk and return to a simmer. Whisk in chocolate and sugar and cook, whisking frequently, until mixture is smooth and creamy and chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.

Divide hot chocolate among four mugs. Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.

Hot spiced cider

Ingredients

6 cups apple cider

½ teaspoon whole cloves

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 cinnamon sticks

Directions

In 3-quart saucepan, heat ingredients to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 10 minutes.

Before serving, strain cider mixture to remove cloves and cinnamon, if desired. Serve hot.

(For an added kick, add a shot of rum, bourbon or vodka to your cup.)

Mulled wine

Ingredients

1 (750-ml.) bottle red wine

1 orange, sliced into rounds, plus more for garnish

6 whole cloves

3 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish

3 star anise

¼ cup honey

½ cup brandy

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients. Bring to a simmer, not a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently over low heat for 10 minutes.

Serve warm and garnish with more citrus slices and cinnamon sticks. Serves 6.