Happy National Hug Day! Yup, there is a National Hug Day and it is January 21st. Rev. Kevin Zaborney first started National Hug Day (also known as National Hugging Day) in Michigan, USA in 1986 and it has since spread to multiple countries, including Canada, England, Australia and Germany.
Zaborney selected the date of January 21 because it falls in between Christmas/New Year’s and Valentine’s Day. It’s also in the dead of winter, a time period where most people’s spirits are low and could use a boost, or a squeeze.
There are several benefits to hugging, according to MedicalDaily.com, including:
- reducing the harmful effects of stress, as hugging can reduce the amount of stress hormones;
- being healthier, as people who reported higher numbers of hugs showed less of a risk of getting sick with a common cold virus in a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University and released in December 2014;
- alleviating fears of mortality (I know, I didn’t see this one coming either, but a study found that interpersonal touch helped people handle their existential fears better); and
- reducing the risk of heart disease, as those lacking in physical contact with other humans have higher blood pressure and heart rate than people who experience human touch and physical contact often.
The National Hugging Day folks named Baymax, the big, white star of Big Hero 6, as 2015’s most huggable character.
For more information, check out the National Hugging Day website – you can find it here. It does advise that “[r]easonable care should be taken with those who are either uncomfortable with public affection or their reaction to a hug is unknown. In those situations, it is advised to ask first before hugging.” Sounds like good advice.
Go find someone to wrap your arms around and bring it in!
Prior post: Pre-Super Bowl ads remind me of my husband’s incredible choice
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