National Hugging Day is celebrated on January 21 of every year. It’s dedicated especially to hugging. The main aim of the day is to motivate everyone to Hug their family members and friends very often. Studies have said that hugs will reduce our blood pressure, relieve stress, and trigger the removal of healthy hormones like oxytocin. Doctors have suggested that 4-6 hugs daily are required for an emotional and physiological human being. So National Hugging Day is the perfect day to show your love to your family members and friends by hugging them.

“I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug ten people at a time.” – Drew Barrymore

History of National Hugging Day

Kevin Zaborney from Caro, Michigan, created this day on March 29, 1986. The day was included in Chase’s Calendar Events. Zaborney’s Friend chose January 21 for National Hugging Day as it falls between Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. Zaborney considered that American people are very embarrassed to show their love in public, and he created National Hugging Day to change that.

National Hugging Day 2018 - January 21

Hugging has proven to have health benefits in increasing oxytocin levels and reducing blood pressure. It is not only to human beings, but there are also many species of animals that engage in a similar exchange of warmth. Moreover, Hug is a simple form of physical intimacy, not necessarily sexual. Hug involves closing the arm around the neck region of another person. Nick Vujicic holds the record for the most number of hugs in an hour. He achieved the record by having 1749 hugs in an hour in 2010 in Expo Center, Oregon. Some of the schools in the United States of America have issued bans on hugs. Nowadays, it has become a practice among teenage students when they greet other students in farewell.

Other Celebrations on January 21

January 21 is also celebrated as

How to Celebrate National Hugging Day

Express your love to your family members and Friends by simply hugging them. Create a Hug chain or initiate a group hug to honor the occasion. Post pictures and share your thoughts about the day on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #HuggingDay.

Thank you for reading the post. You can celebrate every day with Happydays365.org and Happy National Hugging Day 2024.