National Hugging Day is an unofficial holiday that is celebrated on January 21st every year. The holiday was created by Kevin Zaborney, an artist and freelance writer from Caro, Michigan, in 1986. The goal of the day is to promote love, kindness, and physical touch, and to encourage people to give more hugs to those around them.
Hugs have been shown to have many benefits on physical and mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety, boosting the immune system, and increasing feelings of happiness and well-being. National Hugging Day is a great opportunity to spread love, kindness, and positivity by sharing hugs with friends, family, loved ones, and even strangers.
History of National Hugging Day
National Hugging Day is an unofficial holiday that is celebrated on January 21st every year. The holiday was first created by Kevin Zaborney, an artist and freelance writer from Caro, Michigan, in 1986. Zaborney created the holiday as a way to promote love, kindness, and physical touch, and to encourage people to give more hugs to those around them. He chose January 21st as the date for the holiday because it is the first day of the year that has a “H” in it, which stands for “hug.”
National Hugging Day is intended to be a lighthearted and fun holiday, but it also has a serious message about the importance of physical touch and human connection. Research has shown that hugs can have a positive impact on physical and mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety, boosting the immune system, and increasing feelings of happiness and well-being.
Since its creation, National Hugging Day has gained popularity and it’s celebrated around the world, with people sharing hugs with friends, family, and even strangers to spread love and positivity.
It’s not officially recognized by any governmental organization, but it’s widely celebrated by people who believe in the importance of human connection and love.
National Hugging Day Timeline
- 1986: Kevin Zaborney, an artist and freelance writer from Caro, Michigan, creates the day as a way to promote love, kindness, and physical touch.
- January 21st, 1986: The first National Hugging Day is celebrated on January 21st, the first day of the year that has a “H” in it, which stands for “hug.”
- The early 90s: National Hugging Day gains popularity and is celebrated around the United States, with people sharing hugs with friends, family, and even strangers to spread love and positivity.
- The mid-2000s: The day becomes more widely known and celebrated around the world, with people in different countries also participating in the holiday.
- 21st, Jan: National Hugging Day continues to be celebrated on January 21st of every year, with people all over the world sharing hugs to spread love, kindness, and positivity.
How to Celebrate National Hugging Day?
Here are some ways to celebrate National Hugging Day:
- Share hugs with friends, family, and loved ones. Give extra hugs to those who need them most, such as the elderly or those who are lonely.
- Hug a stranger! National Hugging Day is also a great opportunity to break the ice with someone you don’t know and start a conversation.
- Reach out to people you haven’t seen in a while and give them a virtual hug through a phone call, video call, or message.
- Give hugs to your pets! They will appreciate it and the love and affection will be mutual.
- Organize a hug-a-thon with friends, family, or coworkers. Set a goal for the number of hugs to be given during the day, and have fun trying to reach it.
- Share pictures of yourself hugging someone or something on social media using the hashtag #NationalHuggingday
- Donate to organizations that help people who are in need of love and affection, such as shelters, hospitals, or children’s homes.
- Write a letter to a friend or loved one telling them how much you appreciate their hugs and how much they mean to you.
- Make a list of people you would like to hug and make sure to reach out to them on National Hugging Day.
- Finally, remember to celebrate the day with love, kindness, and positivity. A hug is a powerful gesture, it can make a big difference in someone’s life.
Also check: National Cheesy Socks Day
Photo by Courtney Cook on Unsplash
