In 2022 International Hugging Day is on January 21st (Friday).

National Hugging Day was created in 1986 by Kevin Zaborney. His friend was the granddaughter of the proprietors of Chase’s Calendar of Events. Zaborney chose January 21 because it was the time between the winter holiday season and the new year’s birthdays, which he noticed was a time people tend to feel low in spirits. He also felt that Americans were often too embarrassed to show affection in public and hoped National Hugging Day would change that, though he never actually thought it would catch on.

The word “hug” is believed to come from the word “hugga” meaning “to comfort” in the Old Norse language, first appearing approximately 450 years ago.

Nowadays, we don’t even think about the fact that hugging in public was considered indecent PDA. We hug to greet friends and family, to say goodbye, or to congratulate someone. To console someone or to show support. We hug before sports and performance teams begin their match.

The best way National Hugging Day is celebrated is by spreading the love and offering a hug to your friends and family. It’s amazing how much difference a simple hug can make. Spend your day letting your nearest and dearest know that you’re there for them by giving them hugs and lifting their spirits.

12 hugs a day

You might not actively think about how many times you’re hugging someone a day, but apparently, reaching a specific “hugging quota” is crucial for your development. Family therapist Virginia Satir says “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” It sounds like a lot, but you might be fulfilling the numbers easily without even thinking about it on a daily basis! We can thank our friends, family, and loved ones for that!

32% stress-buffering

In a 2015 study involving 404 healthy adults, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University examined the effect of perceived social support and the receipt of hugs on the participants’ susceptibility to developing the common cold after being exposed to the virus. People who perceived greater social support were less likely to come down with a cold, and researchers calculated that the stress-buffering effects of hugging explained 32% of that beneficial effect. Even among those who got a cold, those who felt greater social support and received more frequent hugs had less severe symptoms.

20 seconds for the perfect hug

Though the average hug with a friend or family member is about 3 seconds long (a quick embrace before continuing a conversation), longer hugs — 20 seconds is recommended — are beneficial to your health. During a hug, we release oxytocin, a hormone that relaxes us and lowers anxiety. It’s often called the “cuddle hormone,” and when it’s released during these 20 second hugs it can effectively lower blood pressure and reduce the stress hormone norepinephrine.

21 января во всем мире отмечается один из самых необычных праздников — Международный день объятий (International Hug Day). Он был основан в США в 1986 году под названием Национального дня объятий (National Hugging Day), а затем стремительно распространился по всему миру.

Несмотря на молодой возраст этого праздника, сегодня трудно найти его автора: неизвестно, кому впервые в голову пришла такая идея «тесного» празднования 21 января, и почему выбрана именно эта дата. Считается, что инициаторами праздника являются студенты.

Кстати, именно молодежь в последние годы проводит 21 января различные флешмобы, посвященные данному празднику. По своеобразной легенде, во время дружеского объятия люди обмениваются душевным теплом.

Психологи считают, что люди, которые стремятся заключить вас в объятия, хотят испытать чувство безопасности, комфорта и любви. А объятия сопровождают нас на протяжении всей жизни. Мы обнимаем друзей и родных при встрече, после разлуки, обнимаем друг друга, чтобы выразить свою радость и благодарность.

Приятно и то, что празднование 21 января не потребует никаких материальных затрат. Вам стоит лишь щедро наградить своим теплом всех, кого посчитаете нужным. Поздравляя с праздником, подарите своим близким и любимым людям объятия в знак теплого отношения к ним, напомнив тем самым о своих искренних теплых чувствах.