National Hug Day

National Hug Day
A soldier at Fort Jackson, S.C. hugs her mom on "Family Day"
Also called	National Hugging Day
Observed by	United State, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, Poland, Russia, China
Date	21 January
Celebrations	Offer hugs

National Hug Day or National Hugging Day is an annual holiday created by Rev. Kevin Zaborney.^[1][2] It occurs on January 21 and is officially recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office,^[3][4][5] but is not a public holiday. The holiday was founded on January 21, 1986 in Caro, Michigan, and has since spread to multiple different countries.^[6][7][8] The purpose for the holiday is to help everyone show more emotion in public.^[1] There is only one way you are supposed to celebrate the holiday, offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want. While National Hug Day and the Free Hugs Campaign share many similarities, there is not actual association between the two. Whether you hug a family member or a stranger, the mental and physical health benefits are the same.^{[citation needed]}

History

Kevin Zaborney is credited for creating the unique holiday in 1986. The date of January 21 was chosen because it marks a midpoint between Christmas and Valentines day, where people are figured to be at their emotional low.^[1] The holiday was created because Zaborney felt like Americans are embarrassed to show their feelings in public and hoped that a National Hug Day would change that.^[1] The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School has found that French couples spend 3 times as much time touching when compared to Americans.^[9] Because of this apprehension to show feeling, Zaborney assumed his idea wouldn't go anywhere and that he would be mocked.^[2] National Hug Day is not a public holiday recognized by the United States Federal government, and since Zaborney holds the patent for the day, he is able to collect commercial royalties associated with National Hug Day.^[3][6]

Benefits of Hugging

Studies have shown that human contact has many health benefits. It's been found that human contact, such as a hug, is essential for healthy social, psychological and physical development.^[10] Hugging can also help build a good immune system, decrease the risk of heart disease, and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol in women.^[7] It's been shown that a couple who hugs for 20 seconds has higher levels of oxytocin, and that those who were in a loving relationship exhibited a highest increase.^[8] According to the American Psychosomatic Society, a hug or 10 minutes of holding hands with a romantic partner can help reduce stress, and its harmful physical effects.^[9] In a study, adults who had no contact with people had higher blood pressure and heart rate.^[9] Other studies have indicated that the touch of a friend might not be as helpful as the touch of a partner.^[9]

Association with the Free Hugs Campaign

In 2004 the Free Hugs Campaign was launched, which involved people giving hugs to random people on the street. The premise of giving a hug to someone to lift their spirits is the commonality that National Hug Day shares with the Free Hugs Campaign. However, National Hug Day has one specific day that encourages you to give out hugs, where the Free Hugs Campaign can be organized at any time during the year. The Free Hugs Campaign has received a lot of media attention over the years, and while it might send the same message as National Hug Day, there is no association between the two groups.

Official Website

National hug day has its own website that claims to be the official website for the day. The website, created by Zaborney in 2004, recognizes the most huggable people each year.^[6] The website allows you to nominate anyone you want, so more often than not the most huggable people of the year are not notable. However, people such as Reese Witherspoon in 2006,^[6] Juan Mann (who created the Free Hug Campaign) in 2007,^[6] Barack Obama in 2009^[3] and the Chilean rescued miners and rescuers in 2011^[6] have been recognized as the most huggable people of the year. Joan Rivers was quoted saying "I'm tempted to start saying, 'Can we hug?' instead of 'Can we talk?'" after being nominated as a huggable person.^[6]

The website also links to another holiday that Zaborney holds the copyrights to, National Whiners Day. Both holidays are copyrighted under "National Hugging Day Collection"^[6]

See also

• Free Hugs Campaign
• Mata Amritanandamayi

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "How Kevin Zanborney creates National Hug Day". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20119408,00.html. Retrieved 13 April 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "National Hugging Day – One Pastor's Ingenious Idea". christianpost.com. http://www.christianpost.com/news/national-hugging-day-one-pastors-ingenious-idea-48607/. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Reilly, Ignatius. "National Hug Day (or National Hugging Day): January 21". RightPundits.com. http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=2725. Retrieved 18 January 2010. 
4. ^ Rockler-Gladen, Naomi (14 November 2009). "U.S. Holidays and Observations in January 2010". Suite101. 
5. ^ Hamel, Leona. "National Hugging Day". SmashHits.com. http://articles.smashits.com/articles/health-medical/77757/national-hugging-day-reach-out-and-touch-someone.html. Retrieved 18 January 2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Zanborney, Kevin. "Official National Hug Day Website". nationalhuggingday.com. http://www.nationalhuggingday.com/. Retrieved 20 April 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Woods, Tyler. "Today Is National Hug Day Which Means Good Health". emaxhealth.com. http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/5/35179/today-national-hug-day-which-means-good-health.html. Retrieved 20 April 2011. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "What is National Hug Day?". ibtimes.com. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/103736/20110121/what-is-national-hug-day.htm. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d} Elias, Marilyn (10 March 2003). "Study: Hugs warm the heart, and may protect it". usatoday.com. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-03-09-hug-usat_x.htm. Retrieved 4 May 2011. 
10. ^ Romero, Frances (21 January 2011). "National Hug Day: Yes it matters". newsfeed.time.com. http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/21/national-hug-day-yes-it-matters/. Retrieved 18 April 2011.