Fun Holidays - Share a Hug Day

Tactile sensations - kisses, touches and hugs - give people joy and psychological comfort. Scientists believe that modern man lacks physical proximity and close contact with other living beings - relatives, friends or pets. Hug Day, celebrated on July 30 in the United States since 2018, aims to bring attention to this problem. There are several legends explaining the appearance of the holiday. One of them says that student Juan Mannu, who flew to Australia, felt very lonely - no one met him or waited for him in a foreign country. He stood outside Sydney Airport with a sign that read "Free Hugs." One of the women passing by came up to the sad Juan and said that she also felt very bad. They hugged each other, giving each other mutual support. This is interesting: Psychologist and writer Louise Hay claims that a person needs at least 4 hugs a day to survive, strengthen the psyche and immune system, and 8 to maintain vital functions. According to another legend, the tradition originated in one of the US universities, the dean of whom was famous for his severity. He flew into a frenzy when he saw couples hugging on the campus. The students decided to play a joke on the teacher. When the dean once again caught the lovers kissing, the resourceful young people said: “Today is Hug Day!” Americans love holidays, so the annual Share a Hug Day quickly became a tradition. This is interesting: In Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina, on the second Sunday of November, it is customary to celebrate Family Hug Day. As it turns out, “hugs” are also important for representatives of a number of professions. In the United States, there are two identical holidays on April 4 and April 25 - National Newsboy and Plumber Hug Days. It has been noticed that children who received little parental affection before the age of 7, including gentle touches, do not experience feelings of love in adulthood. “Hugging” promotes the production of endorphin, a hormone that reduces pain and causes a feeling of euphoria. This is probably why International Hug Days are celebrated 4 times a year - in December and January, helping to warm up in the winter cold, and twice in the summer. This is interesting: The longest hug in the world is listed in the Guinness Book. The record was set by a pair of Danes. Monika and Lars Schmidt hugged for 40 hours and 43 minutes with a 10-minute break every 2 hours. As a reward, the couple received 10 thousand crowns (more than 1.5 thousand dollars). Tight hugs, devoid of any sexual connotation, strengthen and stimulate the immune and nervous system. They not only give positive emotions, but also increase self-esteem and relieve the fear of loneliness and depression. Hugs help relieve stress by participating in the production of oxytocin, which normalizes blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Throughout Share a Hug Day, various thematic flash mobs and other events are held. On July 30, people will embrace loved ones, neighbors, work colleagues and even strangers in friendly hugs. The tradition of Share a Hug Day emphasizes the importance of attention, warmth and genuine care, helping to strengthen relationships between people.