Every year, on 21 January, Hug Day, also known as International Hug Day, celebrates a simple but essential gesture: human touch. In an often anxiety-inducing context, a hug stands out as a genuine natural remedy against stress, boosting emotional wellbeing at every age.
Origins of Hug Day
International Hug Day was created in 1986 in the United States by Reverend Kevin Zaborney. The aim of “Hug Day” was to encourage people to express their emotions in a positive way during the winter period, often marked by cold weather, lack of light and low mood. We actually discussed Blue Monday in our previous article.
Why are hugs so important?
The benefits of hugging are now recognised by science. During a hug, the body releases oxytocin, also known as the happiness hormone. This hormone helps lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress, and fosters a sense of safety, trust and calm.
They are therefore good for:
- reducing stress and anxiety
- improving mood
- strengthening social bonds
- helping fight seasonal depression
Let’s not forget respect and consent
While the media all too often still report cases of harassment or even assault, it’s essential to remember that a hug, an embrace, can only take place with the person’s consent, whether they are a child or an adult. We can only talk about the benefits of hugging, or of it being a natural stress reliever, when there is mutual respect.
In communication studies, we talk about proxemic zones: you cannot enter someone’s personal space, let alone their intimate space, without their agreement.
Other ways to celebrate Hug Day
- Spread kindness at work or at school
- Send a warm message to someone who matters to you
- Share a moment of presence and listening
- Sometimes, a smile or a sincere gesture of attention is already a hug from the heart.
International Hug Day reminds us that gestures of tenderness are essential to our emotional balance. And even the French singer Bourvil, in his famous song about tenderness, would agree!
In a society where social bonds sometimes fray, a simple hug, when it is freely given, can become a powerful source of wellbeing and humanity.
To go further:
1 song: https://www.paroles.net/bourvil/paroles-la-tendresse
1 resource for children: https://www.lumni.fr/video/a-quoi-ca-sert-les-calins
