{"id":344595,"date":"2026-02-06T14:31:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ora-visio.com\/hug-day-a-simple-gesture-with-powerful-benefits\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T14:31:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:31:52","slug":"hug-day-a-simple-gesture-with-powerful-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ora-visio.com\/en\/hug-day-a-simple-gesture-with-powerful-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Hug Day: a simple gesture with powerful benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year, on <\/span>21 January<\/b>, <\/span>Hug Day<\/b>, also known as <\/span>International Hug Day<\/b>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Origins of Hug Day<\/b><\/h2>\n

International Hug Day was created in 1986 in the United States by Reverend Kevin Zaborney. The aim of “<\/span>Hug Day”<\/b> 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 <\/span>Blue Monday in our previous article<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are hugs so important?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>benefits of hugging<\/b> are now recognised by science. During a hug, the body releases <\/span>oxytocin<\/b>, also known as the <\/span>happiness hormone<\/span><\/i>. This hormone helps lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress, and fosters a sense of safety, trust and calm.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are therefore good for: <\/span><\/p>\n