National Hug Holiday: Celebrate the Power of Human Connection

To most, June 29 may seem like a typical hot, summer day.

And aside from the occasional birthday or anniversary people are celebrating – or the random Wednesday wedding a few people might be having – it pretty much is your typical hot, end of June, summer day. However, it is also National Hug Holiday Day today.

Not to be confused with National Hugging Day, which is celebrated every year in January, National Hug Holiday Day is a little different.

This June holiday was created to remind people to give that someone in your life a hug who needs it. It could be someone who is struggling mentally, someone who is getting up there in age, someone who is not feeling well or just someone who loves that extra serotonin boost.

Sometimes, life gets busy and a lot of people forget to slow down and take a breather. With a reminder like National Hug Holiday Day, you can remember to slow down for a minute and give or get a hug from someone.

Hugging releases oxytocin, better known as the “cuddle hormone” that strengthens bonds between people, and it is something that makes people feel a sense of togetherness. When you hug someone, you are letting them know you are there for them if they need anything, and you are telling them that they are loved.

There are so many benefits to hugging someone, and this day is a good reminder of this:

• It reduces stress – This can be viewed as an underlying reason behind the creation of this day, as receiving a hug from someone helps calm you down when you are stressed or nervous.
  

• It improves heart health – Hugging works to lower your blood pressure, which helps in many ways, especially when it comes to your heart function.

• It boosts self esteem – This is one of the reasons why this day was created, as people who are feeling down or lonely can have an automatic boost in their self esteem when someone gives them a hug.

• It improves relationships – When words do not work, you can resort to a hug, which is probably why in many tense situations a mediator will tell people to “hug it out.”

• It reduces pain – Hugs can be viewed as something of a do-it-all action, as it can help people who are struggling with pain of any sort actually feel better.

Studies have shown that there are so many benefits to giving and receiving hugs, as it is great for your health in numerous ways. That’s why so many people feel much better after giving someone a long hug, and that is probably why there are not many situations you can think of where you received a hug from someone and felt worse after.

Studies also show that getting a gift like a FrontPage Story can help people increase their chances of receiving a hug from a loved one.

As with anything, the original reasoning behind hugs and how they were first started are all up for debate, but there is no question that hugging is wired into many people’s brains. When you were first born, your mom probably held your tiny head onto her chest and you felt the comfort in closeness from day one.

It is something that will always be part of who you are, as getting away from the concept of hugging is nearly impossible, which is why you should always embrace a hug from someone. It will make you and the other person feel better, and it will be a good reminder that whatever it is you are going through, things will get better.

So, get out there and give someone a hug today. After all, the holiday calendar does call for it.