National hug Day is an annual event created by Kevin Zaborney from United States. It is not an official holiday and it started in the US alone, but there are reports that it celebrated on the same day in many countries.
Hugs Day celebrated the first time on January 21, 1986, in the city Clio, Michigan, USA. The idea of this day is to encourage everyone to embrace their family and friends more often. Zaborney warns to ask first if they want to embrace if you are not sure.
Whether you hug a family member, a friend or a stranger, mental health benefits and physical are identical.
Zaborney chose the date January 21, because it falls between Christmas, New Year's and Valentine, and people usually have depressed mood between holidays.
He wanted to encourage the American society that "ashamed to show emotions in public" and hoped that one embraces day will change that. A 2003 study done by a research institute Medical School at the University of Miami found that American couples spend only a one-third time in body contact than French couples spend.
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| recomendded book: Hug Time by Patrick Mcdonnel |
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| Free hugs shirts (link) |
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| Hug me Cactus (link) |
January 21 is also Squirrel Appreciation Day