Share a Hug Day is observed annually on July 30 in the United States. The purpose of embracing your loved ones is to express your affection and appreciation for them. Hugs are especially beneficial for depressed individuals, as being encircled by another person’s limbs and the warmth of their body conveys a sense of empathy, security, and unity. Anytime is a wonderful time to give or receive a hug from someone who is willing.
The background of Share a Hug Day
Share a Hug Day was created by Mike Brundritt. He was previously married to a woman with whom he shared a 19-year relationship, and they had two sons. On July 30, 2017, in the afternoon, they were returning from a camping excursion. They were struck from behind by a transport vehicle while travelling. Brundritt and his youngest son survived the disaster, but Brundritt’s wife and eldest son perished instantaneously.
Brundritt and his son have since experienced mental health issues, and he is still recuperating from back injuries. A year later, a few days before the accident’s first anniversary, he began considering methods to honour and remember his wife and son. He recalled how frequently he and his family exchanged hugs as a greeting, a farewell, or to express their affection. He also recalled the numerous hugs he received from his peers after the accident. Consequently, he resolved to create Hug Day to commemorate their lives.
On July 30, 2018, he posted the following on his Facebook page: “We have days designated for various things: National Coffee Day, National Ice Cream Day, etc. I would like your assistance in establishing National Hug Day. The 30th of July marks the anniversary of the deaths of my son and wife, and I wish to commemorate the love we shared by initiating something special. I do not know how to get this moving, but I believe word of mouth will work for now. Please embrace someone today to help kick-start this movement.”
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5 UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT HUGS
Oxytocin is a hormone that promotes individual and social trust and alleviates symptoms of depression.
Even if it was an inanimate object such as a teddy bear, a study on fears and self-esteem revealed that hugs and touch substantially decrease the fear of death.
When someone caresses you, the sensation activates pressure receptors known as ‘Pacinian corpuscles,’ which send signals to the vagus nerve — the region of the brain responsible for lowering blood pressure.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University asked 400 healthy adults about the frequency of interpersonal conflict and the number of hugs they received daily. They then exposed the participants to the common cold virus and discovered that perceived social support and hugs decreased the risk of infection.
It was discovered in a study conducted at the University of Dundee by Emese Nagy.
SHARE A HUG DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 30 | Sunday |
| 2024 | July 30 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 30 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 30 | Thursday |
| 2027 | July 30 | Friday |
