2024 Sheriff Deputy Anthony Bussell, Johnson County, Kansas. On August 5, 2023, Deputy Anthony Bussell pulled over a driver for speeding. That driver was emotionally distressed sharing he was dealing with some personal challenges. Often common during traffic stops, experienced Deputy Bussell recognized the driver’s sincerity who then asked for a hug. Deputy Bussell responded without any hesitation to provide a warm hug to provide comfort. According to the body cam video, the driver asked, “Can I have a hug? I need a hug. Can I have a hug, please?” Deputy Bussell answered, “Sure. Sure. Yeah” as the driver cautiously exited the vehicle saying, “I don’t mean to bother you, but I’m sorry.” “No, you’re good, man” Deputy Bussell declared while hugging driver. “I promise you, it’s going to get better.” This is the kindness National Hugging Day (TM) seeks to promote. Great job Deputy!
2024: Staff at Ronald McDonald House Charities Crumlin Ireland and RMHC Ireland’s face of National Hugging Day Sophie Mulligan (parents Melissa and Alan Mulligan from Limerick, Ireland) have been living here in The Ronald McDonald House for over 500 nights while Sophie has been in hospital. This year Sophie and Barróg (RMHC Ireland’s National Hugging Day hug rabbit) gave people who donated to the charity a chance to win a holiday “to celebrate National Hug Day and beat those January blues.”
2023 CESARE CATANIA contemporary artist, painter, sculptor of Milan, Italy. He has been quoted to be the “The Modern Leonardo Da Vinci” by Luxury Life International Magazine. He has created “The Embrace Project” and the exhibit will be opened at the Salotto di Milano Gallery the week of National Hugging Day. Cesare Catania’s contemporary art exhibition shows, among others, four works of art related to the concept of “embrace,” two of which are unpublished (C and D Version – 2022). It all started in 2015 with a sketch (“The Embrace” A version) https://www.cesarecatania.eu/en/portfolio/embrace-a/ and with these two new unpublished versions in silicone and acrylic made at the end of 2022. The Embrace’ of Cesare Catania is an example of how contemporary art can become a tool to convey a message of brotherhood and peace like the one that World Hug Day wants to express. The art of Cesare Catania in this case shifts the attention towards the social message that the work itself transmits. Cesare Catania’s slogan, ‘Let’s go back to hugging each other’ reinforces the message of this International Hug Day. Not only do we have to hug each other, but we have to do it especially now that the pandemic and wars have accustomed us to hatred.”
Actor Jason Ritter – The Most Huggable of 2018
The Most Huggable for 2022 were: G and the Jolly Cucumbers band for their HUGGABLE single/song “Wrap My Arms Around You”; AND 7-year-old Adam King from East Cork, Ireland who created Adam’s Virtual Hug. Past Most Huggable selections have included both public figures as well as down-to-earth common folk. Nominations are accepted by providing the name, contact information, and reason the nominee should be named to this honor. The nominees should be seen hugging or encouraging the value of hugging. Some past winners have included Joan Rivers who wrote after receiving her award, “I’m tempted to start saying ‘Can we hug?’ instead of ‘Can we talk'” alluding to her participating in a telephone company advert; Jeff Ondash (aka Teddy McHuggins); Tessla Queen (bingtopia.com); and Mata Amritanandamayi (Kerela, India known as the “Hugging Saint”); and actor Jason Ritter. Even an animated character, Baymax from the award-winning Disney film “Big Hero 6,” was selected in 2015!
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National Hugging Day tm - January 21 