NATIONAL HUGGING DAY™ – Tuesday January 21, 2025

[CARO, MICHIGAN U.S.A. January 18, 2025]

Official announcement of the Most Huggable Person of 2025! National Hugging Day™ encourages humanity to embrace frequently for improved overall health.

National Hugging Day is an exciting opportunity to encourage one another to hug more often as the benefits are amazing!”

— Rev. Kevin Zaborney, MDiv, QIDP

CARO, MICHIGAN, USA, January 18, 2025 — Occasionally shortened to Hug Day, National Hug Day, International/Global or World Hug Day, this popular experience was first widely celebrated in 1986 (39 Years!) after being published in “Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events.” This exciting event has continued to grow internationally (USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, UK and Ireland, Germany, Georgia, Sweden, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, South Africa, as examples). “National Hugging Day™ continues to expand across our global communities as people encourage one another to hug more often. Support is very much needed to continue this worldwide growth.

Created by Kevin Zaborney from Michigan USA, National Hugging Day™ was primarily created to encourage family, friends and others to consensually hug more often. This observance also seeks to bring individuals and communities closer together to share acts of kindness and peace through hugging. Reasonable care should be taken with those who are either uncomfortable with public affection, have reasonable concerns about contracting an illness (like Covid or the Flu), or their reaction to a hug would be unknown. In those situations, it is advised to “ask first before hugging and exchange consent.” Wearing a mask for safety may also be appropriate.

In recognition of those who are making a difference to promote “The Embrace” through hugging, “THE MOST HUGGABLE PERSON OF 2025” is…

Olesya Karpenko of Swannanoa, North Carolina USA. She is a member of the First Slavic Baptist Church of Swannanoa. She was chosen as Most Huggable of 2025 in part due to her spirit of volunteerism following the devastation from Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. The church likely served over 400 people per meal. Olesya offered and engaged in free “caring hugs” to all those who came for a meal and encouragement in time of need. (photo credit: Seth Harrison/USA TODAY Network)

BENEFITS OF EMBRACING/HUGGING (The Short List):
• Hugging releases Oxytocin, often called “the bonding or love hormone”
• Hugging improves one’s physical, emotional and spiritual health
• Hugging frequently produced less severe common cold symptoms
• Hugging promotes attachment in relationships
• Hugging may reduce anxiety, depression, and attentional disorders
• Hugging reduces stress by reducing the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrine
• Hugging lowers blood pressure and heart rate
• Hugging may diminish inflammation following acute stroke and cardiac arrest
• Hugging may improve pain tolerance

Kevin Zaborney
National Hugging Day LLC

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