Category: Health & Fitness

The simple act of giving a hug became the subject of some controversy in 2002 when Julian Middle School in Chicago outlawed hugging in the hallways.

School officials said that the hugging ban was instituted not because they believed that hugs were in some way objectionable or an unacceptable form of public display of affection, but because students in hallways were hugging excessively and it was making it tough for students to get to class.

Hugs were once again brought to the fore of collective American and Western consciousness when, in 2006, an Australian by the name of Juan Mann posted a video called “Free Hugs” on YouTube. The video became a phenomenon inspiring a series commercials, copycat videos and more. Mann was even a featured guest on the Oprah Winfrey show.

The hugging madness has certainly quelled itself recently, and has once again become more representative of a bond of solace or friendship between two – and sometimes more – people. In this collection, you can read all about hugs, everything from a list of hugging techniques, the history of the hug and background information as well as some new inventions that are designed to replicate the feeling of receiving a hug, using synthetic material.

Whether you’ve already hugged 10 people today or haven’t had a hug in 10 years, you can surely find something in this collection that will pique your interest.