A hug is a form of nonverbal communication through which people can convey comfort, affection, sympathy, excitement, or love without speaking a word.

Research has shown that hugging can boost oxytocin levels. Sometimes called the “bonding hormone,” oxytocin is tied to feelings of trust and emotional closeness.

Evidence suggests that a hug lasting roughly 20 seconds may be more calming than a brief one, as prolonged physical contact gives the body more time to settle and relax.

Right-handed people tend to initiate hugs from the right side, though emotionally charged situations make left-sided hugs more frequent. Researchers believe this pattern may reflect how the brain handles emotion.

The origin of the English word “hug” remains uncertain. One popular theory traces it to the Old Norse word “hugga,” which carried the meaning of comfort.

Certain therapeutic settings use group hugs to foster trust and a sense of closeness among participants following emotionally intensive sessions.

Hugs serve as greetings or farewells in many cultures, taking the place of handshakes. In parts of Europe and Latin America, it is entirely normal for male friends to embrace one another.

In Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and Portugal, it is common to close letters or emails with a phrase meaning “a hug” as a warm and friendly sign-off.

Some American schools have attempted to ban hugging among students, a move that in certain cases prompted student protests in defense of the practice.

In parts of East and South Asia, hugging tends to be reserved for close family members and is far less common in wider social settings.

Hugs come in many varieties, among them bear hugs, side hugs, back hugs, and jumping hugs, each carrying its own informal meaning.

The Free Hugs movement gained global attention after individuals began offering embraces to strangers in public spaces as a simple gesture of kindness.

Humans are not alone in this behavior. Primates, bears, and various domesticated animals all display hugging-like actions as expressions of bonding or comfort.

The Danish concept of hygge, centered on coziness and emotional warmth, may share an etymological connection with the word “hug.”

The legendary Norse ravens Huginn and Muninn are linked through the ancient Nordic root “hug” to ideas involving thought, the mind, and the inner spirit.

During the Roman Catholic Mass, the sign of peace may be observed through an embrace rather than a handshake or kiss, depending on the congregation.

Studies indicate that physical touch, hugging included, may help lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate under certain conditions.