Hug Day in South Korea is December 14th

In addition to national holidays, South Koreans like to celebrate unofficial holidays every 14th of every month.

It started with Valentine’s Day every 14th of February. But that wasn’t enough and so every month now has some sort-of reiteration.

December 14th is Hug Day or Hugging Day. This is the day that couples can feel free to have pda’s (public display of affection) in hugging form as much as they want without looking too mooshy….Okay, so it still looks rather mooshy.

But that’s alright because hugging also keeps the cold at bay. And South Korean winters can be harsh!

Not only does hugging keeping you warm, but it’s been shown to make people feel better. Hugging releases endorphins in the brain that make people feel a general sense of well-being and even coping with pain. Other examples of when endorphins are released is during exercise (e.g. “runner’s high”) and eating comfort foods (e.g. chocolate).

So hugging is a powerful healer for the receiver, and the giver. Talk about a win/win!

Don’t Forget About The Socks

Getting back to harsh winters, that’s also probably why December 14th is also known as Sock Day.

Couples give each other cute fuzzy socks to stay warm.

Everything about this unofficial holiday just screams warm fuzzies! Whether it’s the warm embrace from someone you care about or the thick socks that keep your feet snug, you will be having those warm fuzzy feelings!

And although Hug Day isn’t until January 21st in the States, with so many benefits, why wait?

So don’t be stingy with those hugs…and socks! 😉 (I can’t help you with the hugs, but here are some ridiculously warm and fuzzy socks!)