Why do we Hug?

Freda Savahl
3 min readOct 5, 2024

It is Healthy!

10/2024- Hugging Oliver. Hudson offers me a grape. My great-grand little boys.

Family Visits:

Whenever I visit my family and friends, we always exchange warm hugs. I enjoy greeting the little boys with an enthusiastic invitation,

“Can I please get a hug?” Oliver, always cautious, says, “No squeezing, Gram — just a hug.”

Those moments are endearing and cherished!

What is a hug?

A hug is an endearment found in virtually all human communities. It involves two or more people putting their arms around the neck, back, under the armpits, or waists of one another and holding each other closely. If more than two people are involved, it may be called a group hug.

10/2024 The Mom hugging Hudson-author’s photo.

The Origin of the Word:

The word “hug” has uncertain origins, but there are two main theories. First, it may be connected to the Old Norse word “hugga,” which means to provide comfort. Alternatively, it could be associated with the German word “hegen,” meaning to foster or cherish.

--

--

Freda Savahl

Retired Nurse Practitioner WHC /Contract Provider Deployment Military Services. US Citizen. Immigrant from South Africa 1978.