January 21, 2013
The young actors from culture and community centre “Iskra-1860” organized a free hugs "flash mob" for the International hugging day

“We are obligated to our audience, that’s why today we are the audience, the audience that give us warm hugs, huge applauses, unforgettable smiles and honest greetings”- said Maya Stoyanova- art leader of the theatre schools in the 152 years old cultural and community centre.

The young actors hugged hundreds of people in the central part of the Bulgarian town Kazanlak. The youths surprised the citizens of Kazanlak with lots of hugs and colored greetings. We are so happy- said the young actors after the event continuing hugging people on the way to school.
http://www.chitalishteiskra.com/index.php?p=view&r%5Bpage%5D=255

According to intelligence researcher Jay Gordon, M.D., co-author of Brighter Baby, new studies show that children who get some sustained form of touching such as a lon hug every day, are smarter.  "The more physical contact a little one gets, the more the brain cells are stimulated, creating stronger, faster brain synapses and boosting IQ."

11/18/2003

According to University of North Carolina researchers, one extra 20 second hug can make a huge difference in how happy and relaxed you feel.  Woman's World

By Amy Nappa

“I enjoy embracing people.” (Thelma Wells)

How much do you know about hugging? Sure, you’ve hugged some folks in your lifetime. I have too. But let’s consider the facts:  Click here to read more... THE HUG LINE

enter the date and a brief description of this news article or press release. You may want to include an excerpt from the article or a sentence or two about the publication in which the story appeared. To link the article title to another web site or document, select the title and click the "Link" button in your editing toolbar.

7/25/2011

‘Oxytocin is produced by touch and, as well as making us feel good, it also inspires us to touch more,’ says Paula (Paula Hall, relationship expert for online dating service Parship). ‘That means that the more you touch, the closer you feel and the more you want to touch.’

Once assumed to be related only to childbirth, because of the role it plays in both encouraging contractions and then chemically bonding mother and newborn, recent research suggests that oxytocin’s ability to promote feelings of calm, love and connection also extends to couples in monogamous relationships.

The feeling of ‘melding’ that happens when you gaze into a loved one’s eyes, and the after-effects of calm and well-being that follow even non-sexual physical intimacy, could all be down to this miraculous hormone.

‘We used to think that oxytocin was found only in the pregnant uterus, but in fact it’s found in many sites in the body,’ says clinical psychiatrist and author Dr Brenda Davies.

‘It’s been called “the love hormone” and its levels in our blood certainly increase when we hug, when we feel loving and even when we stroke a beloved pet. So it has a huge role to play in intimacy — and not just of the sexual kind.’

This wonder-hormone may even help you to broach difficult subjects. New research suggests that oxytocin can prevent the body’s ‘freeze’ response to threat, and reduce ‘fight-or-flight’ panic.

So if you have a tricky discussion about money or the kids coming up, a big cuddle before you begin talking is the perfect way to approach a difficult subject.

Oxytocin has also been shown to decrease blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to weight gain and a depressed immune system.

‘It even plays a part in raising our self-esteem and, therefore, improves our capacity to have healthy, close relationships,’ says Dr Davies. ‘It’s also a powerful natural anti-inflammatory, and has anti-ageing properties — one reason why people living isolated lives, with little human touch, can age prematurely.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2018331/Is-cuddle-better-sex-New-research-says-hugs-hanky-panky-keeps-couples-together.html#

January 20, 2011
 
Berliner Morganpost (Berlin, Germany)

This article is in German, but can be read here.. http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/familie/article1516565/Seine-Umarmung-macht-mich-gluecklich.html

January 2011

According to Chris Melzer, dpa - deutsche presse-agentur, Bureau Chief New York "The feedback in Germany is enourmous. You see below some links with our story. Thank you, it was interesting to talk with you and fun to write about you. And of course, let's do the same in the next year too!

http://www.borkenerzeitung.de/aktuelles/aus_aller_welt/aus_aller_welt/1481678_25_Jahre_Umarmungen_gratis.html

http://www.fnp.de/nnp/nachrichten/vermischtes/vom-gorilla-hug-bis-zum-allzweckumarmer-25-jahre-umarmtag_rmn01.c.8602325.de.html

http://www.news.de/vermischtes/855113648/25-jahre-umarmungen-gratis/1/

http://www.mv-online.de/aktuelles/aus_aller_welt/aus_aller_welt/1481678_25_Jahre_Umarmungen_gratis.html

http://www.main-netz.de/nachrichten/vermischtes/dpa/leben/art7093,1498958

http://www.an-online.de/news/vermischtes-detail-an/1521010?_link=&skip=&_g=Vom-Gorilla-Hug-bis-zum-Allzweckumarmer-25-Jahre-Umarmtag.html

http://www.az-web.de/news/vermischtes-detail-az/1521010?_link=&skip=&_g=Vom-Gorilla-Hug-bis-zum-Allzweckumarmer-25-Jahre-Umarmtag.html

http://www.westfaelische-nachrichten.de/aktuelles/aus_aller_welt/aus_aller_welt/1481678_25_Jahre_Umarmungen_gratis.html

http://www.sol.de/news/dpa/starline/stars/leben/Gesellschaft-Buntes-25-Jahre-Umarmungen-gratis;art4423,3438733

http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/Home/Nachrichten/Aus-aller-Welt/Artikel,-25-Jahre-Umarmungen-gratis-_arid,2348208_regid,2_puid,2_pageid,4293.html

http://www.n-tv.de/panorama/Wenn-fremde-Menschen-sich-umarmen-article2407176.html

http://www.gea.de/nachrichten/kinder/lass+dich+umarmen+weltweiter+knuddeltag.1797106.htm

http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/familie/article1516566/Von-kumpelhaft-bis-leidenschaftlich.html

January 20, 2012
http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=841006
This can be translated through Google.  Listen to Kevin Zaborney's radio interview translated to Bulgarian!  Awesome!

January 21, 2012
Website of the Day
National Hugging Day
http://www.timesreporter.com/topstories_mobile/x1251828000/Jan-21-Top-of-the-day?utm=c