Have you got your hug today?

It is said that the culture of hugging started in the Middle East, more specifically the Muslim world. Even though physical contact between sexes is frowned upon, nevertheless, it formed a great gesture of friendship or camaraderie. This culture, once alien to the Western world and also to areas away from the Arab-Persia-Moghul 'diaspora'. In Victorian England, bodily contact was minimised to handshake. In China and Southern Indian sub-continent, it was just clasping or approximation of hands to exude warm friendship or respect.

Fast forward to the 21st century, mere spoken words are insufficient to display the above. Hugs are the way to go. Even societies which would normally raise an eyebrow at public display of physical contact, a generation ago, have no qualms in joining the bandwagon.

Why so? Experts attribute this to be lack of social interaction within modern families and communities. The society tend to compensate the lack of social contact with a physical one. Anyway, science has proven that tactile stimulation has been repeatedly shown to have positive outcomes. For example, premature babies have better outcomes and shorter hospitalisation when touched more often. Orphans have a brighter future and tends to lead better lives when they are cuddled or have cordial contact with their caregivers.
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