Monday, May 12, 2008

Free Hugs

I saw this group of students offering free hugs to people at Union Square this weekend. The Free Hugs Campaign was started by Juan Mann in Sydney, Australia in 2004 [watch his YouTube video here] and now, it has grown into an international phenomenon with different groups all over the world, including New York City.

So who was the last person you hugged today?

29 comments:

Shammickite said...

I hugged my honey today!! And every day!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Cool! Nice idea.

Paz

Chuck Pefley said...

My wife -:)

I photographed the Free Hug folks at the Spanish Steps in Rome just about this time last year. They had signs reading Regal Abbracci on one side with Free Hugs written on the other. Even in Italy people were reticent.

Chuck Pefley said...

that should have read "Regalo Abbracci" ~Chuck

Dorothy said...

Ming...this was great...I went over to YouTube and was laughing out loud....I loved it! I would have given him a hug. I loved it when everyone was hugging..awesome.. Well, we out to dinner this evening with my daughter and family for Mother's Day...I hugged her goodbye...as we parted for the evening. Have a good week...Dee Dee

Bel said...

I hugged my uncle who popped into work for a visit.

I LOVE cuddles!!!!!!!!! ;o)

Olivier said...

Je trouve l'idée superbe (j'en avais rencontré l'année dernière a NYC sur Union Square). En France on n'en voit pas beaucoup.

I think the idea of beautiful (I had met last year on NYC Union Square). In France we do not see much.

tigerfish said...

I don't think it will work in every country. Maybe in some countries, one will be sued for molest! Ha!
Good idea though.

Mandy said...

So who was the last person you hugged today?

I haven't seen another person for two days. The last person who hugged me was a young man with Downs Syndrome whom I met in the shopping mall a week ago.

crittoria said...

I always hug my boys just before they get on the bus. I know it's starting to embarrass them, but for now they tolerate it. Next year they probably won't, so I'm enjoying it while I can!

TCho said...

That girl and those two guys is one of the oddest combinations of people I've ever seen. Definitely not "Two Guys and a Girl" here.

Meg said...

Interesting! We just saw kids doing the same thing in Montréal a couple of weeks ago.

marley said...

Not sure if I'd like a hug from a complete stranger in a park!

Rafe Totengco said...

Love a free hug, especially if he's cute!

alice said...

I saw their "cousins" last year in front of the Centre Pompidou, in Paris!

Jane Hards Photography said...

I have hard enough time trying to photograph the locals never mind hug them. In the uk they'd be mistaken for muggers not huggers. Nice idea, which may work around closing time of the loca/pub.

Pat said...

Ming, I really like your photos and usually check in more often. Your last several were exceptionally good.

I hugged my friend today, and of course my little dog, who can't hug me back, but she licks. Okay, she's not a person, but still!

kuanyin333 said...

I hugged my S.O.!

• Eliane • said...

Oh, my comment disappeared... I think I was wondering why I always miss the cute boys giving free hugs. Anyways, where I am from, we are not big huggers - we kiss more easily than hugging anybody.

Anonymous said...

Thge last hug i gave was to my dogs as i left for work this morning. They are so cute.. :-)

Knoxville Girl said...

I don't think I'd take a stranger up on a hug, free or paid. Although I do hug my sweetie, and my close friends. So, did you get a free hug?

Ming the Merciless said...

I got two free hugs and four photos from the group. There were actually 6 free-huggers at the park last weekend.

Hilda said...

I've seen that video and am so glad to hear it's continuing! Too many people alone in this world nowadays. Happy to report that I'm not one of them, but I do looove hugs!

Unknown said...

tigerfish, it did happen in Singapore . they were giving free hugs here too!

Neva said...

My daughter is big into hugs...when she graduated from college on Sunday ....she hugged everyone on stage...it was quite funny by the end and everyone enjoyed it!!!

Anonymous said...

It's a lovely habit and should become an epidemy.

Last hugged: The cats. And the kids in the morning.

NormanTheDoxie said...

I've seen those people in Union Square.

No thanks...don't think I want any free hugs today.

Phil_O'Logus said...

I've seen folks doing this many times in Insadong here in Seoul, South Korea. Cheers...

Chat with Kathleen said...

Have not seen any one here in RI with free hug signs,
I love to give hugs freely to people I know and new people I have just met. My neice calls me the "hugger"
I hug my DH and son as often as they allow me. I also hug my beagle who licks me in return.