Hugging

[Di2011]

I live in Australia. It seems that here hugging is a pretty normal/acceptable kind of physical response to meeting friends/family. It is family dependent but I wonder if hugging is or is not a normal response within other cultures?

[Bubba's Mom]

I live in Australia. It seems that here hugging is a pretty normal/acceptable kind of physical response to meeting friends/family. It is family dependent but I wonder if hugging is or is not a normal response within other cultures?

I'm in USA. It kind of depends on the family here? We weren't huggers in my family.

Before I married my husband we went to a family reunion of his family. They were huggers. It was so odd to me to have strangers come up to me and nearly squeeze my breath out! I never did get used to that in all of the years I've been in the family.

[dilettantesteph]

My husband's family is Norwegian and they are super huggers. My family, not so much.

[IrishHeart]

USA --Boston Bred.

My family and friends---we're all a bunch of molesters!

Overly-enthusiastic even.

(Irish, Italian, Armenian, giant mixed bag of people....)

I hug freely. But only if I know it's okay with someone. (I respect boundaries) I always told my Dad, "you give good hug."

He said "right back atcha!"

Long good byes at family gatherings involved multiple group huggings.

And hubs, well, he gives the big, all encompassing bear hug.

But he learned it from me.

[love2travel]

It is very normal where I live in Canada. Half my family hugs like crazy; half stand stiffly and look as though they are being tortured. I am a hugger but as a very private person only hug those I know very well. Having said that, the odd time I hug spontaneously if I am moved to do it emotionally (i.e. if someone is terminally ill).

[pricklypear1971]

I don't like hugging. It's reserved only for specific people at specific times but I'm weird that way.

Half my family hugs and kisses left and right and they always laugh at my expression and explain I have to do it.

It's about personal space for me. I don't like to be touched.

And yes, I'm from the U.S.. Southern U.S.

Oddly enough it's the New Yorkers that always want to kiss and hug and touch. aside from my family (who are definitely southern).

[Adalaide]

My family aren't really huggers. I grew up in Pennsylvania with a very close family, we just didn't hug. The exception is my grammy who is a hugger. Not like all the time, but with hellos and goodbyes. I live in Utah now and lots of people here are huggers. My best friend is a super hugger which took some real getting used to. Still though, the only people I'll let near me are her, my family back east and my husband. Anyone else gets in my bubble and things get pretty awkward pretty quick. I just like people a whole lot more when they are at least arm's length away from me.

[vella]

I come from a family of non-huggers, but I'm entirely opposite......I like ya, I hug.

The culture I come from are very warm and friendly people....Big sloppy kisses too.