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Celebrate National Hugging Day With History’s Most Enthusiastic Huggers

1 minute read

LIFE magazine dispatched its world-class photographers to cover significant world events—battles and elections, state dinners and tragedies—but it also took pains to cover events of more quotidian significance. One example: hugs.

Whether between mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, children and puppies, lovers or friends, images of people embracing provide a counterbalance to the graver images that so often fill the news. On Jan. 21, as National Hugging Day reminds us of the many psychological benefits of a squeeze, LIFE looks back at its most joyful images of hugs.

Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.

UCLA students Marjorie Henshaw and Johnny Hessel embracing one another, 1939.
UCLA students Marjorie Henshaw and Johnny Hessel embrace one another at homecoming, 1939.Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Two lifeguards hugging, Florida, 1939.
Caption from LIFE: In dry-land training, one Jacksonville lifeguard demonstrates to another how a violent drowning swimmer gets a stranglehold on a would-be rescuer. Grip can be easily broken by pushing hard with both hands on victim's chin. (1939) George Karger—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Soldier hugging his wife goodbye at Penn Station before he leaves for war, 1944.
A soldier hugs his wife goodbye at Penn Station before he leaves for war, 1944.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
American soldier and his English girlfriend kissing under a tree in Hyde Park, London, 1944.
An American soldier and his English girlfriend embrace under a tree in Hyde Park, London, 1944.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A mother hugging her son goodbye, 1947.
A mother hugs her son goodbye, 1947.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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Lt. Col. James P. Devereux hugs his son upon his return, 1947.Thomas D. McAvoy—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Michigan's Menominee High School's annual football game with traditional rivals, Wisconsin Marinette H. S., showing Marinette students hugging each other as they leave.
Two students hug at Michigan's Menominee High School's annual football game against its rivals, Wisconsin Marinette High School.Lisa Larsen—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
A man hugging his daughter, 1949.
A man hugs his daughter, 1949.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Dancers Roland Petit and Renee (Zizi) Jeanmaire hugging each other after performance in the ballet "Carmen," 1949.
Dancers Roland Petit and Renee (Zizi) Jeanmaire hug each other after performing in the ballet "Carmen," 1949.Gordon Parks—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Christina Goldsmith embracing a Weimaraner puppy, which she took from a new litter of her father's stock, 1950.
Christina Goldsmith embraces a Weimaraner puppy, which she took from a new litter of her father's stock, 1950.Bernard Hoffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Young couple cuddling as they sit down in a hole in the sand while others lie around behind them on a hot Independence Day at the beach, 1950.
A young couple cuddles while sitting in a hole in the sand on a hot Independence Day at the beach, 1950.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
A woman hugs her dog, Bruiser, 1950.
A woman hugs her dog, Bruiser, 1950.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis embracing at party celebrating their marriage, 1951.
Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis embrace at a party celebrating their marriage, 1951.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Josephine Baker receiving hug from columnist and friend Nora Ray Holt in her dressing room after her show at the Strand theater, 1951.
Josephine Baker receives a hug from columnist and friend Nora Ray Holt in her dressing room after her show at the Strand theater, 1951.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Young mother hugging one of her sons, 1955.
A young mother hugs one of her sons, 1955.Mark Kauffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Owner of race horse "Needles", Bonnie Heath and co-owner, Jackson C. Dudley, Hug as "Needles" flashes across the finish line the winner, at the Kentucky Derby, 1956.
Bonnie Heath and Jackson C. Dudley, co-owners of a race horse named "Needles," hug as the horse flashes across the finish line to win the 1956 Kentucky Derby.Hank Walker—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A child cuddling with a puppy as one of the hospital's methods of using therapy through animals, 1956.
A child cuddles a puppy as part of a hospital's animal therapy program, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Desi Arnaz embraces Lucille Ball at the new home of their TV production empire, Desilu Studios, 1958.
Desi Arnaz embraces Lucille Ball at the new home of their TV production empire, Desilu Studios, 1958.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Olympic track star Wilma Rudolph hugging her grade-school teacher, 1960.
Olympic track star Wilma Rudolph hugs her grade-school teacher, 1960.George Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Mrs. Malcolm S. Carpenter hugging her children, 1962.
Mrs. Malcolm S. Carpenter hugs her children, 1962.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, embrace in the kitchen of their Hollywood home, 1963.
Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, embrace in the kitchen of their Hollywood home, 1963.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Frank Sinatra shares a hug at his Warner Bros Studio, 1965.
Frank Sinatra shares a hug at Warner Bros. Studio, 1965.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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A hug during a Twiggy look-alike contest in Stockholm, 1967.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Astronaut Eugene Cernan hugging daughter Tracy, 1969.
Astronaut Eugene Cernan hugs his daughter Tracy, 1969.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Shirley MacLaine hugging fellow delegate after McGovern victory at the Democratic National Convention, 1972.
Shirley MacLaine hugging fellow delegate after McGovern victory at the Democratic National Convention, 1972.Bill Eppridge—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com