National Hug & High 5 Day
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Overview
National Hug & High 5 Day is observed annually on September 12th, founded by Philadelphia's David Sylvester in memory of his childhood mentor Kevin Bowers, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Sylvester chose the date deliberately — the day after a tragedy, he says, is when people most appreciate a warm hug or an uplifting high five. Since setting out on his quest, he has bicycled across North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa, hugging and high-fiving more than half a million people in every U.S. state and dozens of countries. Along the way, he's made a point of visiting communities touched by violence, including Oklahoma City, San Bernardino, and Orlando, turning a simple gesture into a two-decade mission of human connection.
Origin and story
National Hug & High 5 Day traces back to September 12, 2001 — the day after David Sylvester's childhood mentor, Kevin Bowers, was killed in the World Trade Center attacks. Bowers, an IT engineer who Sylvester considered the older brother he never had, left a gap that Sylvester filled by doing something almost absurdly simple: hugging and high-fiving strangers, starting the day after the tragedy, because that was when he felt people needed it most.
What began as a personal ritual grew into a two-decade mission before Sylvester formally founded National Hug & High 5 Day in 2021. He's bicycled across North America three separate times, plus stretches of Australia, Asia, and Africa, hugging and high-fiving more than half a million people across every U.S. state and dozens of countries. He's made a point of visiting places touched by their own tragedies — Oklahoma City, San Bernardino, Chicago, Cleveland, Orlando — treating the gesture as something that travels, and that means the same thing, wherever grief has been.
Quick facts
- DateSeptember 12
- TypeCommunity / Kindness
- Great forFriends, Coworkers, Strangers who need a lift
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
Sylvester's version of the holiday doesn't require a bike trip across three continents — the gesture scales down just fine.
Give out a genuine hug or high five
Start close to home: a family member, a coworker, a neighbor. The point isn't the scale of Sylvester's mission, it's the willingness to offer a small, real moment of connection.
Check in on someone having a hard day
A hug or high five is really a stand-in for a bigger message — sometimes people just need to know someone noticed. That's the whole premise Sylvester built a two-decade mission on.
Learn Sylvester's story
His route has intentionally passed through Oklahoma City, San Bernardino, and Orlando — communities that understand, in their own way, exactly why he started.
Helpful resources: David Hale Sylvester, The Human High5 (official site)
Fun facts
- National Hug & High 5 Day was founded in 2021 by David Sylvester, but his personal quest to hug and high-five strangers began the day after his childhood mentor, Kevin Bowers, died in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
- Sylvester has bicycled across North America three times, plus parts of Australia, Asia, and Africa, spreading hugs and high fives along the way.
- He's hugged or high-fived more than half a million people across every U.S. state and 37 countries — and counting.
- On his tours, Sylvester deliberately visits places touched by violence, including Oklahoma City, San Bernardino, Chicago, Cleveland, and Orlando.
- In his own words: "I chose September 12 because it is after a tragedy when we all appreciate a warm and supportive hug and appreciate the uplifting power of a high5."
Sources and attribution
- National Hug and High Five Day (Checkiday)
- Philly's David Sylvester Has Hugged More Than Half a Million People (Philadelphia Magazine)
- Human High Five Travels the World Giving Out High-Fives After 9/11 Tragedy (ABC7 New York)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National Hug & High 5 Day?
- It is observed on September 12 each year.
- What is National Hug & High 5 Day?
- National Hug & High 5 Day is observed annually on September 12th, founded by Philadelphia's David Sylvester in memory of his childhood mentor Kevin Bowers, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Sylvester chose the date deliberately — the day after a tragedy, he says, is when people most appreciate a warm hug or an uplifting high five. Since setting out on his quest, he has bicycled across North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa, hugging and high-fiving more than half a million people in every U.S. state and dozens of countries. Along the way, he's made a point of visiting communities touched by violence, including Oklahoma City, San Bernardino, and Orlando, turning a simple gesture into a two-decade mission of human connection.
- How do people celebrate National Hug & High 5 Day?
- Give out hugs and high fives to friends, family, or strangers who could use a lift, or share an encouraging word with someone having a hard day.
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