The Hugging Art

I here state the obvious: there is a style and an art to hugging. Each hug given and received has a very clear message that it sends, something that speaks to the soul in ways that words cannot. In order to help myself and others to understand what each hug signifies, I include a listing of common hugs and their "signs." I will separate them into two groups: Normal occurrence hugs and after date hugs.

Normal Hugs:

The Handshake One Armed Hug (Manitus embrasus). In a truly humorous manner, two people (nearly always two males, though it has been know to occur with one male and one female) shake hands and, while maintaining their grip, hug each other with their other hand. This hug is meant to portray fraternal good will.

Bear Hug (Envuelvus sencila). This is your basic all encompassing hug. Depending on the length of this hug, there can be many signals given. A short but strong Bear Hug indicates affection of the friendly sort. Longer hugs may signal a feeling of vulnerability and need to be comforted, or they may also betray an inner desire for a closer relationship. For the majority of cases, the longer and harder the hug the greater the need or the desire, though all of those must be taken into consideration. At the point of becoming painful or embarrassing, this type of beautiful hug turns ugly, almost into a form of torture used mostly as a joke.

Suffocating Hug (Quitatis Airayti). The idea of this hug is to cause physical pain in another person. An extrapolation of the bear hug, the suffocating hug has been known to haunt the halls of brothers hugging brothers (or sisters), and is very rarely seen elsewhere.

Side Hug (Lado circulae). This hug is one of the more complex hugs. Two people are side by side and hug with one arm each, keeping an open position. For each situation it is different. If the two parties are of the same gender, it means sisterly or brotherly love and affection. Sometimes it may indicate that said person needs to touch someone in order to feel validated, comfoted, etc. When the two parties belong to distinct sexes, then the interpretation of this hug becomes a little more tricky. Depending on the person, and the situation, it is sometimes the only way that a person can express the want to truly hug another. In other words, it sometimes means that the person recieving the hug (often of the male variety) is a little dense, and will only really react to physical touch, and so the other party (often a female) breaks the "touch barrier" with a side hug. However, one must be extremely careful when interpreting a side hug in this manner. The side hug between two members of the oppostie sex may also be nothing more than a friendly gesture, or the expression of a need of comfort.

Tap hug (Tocaris evitu). Though actually hugging, the person giving this hug is for whatever reason trying to avoid the appearance of actual attachment to the person to whom the hug is given. With hands held stiff they lightly tap the back of the person they are hugging, sending the impression that they are not interested in a truly satisfying hug from that person. It might be because of the situation, the temperament of the person, or even the attitude of one person towards another, but the message is pretty clear: I would rather be dead than hugging this person.

For the sake of brevity, I know go to after date, or relationship determining hugs.

Two armed hug. (Doas brosos) Basically, each party hugs with only one arm, the other hanging limp at the side. After a date, this particular hug says "I will not ask you out again" or "don't even think about calling me."

Three armed hug (Trias Embrasas). This is where one party (from what I personally have experienced, usually the girl) hugs with only one arm, the other clearly taken out of the action, and the other party of the hug giving it his (or her) all, with both arms wound tightly. In the case portrayed this hug means the guy will probably call the girl again, and will just as probably get turned down.

Date Bear Hug (Envuelvas romanticu). A version of the normal bear hug, this particular specimen is a little more satisfying. Its meaning is that both parties are agreeable to another date, and that enjoyment was the final result of the date that is ending. The pattern of arms for this hug is important, as it sets it apart from its cousin, the romantic hug, aka the neck surrounding hug. The pattern of the arms is an "x" forming a criss-cross. One of the boy’s arms is above the girls and the other arm is below the girls other arm (and vice versa). The amount of enjoyment on the date, and the interest in future dates, can be measured by the strength and the length of the hug. A short hug means little interest (and in some cases can mean no real interest, just kindness), and a long and strong hug means great interest (and can be more enjoyable than a N.S. Hug) with a hint more of timidity in it than its cousin.

N.S. (Neck Surrounding) Hug. (Cabezitis envolvu) This hug is most often associated with romance. Though not necessarily and indication of any true regard, it is often an indication that both parties are very interested in each other, and wouldn’t mind expressing it with their bodies. Does that sound bad? I didn't mean it to sound bad. The most comfortable arrangement for this that I have found is that the guy places his arms across the girls back (around her waistline), and the girl arranges her arms behind the shoulders and neck of the guy. From this vantage point it becomes rather easy to progress to a different show of affection, that involving the lips, but considering that I have never truly kissed anyone, I would be the worst person to write about that.

There it is, an incomplete register of hugs. If you wish me to add any, just tell me, and I'll be more than happy to include your additions.

And that is why, my friends, when you finish a date and you enjoyed yourself, or if you didn't but you still like the person, hug them hard and hug them well. There is nothing as unsatisfying like a person who hugs with no real power. Hold them tight, dang it!