They lower blood pressure, alleviate fears and relieve stress and that's just the tip of the beneficial iceberg that can come from a good, hearty hug.
It's a good thing then, that after surviving the dreariness of Blue Monday we get to look forward to Wednesday, January 21. Or, as fans of a heartening embrace know it, National Hugging Day.
Launched in 1986 in Clio, Michigan, as National Hugging Day, it's since expanded to parts of Canada, Germany, Australia, England and Russia, amongst others.
With that in mind, we here at Huffington Post decided this special day of cuddle ups needed a soundtrack. As it turns out, most music about hugging is a) children's songs, b) songs about hugging actual trees, or c) old blues songs where the word "hug" is probably a euphemism for another kind of embrace.
Click to launch the slideshow below and enjoy our 15 songs celebrating Hugging Day: