National Highfive Day

Excited people in various stylish outfits enthusiastically high-fiving in a colorful and energetic setting.. — National highfive day illustration

Get ready to raise your hand and give some awesome high fives because it's National High Five Day! This is the day when we celebrate the art of the high five, that iconic gesture that transcends language and brings people together in a moment of pure connection and camaraderie. Whether you're celebrating with loved ones, cheering on your favorite sports team, or just high fiving the air because it's awesome, National High Five Day is the perfect occasion to express yourself with the universal language of the hand slap.

When is Highfive Day?

It's national highfive day on the 16th April.

A Brief History of National High Five Day

Did you know that the origins of National High Five Day can be traced back to the early days of the internet? Yes, the internet, the magical place where memes are born and cats reign supreme! It all started in 2002 when a group of college students decided to create a day dedicated to spreading joy and connection through the simple act of a high five. They launched a website and encouraged people to give high fives to everyone they meet on the designated day.

Fast forward to today, and National High Five Day has become a global phenomenon. People from all walks of life participate in this joyous celebration, from sports fans high fiving each other after a winning goal to colleagues exchanging high fives for a job well done. It's a day that reminds us that even in a world filled with keyboards and screens, human connection can still be as simple as a gesture of the hand.

History behind the term 'Highfive'

1977

Magic's Five

The term 'highfive' was coined in 1977 and its origins trace back to the world of professional basketball. It all started during the 1977-1978 NBA season when a player for the Los Angeles Lakers named Lamont Sleets, also known as Magic, introduced a new gesture of celebration. After a successful play, Magic would raise his hand high in the air and slap it with his teammates, creating a crisp and satisfying sound. This became known as the 'Magic's Five' and quickly caught on as a trendy way of celebrating success.

1978

Dusty and Wiley

In 1978, the gesture gained even more recognition when two professional baseball players, Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke of the Los Angeles Dodgers, performed a high-five during a game. Dusty Baker had just hit his thirtieth home run, and as he crossed home plate, Glenn Burke enthusiastically greeted him with an elevated hand, resulting in an impromptu high five. This iconic moment was captured by photographers and spread widely, eventually popularizing the term 'highfive' beyond the basketball courts.

1980

Nationwide Recognition

By the early 1980s, the term 'highfive' had become a part of popular culture. It began to appear in newspaper articles, magazines, and even television shows, making its way into the everyday vocabulary of people across the nation. The gesture itself became a symbol of celebration and camaraderie, transcending the sports world and entering into various social settings.

1986

Highfive as a Verb

In 1986, the term 'highfive' officially became a verb, further solidifying its place in the English language. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary added 'highfive' as a verb, defining it as 'to slap hands with (someone) in a congratulatory or mutually supportive way.' This recognition by a respected dictionary further established the term as a cultural phenomenon.

2002

National High Five Day

In 2002, the first National High Five Day was celebrated in the United States. This annual event takes place on the third Thursday of April and encourages people to engage in high-five exchanges as a way of spreading positivity and joy. The day serves as a reminder of the power of simple gestures and their ability to bring people together.

Did you know?

Did you know that the world record for the most high fives in one hour was set on National High Five Day? In 2017, a group of enthusiastic high fivers managed to rack up an impressive 2,442 high fives in just 60 minutes! Now that's some serious high five dedication.