The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

My sister and I went to a youth rally when we were in high
school. At the rally we were taught that to grow psychologically
a person needs eight hugs a day plus many other facts that I now
cannot recall. When we came home our parents asked us at the
dinner table what we had learned; we told them about the eight hugs
needed to grow. My dad told us that he could do better than that,
so he has given us twelve hugs plus three for good luck. My
parents live up north and we often communicate by phone or by
letter; on the phone we count to twelve, then to three to give our
hugs to each other. In written communication, we write 12+3 to
give our hugs. This is a tradition that our whole family now
practices to give each other hugs and emotional support.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE

Keyword(s): Family folklore