Each year on the third Thursday in April, we observe National High Five Day. This is a fun day where you can “High Five” everyone that you see.
Folklore fills the hallowed halls of sports stadiums concerning the origins of the high five. From the basketball to the volleyball court and baseball stadium, the sports metaphor has been well worn on this topic.
The two most well-known claims take place in less than a two-year time span.
During the last 1977 regular season Dodgers’ game, Dusty Baker hit the home run that made the team the first in history to have four players with at least 30 regular season home runs each. As Baker rounded third and headed home, Glenn Burke waited at home plate to congratulate him. In a moment that is Dodgers history but never televised, Burke greeted his teammate by raising his hand, and they slapped hands in a victorious high five.
On the Louisville Cardinals basketball court during the 1978-79 season, the team switched up their regular low-fives thanks to Wiley Brown and Derek Smith.
Out of all the triumphant sports gestures, such as the fist bump, fanny slap, end zone dance, and chest bump, the high five stands in a class all its own.
The National High-5-A-Thon For Cancer Research
One of the most important successes that you can celebrate with a high five is the one that cancer victims live through every day. High Five Day was originally developed with the intent of raising awareness for cancer, so be sure to raise awareness of this most important fight by giving as many high fives as possible. http://www.nationalhighfiveproject.org/
In 2002, college students at the University of Virginia, Conor Lastowka (San Diego, CA), Sam Miotke (Corvallis, OR) and Wynn Walent (New York, NY) together created National High Five Day.
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