Hugging: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, I do, though it really depends on how well I know the person. I find a warm hug quite comforting when I'm meeting up with close mates or family, but I'd feel slightly awkward embracing an acquaintance or a colleague.

Mostly my immediate family and a handful of my closest friends. For instance, whenever I visit my parents' house in Manchester, my mum always greets me with a massive hug at the front door before we even sit down for a cup of tea.

To be honest, not all that much. My parents weren't overly affectionate physically, so we tended to show care through words or helping each other out rather than physical gestures. I only really remember getting hugs on birthdays or when I fell over.

Well, it's mostly reserved for emotional moments like saying a long goodbye at an airport or celebrating something big, such as passing a driving test. People also tend to exchange a quick hug when greeting someone they haven't seen in ages.

I reckon they do, especially the younger generation. In the past, people were rather reserved and favoured a formal handshake, whereas nowadays people are far more open to casual hugs as a friendly greeting when meeting friends at a café.