National High Five Day

National High Five Day History

National High Five Day is dedicated to celebrating a common human interaction – the high five. The observance encourages participants to celebrate victories, big or small, through the act of high fiving each other. It aims not only at celebrating these achievements, but also at promoting positive communication and reinforcing solidarity between people, irrespective of their backgrounds, professions, or ages.

National High Five Day traces its roots back to 2002 in the United States. The day was conceptualised by students at the University of Virginia who gave out high fives as part of a university project. While it originated from our southern neighbours, this day has found resonance with Canadians as well. The act of high fiving is well embedded in the Canadian culture, being prevalent in sports, recreational activities, or as an informal, friendly gesture among Canadians themselves.

In Canada, National High Five Day usually finds a higher profile during sports or public events. Across the country, individuals, teams, or organisations may spotlight the high five on this day through a collective action or through a series of activities planned to honour the day. It's an opportunity for Canadians to cultivate a spirit of camaraderie and positive reinforcement. National High Five Day takes place annually on the third Thursday of April.

Top 7 Facts for 2026 National High Five Day in Canada

• The city of Hamilton, Ontario, holds the official Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous high fives, a feat achieved by 7,238 fans at Tim Hortons Field during a 2015 match featuring the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team.
• While widely popularized by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977, the gesture is often debated as having an earlier collegiate origin with the Louisville Cardinals basketball team during the 1978–1979 season.
• One of the most persistent origin stories involving a player named Lamont Sleets was eventually revealed to be a deliberate publicity stunt concocted by the founders of the holiday at the University of Virginia.
• The high five is a direct evolution of the low five, a hand-slapping greeting that has been a staple of African American culture since at least the 1920s.
• UNICEF Canada has previously utilized the observance for its #HighFiveIt campaign, which raised millions of dollars to provide life-saving vaccines and clean water to children globally.
• The gesture carries a significant social legacy through Glenn Burke, one of the first openly gay athletes in Major League Baseball, whose story and role in "inventing" the high five are detailed in the documentary Out: The Glenn Burke Story.
• For those concerned about hygiene, modern variations such as the air five or the elbow bump have gained massive traction as contact-free alternatives to the traditional palm-to-palm slap.

In the News and Trending in Canada for National High Five Day

Top things to do in Canada for National High Five Day

• Learn about the origins of the high five. LA Dodgers rookie outfielder Glenn Burke was documented in 1977 raising his arm high above his head to slap palms with Dustry Baker after he hit a homerun.
• Watch a collection of videos celebrating high five day. The high five is versatile in that it can be used during funny moments or momentous ones.
• Attend a Sports Event: Many sports involve high-fives as a part of their culture. You can arrange a community sports game such as basketball or volleyball where people can share high-fives.
• Promote the day through social media by giving out Virtual High Fives: In the current digital age and considering the pandemic situation, people can exchange high fives virtually over a video call.