Since 2002 , the third Thursday of April is recognise asNational High Five Day — a 24 - hour period for giving familiars and unknown alike as many high five as humanly potential . A few University of Virginia students invented the daylight , which has since develop into a “ High 5 - A - Thon ” that raises money each class for for a salutary cause . ( For 2019 , it’sCoachArt , a nonprofit organisation that absorb shaver impacted by chronic illness in arts and athletics . ) Here are a few more facts about the history of the hand gesture to get you in the high - fiving spirit .
UP HIGH
That may sound like a wad of celebration for a dewy-eyed hand motion , but the truth is , the act of reach your arm up over your head and slapping the rarefied palm and five finger of another person has overturn the elbow room Americans ( and many all over world ) cheer for everything from personal achievements to miraculous game - pull ahead plays in the sport humans . Psychological studieson touch sensation and human contact lens have feel that gestures like the high five enhance soldering among sports teammates , which in number has a advance impression on the whole squad . Put ' er there !
Down Low
There is some dispute about who in reality invented the high five . Some claim the gesture was forge by Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Glenn Burke when he spontaneously high up - fived lad outfielder Dusty Baker after a home rivulet during a game in 1977 . Others exact the 1978 - 79 Louisville basketball game team start it on the court of law . Since no one could definitively nail the exact ancestry , National High Five Day co - founder Conor Lastowka made up a story about Murray State basketballerLamont Sleetsinventing it in the belated 1970s / early 1980s , revolutionize by his father ’s Vietnam building block , “ The cinque . ”
Regardless of which eminent - five source story is more accurate , there is little question of its roots . The high five germinate from its sis - in - slappage , the low five . The motion , also known as “ slapping skin , ” was made pop in the jazz long time by the likes of Al Jolson , Cab Calloway and theAndrews Sisters .
Gimme Five
As the eminent five has evolve over the retiring few decades , variations have acquire and become popular in and of themselves . Here are five popular stylus :
You’re too slow!
Do n’t accrue for that former jest . The Florida key to a solid high five is threefold . Always watch for the elbow of your high - fiving mate to ensure accuracy ; never leave a pal attend ; and always have hand sanitizer on you . Have a Happy High Five Day !
This clause has been updated for 2019 .
