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A high-five is a celebratory gesture where two people slap their open palms together, often followed by other gestures. Its origins are debated, but it likely comes from the world of sports. High-fiving has been popularized by sports teams and even has its own national day in the US.
When two or more people feel the sudden need to celebrate, perhaps after a point scored or an emotional announcement, they may engage in a celebratory gesture known as a high-five. A high five means that one person holds their hand high in the air and allows another person to slap it with theirs. The “high” in a high five refers to the height of the slap and the “five” indicates the five fingers used by each slapper. Sometimes the action of a high five is a mutual slap, but it can also be a less ostentatious meeting of open palms. Whatever the energy level of a high-five, the important thing is that both participants agree that it is going to happen.
A high five can be followed up with any number of other gestures or rehearsed routines. Some people might interlock their fingers in yet another show of solidarity. Others follow up with a traditional high-five slap with a windmill wave that ends with a second, much lower slap known as a low five. It is also possible for two participants to deliberately miss the high five signal in order to perform a low five instead. There’s also the dreaded maneuver where a potential high five is left hanging in mid-air when the other side suddenly falters.
There is a surprising amount of debate surrounding the origins of the high five, although most sources agree that it most likely comes from the world of sports. Some believe that high-fiving was first seen on a public scale during a baseball game where two defenders congratulated each other with a slap in the face. Others suggest it was first used by basketball players who used their height advantage to clap their opponents’ heads on the head. Some say a high-five didn’t become popular until the 1970s, but others say rudimentary forms of a high-five slap can be seen on 1950s TV shows.
High-fiving has waxed and waned in popularity over the years, often being replaced by more elaborate routines of hand slapping or other forms of contact such as fists, chest or forearms. Some members of sports teams regularly celebrate points with high-five gestures, especially volleyball and basketball players. It is also interesting to note that the third Thursday of April has been officially recognized as National High Five Day by the US government.
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