High five: How was this popular culture born?

When your younger sibling does well in his exams or scores a goal, you have congratulated him with a high-five a lot many times, isn’t it?  This interesting hand gesture involves two people simultaneously raising one hand each, about head-high, and slapping or sliding the flat of their palm against each other saying, "High five", "Give me five" or "Up high". Ever wondered where this ‘high five’ tradition came from? Well, there are many stories about where it originated and how. Irrespective of where and when this cheerful gesture originated, the use of the phrase as a noun has been part of the Oxford English Dictionary since 1980 and as a verb since 1981. Come, let us tell you about the most documented origin stories and high five variations. 

Born in a baseball field 
Most agree that the gesture originated in the arena of baseball, the most popular American professional sport. According to the most widely believed story, high five was invented on October 2, 1977, in a match between American baseball teams Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, thanks to legendary baseball players, Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke. In a  triumphant moment, Burke, waiting on deck, lifted his one hand enthusiastically over his head to greet his friend and Baker, not exactly knowing what to do, just slapped it. And a high five was born. 

The story of basketball court 
Another story places the origin of high five at a University of Louisville Cardinals basketball practice match during the 1978–1979 season. When basketball player Wiley Brown went to give a low five to his teammate Derek Smith, Smith looked Brown in the eye and said, "No. Up high." Brown agreeing with what Smith said, "Yeah, why are we staying down low? We jump so high". He then raised his hand and a high five was born.  

The high five variations  
There is not just one way to do a high five. It has many variants. For example, if one initiates a high five by offering a hand and no one responds, it is said the initiator is "left hanging" conveying that it is an insult or maybe just a joke. There is another variant called "self high five", in which you raise one hand, generally the right hand, and tag it with the other. It was often used by American actor and former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page.  

Bonus fact: Every year, the third Thursday of April is celebrated as the National High Five Day in the US. It first began in 2002 at the University of Virginia by a group of students where participants took part in a “high-five-a-thon” to raise funds for charity.