The high five—probably the most iconic celebratory gesture of all time! Nothing says "nailed it" quite like slapping someone’s hand in mid-air. But where did this awesome move come from, and how did it become the go-to for everything from sports victories to casual wins? 

It all started in sports, but the exact origin is a bit of a mystery. Some say the first-ever high five happened in the baseball fields of 1970s Los Angeles. The story goes that on October 2, 1977, during the last game of the season, Dodgers outfielder Dusty Baker hit his 30th home run, and as he crossed home plate, his teammate Glenn Burke raised his hand in excitement. Not missing a beat, Baker smacked it—and thus, the high five was born! It was a spontaneous moment of pure joy, and everyone thought, “Hey, this feels good. We should do this all the time!” 

But wait—basketball also wants some credit! Around the same time, a player named Derek Smith from the University of Louisville was supposedly using the high five on the court, energizing his teammates and hyping up the crowd. It caught on fast—because honestly, who doesn’t love a good hand slap after a slam dunk? 

And while sports teams were the ones to kick off the high-five craze, it wasn’t long before it spread far beyond the field and the court. By the 1980s, high fives were popping up everywhere, from movie scenes to kids' playgrounds. It became a way to say, “We did it!”—whether “it” was winning a game, acing a test, or even just finishing your homework. 

What makes the high five so cool? Well, it's all about connection. There's something about that perfect timing, that satisfying smack of palms, that says, “We’re in this together, and we just rocked it.” Plus, it’s so versatile—you can do a classic high five, a double high five (using both hands), or even a “too slow” fake-out, if you're feeling a little cheeky!