National Cousins Day
National Cousins Day falls on the calendar every July 24 and is the perfect day to send some love to those family members we call cousins. Whether they were our first best friend or first antagonist, cousins are the people who made family get-togethers fun – or at least more tolerable and less awkward – when we were kids. Whether close cousins or distant cousins, friends or foes, those of us who are lucky enough to still have cousins around should think about celebrating them today.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL COUSINS DAY
Exactly when National Cousins Day made its way onto our modern-day calendar is a mystery. What we do know is that cousins have been keeping families connected for a long time.
American families have been coming together for reunions since the first settlers left the safety of the colonies and headed west to find fame, fortune, and more importantly, land. As one generation passed the baton of keeping the extended family connected onto the next generation, cousins became the guardians of family ties.
Even in families who no longer gather for regular reunions, cousins tend to reach out to each other later in life and revisit the shared memories of being family. If your cousins are like brothers and sisters or you became best friends growing up, staying in touch with them may not require a special day on your calendar. If you’re from a small family or one where the wanderlust gene is dominant and you’re not quite sure where all your cousins wandered off to years ago, celebrating cousinship takes a little more effort. It may take circling National Cousins Day on your calendar every year as an excuse to say hello to the cousins of your youth.
However, revisiting a family member you haven’t seen since you both were forced to sit at the kids’ table is always an interesting and nostalgic reunion. You get to see where your lives took you, the families you’ve created, the careers you’ve gone after, and the faces you’ve aged.
NATIONAL COUSINS DAY ACTIVITIES
1.Binge-watch cousin-themed reruns
Today is a good day to get reacquainted with those quirky cousin relationships we enjoyed on TV and big screen when we were kids. Remember summer reruns? Most vintage movies and many TV sitcoms have been digitized and are available on demand. Some of our cousin-themed favorites: Parent Trap, c. 1961 starring Hayley Mills, My Cousin Vinny, c. 1992, starring Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, c. 1990-1996, starring Will Smith
2.Host a digital National Cousins Day reunion
If your cousins live on the opposite coast or on the other side of the planet, go digital. Schedule a live reunion hosted on one of the communication tools on social media platforms or use a webinar provider.
3.Send your DNA off to be tested
If you are the least bit curious about who your real blood relatives are (and are not) today is the day to stick that cotton swab in your cheek and find out. DNA testing will help you identify cousins you never even knew you had. It may be intimidating to think about learning who your long-lost relatives really are, but, hey! Connecting with your cousins is what National Cousins Day is all about.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL COUSINS DAY
A. Reconnect and make up
Today gives us a reason to make amends with estranged families, beginning with our cousins. Sometimes all it takes to patch things up is to just reach out and say hello. National Cousins Day is an excuse to call, email, or track down those long-lost cousins on social media. Regardless of the outcome, making the effort is what counts.
B. Built-in best friends
Our cousins were some of our very first best friends. We’d see them during family get-togethers, share gossip, and sneak extra snacks while our parents’ backs were turned.
C. Good vibrations
There is truth behind the age-old maxim: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Telling our favorite cousins how much we appreciate them and how special they are sending out positive vibes that boomerang right back to us. Everyone likes to feel special.
References:
“National Cousins Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-cousins-day/