National Best Friends Day

One Day You Should Absolutely Keep

National Best Friends Day lands every year on 8 June. And if you’ve got a mate who’s stuck by you through questionable haircuts, family drama, and dodgy online dating choices, then this is the day to give them their well-deserved round of applause. Ideally with coffee, cake and a decent playlist.

Because here is the thing. In a world that is getting noisier and lonelier by the minute, friendship is not just a feel-good extra. It is survival gear.

The Surprisingly Rich History Behind National Best Friends Day

Do not let the cheerful hashtags fool you. National Best Friends Day was not dreamed up by a greeting card company on a slow Wednesday. No one would blame you for thinking so.

Many sources say it began in 1935, when the U.S. Congress supposedly picked 8 June to celebrate friendship. But here is the twist. There is no official record, law, or resolution to prove it ever happened. It is the folklore of modern holidays. Widely believed, endlessly shared, and utterly unverifiable.

Still, the day has stuck. It has grown into a global excuse to appreciate your people. And honestly? Whether it came from lawmakers or lunchrooms, it works.

Since then, it has spread far beyond American borders. The UK, Canada, India and many others now get in on the act, with everything from friendship festivals to café deals for pairs. In some places, you will even find group hugs in parks. Public displays of affection? Yes. Public displays of appreciation? Absolutely.

You might have also stumbled across offshoots like Friendship Day, Women’s Friendship Day, or the wonderfully titled Old Friends, New Friends Week. Turns out, we are really into this whole human connection thing.

Thanks to the rise of social media, it has become a major photo-sharing, memory-tagging, caption-writing affair. Type #NationalBestFriendsDay into Instagram and you will find everything from heartfelt tributes to dogs in matching jumpers.

Why Best Friends Are More Than Just a Nice Idea

Let us not get too clinical, but yes. Science is on board with friendship.

Researchers have shown that having a best mate lowers stress, reduces the risk of anxiety and depression, and boosts longevity. Yes, you literally live longer.

It is not just about swapping secrets or bingeing bad TV. Friendship acts as a kind of emotional scaffolding. When life gets wobbly, and it does, your best friend is the one who shows up with snacks and sarcasm.

And here is something most people do not say out loud. Friendships often outlast romantic relationships. They weather babies, breakups, career meltdowns and the occasional existential crisis. Best of all? There is usually no need to coordinate wardrobes or argue about where to hang the bathroom towels.

So What Exactly Are We Celebrating on National Best Friends Day?

It is not just the inside jokes (though they help). Or the annual birthday WhatsApp messages that read like cryptic poetry.

National Best Friends Day is about recognising that rare, quietly powerful bond. The one that does not need daily check-ins to stay strong. That friendship where silence is not awkward, and support does not come with strings.

It is also a bit of a nudge. A reminder to tell the people you love that, well… you love them. Because as much as we all like to think our friends know how much they matter, saying it out loud matters more.

If your celebration includes cake or an unplanned karaoke session, even better.

It is Not Just 8 June Anymore

The beauty of National Best Friends Day is that it is flexible.

Some go for quiet chats over coffee. Others throw themed parties or post nostalgic collages featuring hairstyles they would rather forget.

It fits every type of friendship. Childhood mates who have seen your awkward phases. Work friends who make Mondays bearable. Chosen family who show up when your actual family is on another planet. Even online besties you have never met in person but trust with your most ridiculous memes.

It is not a one-size-fits-all kind of day. It is permission to celebrate your people however it feels right.

Simple Ways to Celebrate National Best Friends Day

Not every celebration needs to involve glitter or prosecco. Though both have their place. If you are stuck for ideas, send a message that is more than “You good?” Write something real. A short note, a silly poem or a memory that still makes you laugh.

Revisit an old tradition, even if it is just a walk to the same old park bench. Try something new together. A class, a challenge, or that obscure local museum neither of you has visited.

You can also curate a playlist of songs that define your friendship. Bonus points for including a truly awful one for laughs. Or post a throwback if they are cool with it, and include why that moment still matters.

If distance is a thing, a video call with biscuits and wine works wonders. Sometimes the best gift is just your full, undivided attention.

Speaking of Gifts

Now, onto best friend gift ideas. Please, no mugs that say “You’re my person” unless they specifically asked for one.

The best presents are personal. That does not mean expensive, just intentionally chosen.

• Custom keepsakes like photo books, hand-drawn maps of shared adventures, or printed inside jokes
• Experience gifts such as a concert, escape room, or voucher for your favourite café

Or skip the stuff entirely and plan a shared moment instead. Sometimes, a well-timed “I have booked the afternoon, let us do nothing” is the ultimate act of friendship.

Why Celebrating Friendship is Not Just Sentimental Nonsense

There is a bigger picture here. In a time when loneliness is being called an epidemic, days like National Best Friends Day do something vital.

They normalise emotional connection. They make it okay, even cool, to say, “Hey, you matter to me.” They remind us that support is not always about big gestures. It is often found in small, consistent kindnesses.

Friendship is a form of quiet resistance against the transactional, hyper-curated world. It is real. It is messy. It is made of inside jokes and awkward truths and unconditional presence.

It is worth celebrating. Not just once a year, but whenever the moment calls for it.

The Commercial Side

Let us not pretend companies have not jumped on the bandwagon. Retailers love a theme and 8 June is prime time for friendship-themed offers.

You will find cards with glittery puns, buy-one-get-one-free lunch deals, and matching charm bracelets (still a thing, apparently).

While that might sound cynical, it is not all bad. A small, tangible reminder of friendship can be powerful. Especially for those who do not say it often.

Just remember, it is the meaning, not the merchandise, that matters.

What Happens After 8 June?

Hopefully, not much changes. Because one of the nicest things to take from National Best Friends Day is the idea that friendships should be nurtured year-round.

A message out of the blue in September? Lovely. A midweek coffee catch-up in January? Soul-saving. A meme at 2am when they are awake worrying? Priceless.

Friendship does not run on a calendar. But it does benefit from reminders.

Use 8 June as a moment of reflection. Ask yourself: who shows up for me, and how can I show up better for them?

Final Thoughts on Why National Best Friends Day Deserves Its Place

National Best Friends Day is more than a trend or a hashtag. It is a gentle reminder of the people who make us feel seen, heard and understood in a world that often forgets how much that matters.

It celebrates the laughter, the loyalty, the quiet nights in and the epic moments out. It honours the friend who always checks in, the one who challenges you kindly and the one who never needs you to pretend.

So yes, shout about your best mate. Post the photo. Send the text. Organise the lunch.

Because celebrating friendship, even once a year, ripples out into something bigger.

And if you are lucky enough to have a best friend who feels like home, then National Best Friends Day is your official excuse to tell them they matter. On 8 June and every day after.

National Best Friends Day reminds us that in the end, it is not the flashy moments but the real friendships that shape our lives most deeply.