Best Friends Day

Best Friends Day on June 8th is an opportunity to celebrate your best friend and let them know how important they are to you.

Life wouldn't be the same without best friends. They are people you can count on to be there right away. People, who love, laugh, support and cherish in both good and bad times.

Friendship is an indelible bond that binds many people together in beautiful ways. Celebrating best friends’ day is just one of the ways you can acknowledge your great betrayal and show them how much you love them.

Take a moment right now to think of an important person who will always be there for you no matter what. They are the people you want to go on vacation with, you turn to them when you are having trouble in your relationships and you always want to share secrets with them.

A best friend is someone with whom you will even share your last cookie. They are the Batman to your Robin, the way to your spice, and the sand of the sea! Who is that person to you? Chances are the person that comes to your mind first and foremost is definitely your best friend.

History of Best Friends Day

We have our own country to thank for this happy holiday. In 1935, the United States Congress assembled to dedicate a day each year to honor close friends. They chose June 8th, which is usually a sunny day in all parts of the country, perfect for outdoor activities. Since then, other countries have applied it. Some even hold festivals to celebrate their chosen family.

The holiday has led to a number of other friendship-themed celebrations, including Friendship Day, Women's Friendship Day, and even a week known as Old Friends, New Friends Week. It is amazing that almost friendship celebrations take place in the summer.

While the holiday seems to have fallen out of popularity over the years, it has seen a recent increase in engagement since the advent of social media. Now, on June 8 every year, people flock to post hilarious pictures of themselves with their dearest friends. The recognizable hashtag tag #nationalbestfriendsday allows users to witness how many Instagram, Facebook and Twitter users are celebrating with them.

Traditions for this holiday vary. No two (or more) best friends share the same traditions; it is unique to everyone. The pranks that best friends can only enjoy and share between themselves, including memorable adventures, fun gatherings, and even heartwarming jokes. These traditions are based on National Best Friends Day.

There are lowly popular traditions - just hang out and relax at home watching a movie with friends, or go to the mall or your favorite coffee shop together. And then there are more elaborate ways to celebrate this day with your best friends like dressing up and going out to paint the city red or eating a hearty dinner. Gifts are also exchanged including locks or scrapbooks from best friends to strengthen friendships and remind each other of the special bond, no matter how much time has passed.

Some facts about America’s best friends

• Some have paw

That's right, 19% of US citizens surveyed affirm that their most loyal friends are their dogs, while 9% admit that their cats mean the most. Time to pull out kibble and catnip! These furry friends deserve a little love this holiday.

• We meet them young

Most close friendships are formed in childhood. When asked, 70% of respondents said they found their life partner in elementary school, middle school or high school.

• They keep us healthy

Studies show that having a trusted friend in our lives can reduce stress and improve our immune system. Sharing our burdens with a stable companion seems to dramatically improve quality of life.

• There is more than one

As we go through life stages, it's perfectly normal to have more than one close relationship. From childhood friends to college party partners, many Americans consider their close friend circle to be a stretch of a person's past.

• They stand the test of time

Many of the best friendships outlast our marriages, cross-country travels, and even our parents. The magic of pure love can withstand even the worst struggles.

Why Best Friends Day is loved

• They are the family we choose

Inevitably, the expectations and judgments of our loved ones wear us out. Fortunately, close friends are always there to ease the mood. Since we can choose our best friends, they are often compatible with our personalities and interests. They understand us, respect us, and most of all, they know when to give us space.

• They understand us

Naturally, many of our closest friends have important things in common with us. Whether they are navigating the same life stage, working in the same career field, or enamored with the same hobby, best friends simply know us better than anyone else.

• They are happy!

When it's time to let loose, best friends are always ready for an adventure. They are the people we travel with, dance with and relax with. Just like the human spa days, our best friends always know how to bring us zest.

How to celebrate Best Friends Day

• Contact your best friend

Take 30 minutes to talk with your best friend. Schedule a meeting, Face Time, or talk on the phone and keep that person up to date on all the happenings in your life. Believe us because they want to listen all about it!

• Give your best friend a gift

Buy and send a gift to your closet friend. After all the long phone calls, nights out, and crazy exes, your partner deserves a treat! We recommend a gift certificate for a spa.

• Remember the good times

Reminisce about good memories. Go through your old photos, read that tattered diary, and give your findings to your best friend. Recalling what we went through together will definitely remind you of how grateful you are for your relationship.

Situations that you and your best friend may have been through together

Here are some weird and wonderful situations in which you and your best friend might meet yourself at some point in your friendship:

You and your best friend may have gotten lost at some point. Is it really a friendship if you never end up in the middle of nowhere and can't find your final destination? Getting out of these situations is what true friendship is for you!

You may have called your best friend in a state of hysteria to let them know some great news just happened in your life. A best friend will always be excited to share the win with you!

Have you ever spent the night with your best friend on the phone without realizing how late it was? A true best friend is someone you can spend hours talking to and never run out of things to say.

At some point in your friendship, you may have called your best friend to cry about an unpleasant situation that happened in your life. Whether it's a broken relationship or an embarrassing moment at work, your partner will always be the first to know about it, that's for sure!

Have you ever been in this situation with your best friend? If so, your friendship has definitely stood the test of time and the two of you will stick together for a long time.

Whether you blow them away with a weekend getaway or you take them on a surprise shopping spree, there are so many great ways to show how much you care, this Best Friends Day!