Cousins Day

Cousins Day History

Cousins Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the special relationships we have with our cousins. It provides the opportunity for extended family members to connect, reminisce about childhood memories, and strengthen the familial bonds that are uniquely shared among cousins. Thought to be a valuable time for both children and adults to maintain ties with their extended families, this day plays an important role in fostering a sense of belonging and unity.

It is widely believed that Cousins Day began as a grassroots movement in the United States, with families taking it upon themselves to create a space in which to honor the relationships they share with their cousins. This observance has become increasingly popular across America, as people recognize the importance of preserving and nurturing these precious family connections. Cousins Day serves as a reminder to Americans about the value of staying connected with extended family members, who can offer an additional layer of support and companionship beyond the immediate family unit.

In the United States, Cousins Day is observed on July 24th each year. People choose various ways to celebrate, ranging from hosting family gatherings or reunions, to making phone calls, sending cards, or using social media to reach out to their cousins. No matter how Americans choose to observe Cousins Day, its true purpose remains consistent: fostering and strengthening the bond among family members who share a unique and special connection.

Cousins Day facts & quotes

• According to smithsonianmag.com, geneticist Yaniv Erlich was able to connect 13 million relatives around the world over the course of 5 years (2013-2018). These relatives were all mostly of European descent and their data was compiled by Erlich and his team. Using names, sex, dates and places of birth, and the dates of death, Erlich's team was able to create a data base of 5.3 million family trees.
• Despite the familial term kissing cousins, it is not a day for kissing your cousins. The term usually refers to a distant relative who is familiar enough to be greeted with a kiss.
• Some genetics experts say that cousins share about 12.5% of their DNA if they are first cousins, about 3.13% if they are second cousins, and about 0.78% if they are third cousins.
• It is estimated that 0.2% of marriages in the United States are between individuals who are second cousins or closer.
• Cousins are people that are ready made friends - Courtney Cox

In the News and Trending in the US for Cousins Day

Top things to do in the US for Cousins Day

• Host a family reunion. You might see cousins that you haven't seen in a while. You may even meet new ones.
• Try discovering your own family tree. You can search by name and birthplace to see if you have any family out there that you didn't know about.
• Watch a feel-good movie about the importance of family. Here are our suggestions:
  The Croods: A New Age (2020)
  Coco (2017)
  Moana (2016)
• Plan a family reunion or a picnic in a local park. Enjoy quality time with your cousins and other relatives, playing games, having a barbecue, and sharing stories.