National Siblings Day 2024: when is it, how can you celebrate, and who created it?
National Siblings Day every year on April 10 reminds us to honour our siblings given that they are a vital part of our families and lives.
Like Mother's Day and Father's Day, the event is celebrated worldwide to express how much your family means to you.
National Siblings Day was the biggest yet last year, reaching 37.4 million across social media. This was a 270 per cent increase from the year before. Many siblings took to social media to share their stories, photos, and memories.
To join the conversation this year, use these hashtags: #NationalSiblingsDay2024 #ItsaSiblingThing.
Here’s everything else you need to know about National Siblings Day 2024.
What is National Siblings Day?
The day celebrates and strengthens the bond shared by siblings.
When did it start?
An American woman called Claudia Evart founded National Siblings Day. Ms Evart had lost her sister Lisette and older brother Alan when she was a young child. The former paralegal developed a national holiday to remember them.
Her sister's birthday, April 10, falls on the day she selected.
Since she started the Siblings Day Foundation in 1997, Ms Evart has served as its president.
“I have dedicated my life to ensuring the bond of brother and sister is forever recognised as the special gift it is,” she said.
Since 400 BC, Hindus have observed Raksha Bandhan to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters. Hindu women tie a band around their brothers’ wrists, symbolising that the sister will protect them.
The brothers give a gift in return, agreeing to protect and care for each other. The festival has ancient origins but is still popular — it is the earliest known celebration of siblings.
Which sibling has it best?
Debate over which sibling in the birth order is preferred in the family has gone on for as long as anyone can remember. The subject has been investigated in numerous research projects throughout the years. According to Mumsnet research published in 2018, parents favour their youngest child.
Eldest daughters generally have the worst luck among siblings, according to the unofficial eldest daughter syndrome. The recent TikTok trend is “the unofficial, unpaid role of managing the family dynamic, foisted upon women from a young age because they have the emotional intelligence and age advantage — or rather, disadvantage”, according to a previous Evening Standard article.
Things you can do to celebrate
Sibs, the UK charity for brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults, has ideas on its website to help you mark the occasion.
These are:
Tell a non-sibling acquaintance about a proud moment with your sibling and explain why it is important to you.
You can raise awareness and discuss the value of siblings using the charity’s National Siblings Day Zoom/Teams background on your video calls in April.
Bring out childhood pictures and place them somewhere you can look at them often.
Write, call, or record a voice message to send to your sibling no matter where they may be.
List three unique aspects of your sibling connection, such as an inside joke that no one else would know.