Learn more fun facts on the National Cousins Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Relationship
- Tags:
- AppreciationFamilyLove
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 24
- Holiday emoji:
- 🫂
National Cousins Day arrives every July 24, offering a perfect opportunity to celebrate those unique family members we call cousins. From childhood adventures to shared family history, cousins often become our first friends and confidantes. Reach out, plan a reunion, or simply reminisce about the good old days.
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Expected National Cousins Day Deals
While specific 2027 promotions are still emerging, National Cousins Day typically inspires family-focused deals. Look for discounts on group activities at places like Dave & Buster’s or Main Event Entertainment, perfect for a cousin reunion. Retailers such as Target and Walmart may offer sales on board games, outdoor gear, or personalized gifts. Restaurants like Olive Garden or Applebee’s often feature family meal bundles or special offers for larger parties. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 24 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Cousins Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalCousinsDay. Share throwback photos with your cousins or recent reunion pics, asking followers to tag their favorite cousins.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalCousinsDay. Create a fun video montage of cousin memories set to a trending sound, or challenge others to share their funniest cousin stories.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalCousinsDay. Post a poll asking users about their favorite cousin traditions or share heartwarming stories of cousin connections.
National Cousins Day Hero
Alex Haley
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 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 timeline
Louisa May Alcott published her novel titled “Eight Cousins.”
Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” debuted on NBC, about a young man who moves in with his aunt, uncle, and cousins.
Indie Band, Vampire Weekend, released their popular single called “Cousins.”
Tom Hanks, who played Mister Rogers in the 2019 film, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” learned that he and Mister Rogers are 6th cousins.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Cousins Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Cousins Day by offering family-friendly promotions and activities. Restaurants could feature ‘Cousin Combo’ meal deals or host trivia nights designed for family teams. Entertainment venues like bowling alleys or mini-golf courses can offer group discounts for cousin gatherings. Retailers might curate gift guides for cousins, focusing on personalized items or shared experiences, encouraging families to reconnect and create new memories.
Traditions of the Day
Blessed are those who have cousins that double as best friends. Cherish this bond on National Cousin Day! Head out, have adventures, dine at your favorite eatery, or just be yourself and laze around your room with them, because cousins are among the few people who you can completely be yourself around.
If you have memorable photographs from your childhood with your cousin squad, consider re-enacting and snapping a new one with the same poses and similar outfits, and share it on social media!
By the Numbers
25 – the number of U.S. states in which it is illegal to marry your first cousin.
1650-1850 – during this time the average married couple was fourth cousins.
0.20% – the percentage of DNA shared by fourth cousins.
0.78% – the percentage of DNA shared by third cousins.
3.13% – the percentage of DNA shared by second cousins.
12.5% – the percentage of DNA shared by first cousins.
5 – the number of first cousins the average British person has.
1,570 – the number of fourth cousins the average British person has.
4,514 – the Guinness World Record for the largest family reunion, held in France in 2012.
13 million – the number of people in the world’s largest family tree.
National Cousins Day FAQs
When is National Cousins Day?
National Cousins Day 2026 falls on Friday, July 24, providing a perfect end-of-week opportunity to celebrate your extended family.
How many cousins do people typically have?
The number of cousins varies widely, but a 2014 study found the average American has around 10 first cousins. This number can grow significantly when including second and third cousins.
Is National Cousins Day a recognized holiday?
While not a federal holiday, National Cousins Day is widely recognized and celebrated across the United States as a cultural observance. It gains traction annually through social media and family gatherings.
What is the difference between a first, second, and third cousin?
First cousins share a set of grandparents, meaning their parents are siblings. Second cousins share a set of great-grandparents, and third cousins share great-great-grandparents.
National Cousins Day Activities
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
Host a digital National Cousins Day reunion
If your cousins live on the opposite coast or 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.
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.
Five Curious Facts About Cousin Relationships
Six degrees of separation
A study by AncestryDNA revealed that the average Brit has more than 193,000 living cousins (6th cousin or closer) We’re not sure if the average American has this many living cousins, but it makes us wonder how many of us have unwittingly dated one of our cousins.
All in the family
Talent often runs in families, and that is true of celebrities. Some talented celebrity cousins we’ve admired over the years: Singers Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick are first cousins, Singer Snoop Dogg is the first cousin of singer Brandy, actress Sissy Spacek and actor Rip Torn are first cousins, and here’s an odd pair: actress Lauren Bacall and Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres are first cousins
Maybe not all in the family
It is legal to marry your second cousin in all fifty states …but not your first cousin in most states.
Double Cousins
Apparently double cousins are a thing! If two brothers marry two sisters, their children are considered double first cousins.
Second cousins
Your second cousin is someone who shares the same great-grandparent as you but not the same grandparent.
Why We Love National Cousins Day
Reconnect and make up
Today gives us a reason to make amends with estranged family, 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 outcome, making the effort is what counts.
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.
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 sends out positive vibes that boomerang right back to us. Everyone likes to feel special.
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