Mark your calendars. National Best Friends Day hits every year on June 8. It’s that one day where the internet explodes with throwback photos, sappy captions, and those "ugly" selfies that only your closest circle is allowed to see. But honestly, most people scramble to find the date on June 7 because they’ve forgotten if it’s in June or August.
It's June 8. Write it down.
We all have that one person. The one who knows exactly why you’re annoyed before you even open your mouth. The person who has seen you at your absolute worst—flu-ridden, heartbroken, or just plain cranky—and decided to stay anyway. That’s what this day is for. It isn't just about a hashtag; it’s about acknowledging the weird, vital, often messy glue that holds our lives together. Friendship isn't just a social luxury. Science actually says it’s a biological necessity. Research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that adults with strong social support have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure, and even an unhealthy body mass index (BMI).
Why June 8? The Origins of National Best Friends Day
You’d think a holiday this popular would have some ancient, storied history, right? Maybe a decree from a king or a massive historical event? Not exactly.
The holiday actually traces back to a hearing in the US Congress in 1935. They were looking to designate certain days for celebration, and June 8 was chosen to honor close friendships. It was a pretty low-key affair for decades. Then the internet happened. Social media turned a quiet commemorative day into a global phenomenon. Now, companies like Hallmark and various floral delivery services lean into it, but the heart of it remains the same: it's a day for the person you call at 2:00 AM.
Wait, don’t confuse it with International Friendship Day. That’s a different beast entirely. The United Nations officially recognizes International Friendship Day on July 30, focusing more on the idea of peace between peoples, countries, and cultures. While National Best Friends Day is more about your "person," the July date is about the global community. Some countries, like India and the UAE, celebrate it on the first Sunday of August. It's confusing, sure. But hey, more reasons to grab a drink with your friends, right?
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The Health Benefits of Having a "Bestie"
Loneliness is literally toxic. The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has spent years sounding the alarm on the "epidemic of loneliness and isolation." He’s pointed out that a lack of social connection is as damaging to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That is a terrifying statistic.
When you have a best friend, your body reacts differently to stress. There’s a study often cited in psychology circles—conducted at the University of Virginia—where researchers put participants in a stressful situation (an MRI machine where they might receive a mild electric shock). If the person held the hand of a stranger, their brain showed some relief. But if they held the hand of a friend? The stress response in the brain plummeted. Literally, just the presence of a friend changes your neurological chemistry.
- Friends increase your sense of belonging and purpose.
- They boost your happiness and reduce your stress.
- They improve your self-confidence and self-worth.
- They help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, or the loss of a loved one.
- They encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise.
It's not just about "hanging out." It's about survival.
Social Media and the Modern Celebration
On June 8, your Instagram feed is going to be a mess. You’ll see the "How it started vs. How it’s going" posts. You’ll see the long-winded paragraphs that probably should have been a private text message. But that’s the charm of National Best Friends Day. It’s a public declaration of "This is my person."
Celebrities get in on it too. Over the years, we’ve seen iconic friend duos like Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, or the Friends cast members, post tributes that go viral instantly. It’s a moment of humanity in a digital world that often feels artificial. Even if you think it’s "cringe," there’s something undeniably sweet about seeing people celebrate loyalty.
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Common Misconceptions About Best Friendships
We’ve been sold this "BFF" myth that says a best friend is someone you never fight with and who agrees with you on everything. That’s total nonsense. Real friendship—the kind worth celebrating on June 8—is often forged in conflict.
- The "Soulmate" Myth: Many people think you only get one. Wrong. You can have different best friends for different stages of life—the work bestie, the childhood friend, the person you met in a hobby group three years ago.
- The "Always Together" Myth: Proximity doesn't define closeness. Long-distance best friendships are often some of the most resilient because they require intentional effort.
- The "No Conflict" Myth: If you never fight, you probably aren't being honest. Best friends are the ones who can tell you that you're being a jerk and then go get tacos with you twenty minutes later.
How to Actually Celebrate National Best Friends Day
Look, you don't need to buy an expensive gift. This isn't Valentine's Day. It’s about the connection.
If you're looking for ways to actually mark the day beyond a quick post on your Story, try being a bit more specific. Send a voice note. Tell them one specific thing they did this year that really helped you. Better yet, do something "low stakes." Go for a walk. Play a video game together. Order the exact same takeout from two different cities and eat it while on FaceTime.
The goal is to reinforce the bond. Life gets fast. Work gets heavy. Kids, mortgages, and general "adulting" often push friendships to the back burner. June 8 is the reminder to move them back to the front.
The Science of Adult Friendships
Making friends as an adult is notoriously hard. In school, you’re forced into a room with people your age for eight hours a day. It’s a friendship incubator. As an adult, you have to be an architect.
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According to a study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships by Professor Jeffrey Hall, it takes about 50 hours of time together to move from "acquaintance" to "casual friend." To get to "best friend" status? You’re looking at over 200 hours. That is a massive investment of time.
This is why National Best Friends Day matters. It honors that 200-hour-plus investment. It’s a celebration of the time you didn't spend working or sleeping or scrolling, but instead spent building a shared history with another human being.
Navigating Friendship Breakups
We don't talk about this enough. Sometimes June 8 rolls around and it hurts because that person isn't in your life anymore. Friendship breakups can be more devastating than romantic ones because we don't have a cultural roadmap for them.
If you've lost a best friend, use the day to reflect on what you learned from them. Not every friendship is meant to be a "forever" thing. Some are "seasonal." They showed up when you needed them, or you showed up when they did, and then the paths diverged. That doesn't make the memories less real. It just means the role of "best friend" is currently open for a new applicant.
Actionable Steps for June 8
Don't let the day pass without doing something. You don't need a grand gesture. Here is how to handle National Best Friends Day like a pro:
- Audit your circle. Take a second to realize who actually showed up for you this year. Those are the people who deserve your energy.
- Send the "Random Memory" text. Instead of a generic "Happy Best Friends Day," send a text that starts with "Remember that time we..." It’s personal and hits way harder.
- Plan a "Future Thing." Friendships thrive on "anticipatory joy." Book a concert, a dinner, or even just a Zoom call for two weeks from now. Give the friendship a spot on the calendar.
- Forgive the small stuff. If you’ve been holding a weird grudge over a text they didn't return, let it go. Reach out first. Life is too short to lose a good one over a minor lapse in communication.
National Best Friends Day is June 8. It’s a Tuesday, or a Saturday, or a Thursday depending on the year—but the date never changes. Use it to keep your circle tight and your mental health in check.
Next Steps for Strengthening Your Bonds
- Schedule a recurring check-in: Set a monthly "no-cancel" date with your closest friend to ensure life doesn't get in the way of your connection.
- Practice active listening: Next time you talk, focus entirely on their perspective without planning your response; this deepens the intimacy of the friendship significantly.
- Engage in a shared "Third Space": Find a hobby or location (like a specific coffee shop or an online game) that belongs specifically to your friendship, creating a dedicated environment for your bond to flourish.