New Holidays

April 10th was National Siblings Day. It seems like there have been several newly created holidays since I was a kid. Some federal holidays have been very much needed. For example:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day became a federal holiday in 1983. Juneteenth National Holiday was finally signed into law on June 17th, 2021. I’m so thankful that our nation is acknowledging and honoring federal holidays for Dr. MLK, Jr. and Juneteenth. 

However, these are just a few of the new-ish holidays that I have only known about for a few years: 

• National Spouses Day-January 26

• National Sons Day-March 4

• National Daughters Day-September 25

• National Pets Day-April 11

The greeting card shelves were already packed. We’ve been honoring our mothers and fathers and celebrating anniversaries for decades, but now we honor siblings, spouses, sons, daughters, and pets. I wonder why. What is that about? 

Is it because the more we understand family dynamics, the more we understand the impact that our families of origin continue to have on our current lives, the more we want to try and have healthy relationships?

Is it because the more we understand the impact that our pets have on our emotional well-being, the more we understand our need to treat our pets as members of our families, the more we want to honor them with a special holiday? 

Is it because creating days to celebrate and honor those we care about is a way that we can further show our love for them?

Is it simply because greeting card businesses want to increase their sales by creating new holidays? 

Is it any of that? Is it all of that? 

I don’t know. But, I do know that I’m thankful for my sibling.