Celebrating the Ones Who Know Us Best (and Still Stick Around)

National Best Friends Day, celebrated every June 8th, is more than just an excuse to tag someone in an embarrassing photo on social media (although that is part of the fun). It’s a day set aside to honor those wonderful human beings who accept us as we are—quirks, chaos, questionable choices, and all. These are the people who’ve seen us ugly-cry, ugly-laugh, and ugly-sneeze, and still think we’re pretty great.

They’re our chosen family, our ride-or-dies, the peanut butter to our jelly, and sometimes the tequila to our bad decisions. So let’s grab our besties, figuratively or literally, and dive into the history, meaning, and slightly ridiculous ways to celebrate this sacred day of friendship.

The Mysterious Origins of Best Friends Day

No one is quite sure who started National Best Friends Day, but we can assume they had a good friend egging them on. It likely sprouted from one of those heartwarming ideas where someone said, “We should totally have a day for best friends!” and, unlike your plans to start a book club together, this one actually happened.

Though it doesn't have a founding father or a historical document to its name, it grew in popularity thanks to social media and the universal truth that everyone loves an excuse to shout, "THIS IS MY BEST FRIEND!" in all caps.

Best friends always have a hug for each other.

Why Best Friends Are Basically Unicorns in Hoodies

Best friends are one-in-a-million, and somehow, they’re our one-in-a-million. They're the kind of people who’ve memorized our coffee orders and can decode our text tone. They’re the ones who always have gum, a reality check, and a terrible inside joke on hand at all times.

Let’s take a deeper look at what makes best friends the MVPs of our lives:

  • Unconditional Support: They’ll cheer you on whether you’re training for a marathon or marathoning an entire pizza. No judgment, just encouragement (and maybe napkins).
  • Blunt Honesty: They’re the only ones who can say, “That haircut makes you look like a broccoli floret,” and somehow you still love them for it.
  • Shared History: You have more dirt on each other than the tabloids have on celebrities—and you know it’s mutually assured destruction if either of you talks.
  • Telepathic Conversations: One raised eyebrow and you both know exactly what’s going on. It’s a sixth sense... or just years of synchronized nonsense.
  • Always in Your Corner: From breakups to breakdowns, from triumphs to Taco Tuesdays, they’re there, often with snacks and sarcasm.

How to Celebrate National Best Friends Day (Without Getting Matching Tattoos)

This day isn’t just about saying “You’re my bestie” and moving on. It’s about showing it. Here are a few ways to crank up the friendship fun:

  1. Plan a Day of Shenanigans
    Pick a day and pack it full of things you both love: a hike, a brewery crawl, a flea market haul, or just a shared nap with snacks in between.
  2. Recreate an Old Photo
    Take that cringy 2007 picture you took together and recreate it now—with the same awkward pose, same setting, and hopefully less glitter eyeshadow.
  3. Write the Letter
    Yes, with a pen. On paper. Like pioneers. Tell them how much they mean to you. Just be prepared for them to text you crying emoji faces afterward.
  4. DIY Friendship Bracelets 2.0
    Sure, you’ve grown up—but who says you can’t still craft matching jewelry like you’re 12? Upgrade with beads that spell out your inside jokes. Like “No Regerts.”
  5. Have a Bestie Movie Marathon
    From Thelma & Louise to Dumb and Dumber, binge the buddy classics. Bonus points for quoting lines together and laughing before the jokes land.

The Humorous Side of Best Friendship

Let’s be honest, friendship isn’t just built on heart-to-hearts. It’s built on hysterical misadventures and questionable decisions that somehow turned into the best memories.

  • The “No, YOU Call Them” Debacle: Whether it’s ordering pizza or confronting your neighbor about their inflatable Santa in June, your best friend is always trying to make you do the hard stuff.
  • The Midnight Food Runs: That one time you both decided it was absolutely necessary to drive across town at 12:43 AM for nachos. You bonded over grease and guilt.
  • The Dance Floor Takeover: You know the one. Your song came on. You didn’t care who was watching. The people watching... probably still talk about it.
  • The “We Should Start a Business” Moment: Whether it was selling candles, dog treats, or haunted doll tours, your business plan lasted 48 hours and ended in laughter.
  • The Meme Exchange Olympics: A best friend will send you 42 memes in a row with zero explanation. And you’ll laugh at every single one because they’re oddly specific to your life.

A Final Toast to Friendship

National Best Friends Day is a chance to appreciate the people who make life bearable, hilarious, and full of meaning. So go ahead—send the text, make the call, post the photo, or show up with their favorite snack and a “remember that time…” story ready to go.

Because in the rollercoaster of life, best friends are the ones who sit next to you screaming, laughing, and probably holding the funnel cake.

Happy National Best Friends Day! Here’s to the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly loyal souls who make our lives a whole lot brighter.