Best Friend Day: Date, History & Gift Ideas

If you love and value your friends, you may want to recognize Best Friend Day this year so you can show them. Too often, we minimize the importance of our platonic relationships in favor of our romantic ones. Yes, our romantic partners (if we have them) matter as well, but you can’t underestimate the value of a good friend. Whether you’ve been friends for twenty years or twenty minutes, they’re making a positive impact on your life.

But wait, is Best Friend’s Day really a holiday? Why haven’t you heard of it before? It’s one of those “smaller” holidays that you may only notice if you’re paying close attention to the right calendar, but that doesn’t make it less valid. And anyway, who doesn’t want an excuse to spend time with friends?

We’re here to talk about a few different friendship-related holidays, as well as give you ideas on how to recognize Best Friend’s Day this year. Read on to learn more!

Jump to Section

• National Best Friend Day Vs World Best Friend Day Vs Friendship Day
• World Mental Health Day [October 10]
• Best Friend Day Wishes
• National Best Friend Day Gifts

National Best Friend Day Vs World Best Friend Day Vs Friendship Day

Did you know there are multiple holidays for celebrating friendship? What is the real date of Best Friend Day, anyway? Are each of the friendship holidays really the same with different names? Is October 1st best friends day? What about February 14th? Or perhaps December 4th? Let’s talk about it. 

National Best Friend Day

Both National Best Friend Day and World Best Friend Day are celebrated on June 8th. While they share the same date, the scope and focus of these celebrations differ slightly. National Best Friend Day tends to be more widely recognized in the United States, and it’s meant to emphasize the importance of having a best friend in one's life. It's a day to appreciate those special friends who provide unwavering support, trust, and companionship and otherwise improve our lives.

World Best Friend Day

World Best Friend Day, on the other hand, adds an international dimension to the celebrations. It's an opportunity to acknowledge the universal value of having a best friend, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. This day encourages people to reach out to their best friends, express gratitude, and strengthen their bonds. If you’re someone who has international friends, perhaps it makes more sense for you to celebrate World Best Friend Day so you can celebrate together, but again, the date is the same. 

Both National Best Friend Day and World Best Friend Day serve as reminders to nurture and prioritize our closest friendships. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in our busy lives and neglect our relationships, even despite how connected we all are via technology. These little “holidays” encourage us to take a step back, appreciate our best friends, and invest time and effort in maintaining these precious bonds.

Friendship Day

Friendship Day, however, is different. It’s observed on different dates worldwide, but in the United States and some other countries, it's celebrated on the first Sunday of August. Other countries have it in late July. The point of the day is the same, however. It’s a time to celebrate your friends! Perhaps you can be more inclusive on Friendship Day and broaden your celebration to new friends and even acquaintances you’d like to be better friends with. 

World Mental Health Day [October 10]

Wait wait wait, what if Google said World Best Friend Day is October 10th? Well, Google isn’t always correct, especially when it comes to its AI suggestions. If that’s the answer you’re getting, however, there is a reasonable explanation. 

World Mental Health Day, not World Best Friend Day, is observed annually on October 10th. The day aims to raise awareness about mental health issues worldwide and mobilize efforts to support mental health. It's an important opportunity to promote understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations about mental health. Mental healthcare is often a taboo subject in some countries, so this day is important. But why does Google sometimes think it’s World Best Friends Day?

Interestingly, some cultures might associate June 8th with mental health discussions due to its connection to friendships, given the importance of friendships in maintaining good mental health. Friendships can provide emotional support, reduce stress, and increase feelings of belonging. While friends aren’t (and shouldn’t be) used as therapists, they can dramatically improve one’s mental health and quality of life. It makes sense, then, that some people would conflate the two holidays.

However, it's essential to note that the official World Mental Health Day is indeed October 10th, not June 8th, which is sometimes confused with celebrations of friendships or best friends. October 10th serves as a dedicated day to focus specifically on mental health awareness and advocacy, and that’s too important to confuse it with another holiday like Best Friend Day.

Best Friend Day Wishes

Are you ready to send your friends some positive vibes for Best Friend Day? This is a great opportunity to improve your writing skills, be brave and send some good energy to people you care about via the power of the written (or typed) word. Let’s break down how to do it. 

How To Write a Best Friend Day Wish

Depending on how close you are to this friend, this can be a super casual or more formal. It’s ultimately up to you and your comfort level. 

1. To get started, begin your letter or note with a warm greeting. It doesn’t have to be formal, especially if this is a close friend or a friend you see often. Even a simple “Hey [Name]!” is suitable for this type of note. You can use your friend's name or a special nickname that’s exclusive to your friendship.
2. Next, think about a fond memory you've shared together, like a fun time you had or a moment that made you laugh, and describe it in detail. This will help your friend relive the moment and feel special. People love knowing that they’re being thought of and remembered, and getting specific will let them know that this is a personal note rather than one you’re reusing. 
3. As you write, express your gratitude for having your friend in your life. Mention specific qualities or traits that you admire and appreciate about them. What is it that brought you two together in the first place, anyway? Don’t be afraid to get a bit mushy.
4. You can also add a personal touch by including an inside joke, a quote or a song that you both love. This will make your message more personal and meaningful.

Don't worry too much about grammar or spelling. Your friend will value the effort you put into writing to them. Keep it concise or go all out, it's up to you! Your friend will appreciate the thought, regardless of the length. If you care about grammar and spelling, you can always have a friend look at it or put a typed note through a program like Grammarly to catch any mistakes. 

What’s most important is that you’re being genuine and sincere in your writing. Your friend will appreciate your honesty and thoughtfulness. So, take a moment to reflect on your friendship and write from the heart. Your friend will treasure your words and feel loved and appreciated on this special day. 

So, what are some phrases and wishes you can use in your note?

Short, Sweet and to the Point

These are some great quick messages for any type of friend, regardless of how casual or close. They’re great for putting on tags or postcards because of their brevity. You can also sprinkle them into longer notes to add some extra pizazz. 

• “Happy Best Friend Day! You're the best thing that's happened to me."
• "You're more than just a friend, you're family."
• "Thanks for being my rock, my confidant, and my partner in crime."
• “[Number of years you’ve been friends] of friendship, many more to come.”

Funny and Lighthearted

This is where you can get a bit creative and modify your ideas to match your friendship and history together. For example, come up with two things that go together based on your own experiences instead of using our examples of peanut butter and jelly or merlot and pizza. These are simply jumping-off points. 

• "I'm so lucky to have you as my best friend. You're the peanut butter to my jelly, the Merlot to my pizza night."
• "I'm not saying you're the best friend ever, but I'm pretty sure the award was made just for you."
• "You're the reason I don't eat cereal for dinner alone every night. Thanks for being my partner in crime and shenanigans!"
• "You're the only friend I'd share my pizza with,  and that's saying a lot!"
• “Thanks for hating the same things as me.”

Get creative here. Only you know your friend’s sense of humor, so customize your messages. If they seem a bit “cringe” to you, make adjustments until they feel true to your personality and your friendship. 

Personalized and Heartfelt

This is another area in which you’ll need to make some edits. Here are a few good starting points for personalized messages that relate directly to your friendship and history with the other person. You could even put in one of the top best friend quotes to personalize it even more.

• "You're the one person who knows all my secrets, and I'm grateful you like me anyway."
• "Our late-night chats are my favorite part of the day."
• "I'm so glad we met [insert how you met] and became the best of friends."
• "You're the first person I call when I need advice or just need to vent."
• "Remember that time [insert funny memory]? I'll never forget it."

National Best Friend Day Gifts

Gifts aren’t necessary on National Best Friend Day, but they are nice. If you or your friend’s love language is gifts, why not get them a little treat? After all, spending money on gifts can make the giver feel good as well, according to an article published by the University of Arizona, so you’ll also be giving a gift to yourself.

But what do you get them? This isn’t a formal gift-giving holiday and you don’t want to make anyone feel awkward! There are a few ways to go about it.

Ideas for Best Friend Day Gifts

Gifts for groups of friends: You can host a Favorite Things party with a group of friends so no one person feels put on the spot. You each bring a collection of Favorite Things gifts to disperse amongst the party-goers. These tend to be inexpensive and relatively casual, so it’s great for groups on a budget and who feel uncomfortable buying personalized gifts. We get it, gift-giving can feel a bit too intimate sometimes! 

Personalized gifts: If you’re comfortable with gift-giving one-on-one, there are plenty of gifts for best friends to choose from. While you know your best friend best, it can be difficult to think of something hyper-personalized. Keep your friend’s interest in mind and try to get them something they wouldn’t likely buy for themself.

Gifts for those who have it all: Sometimes you run into an issue where someone gets themself everything they want. We do conveniently have a list of gifts for people who have everything, so if you’re struggling, check it out! Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to buying something for your friend.

Long distance: If your friend is long-distance or you want a gift that keeps on giving, subscription boxes also make a great option. Food subscription boxes, for example, are especially helpful for busy friends or friends that are new parents.

Gift cards: When in doubt, don’t be afraid to give gift cards. They’re easy and they allow your friends to choose what they spend their money on. If you want to gift a specific type of experience, our Classpop! Gift Cards allow you to give the gift of learning to friends all over. Whether they’re taking photography classes in Atlanta, doing a paint and sip in the Bay Area, taking cooking classes in Chicago or trying candle making in Dallas, they’ll be doing it with the help of your gift cards. Gift yourself a few experiences while you’re at it! Or better yet, go experience together.

So, how are you going to spend this special and under-recognized little holiday? Best Friend’s Day may be quickly approaching. Why not make plans to spend it together with your closest friends? Make a day of it! 

For even more gift ideas for your besties, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!