Visit Your Relatives Day
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Overview
Visit Your Relatives Day, observed annually on May 18th, is a day dedicated to encouraging people to connect with their extended family members. It serves as a reminder to make time for those who are part of your family tree, whether through a physical visit, a phone call, or a virtual chat, fostering stronger bonds and cherishing familial relationships.
Origin and story
While its exact origins are largely informal, Visit Your Relatives Day is an unofficial observance aimed at promoting family connections.
Studies indicate that maintaining strong family ties can contribute to improved mental and emotional well-being.
Quick facts
- DateMay 18
- TypeNature / Outdoors
- Great forGardeners, Hikers, Eco clubs
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
Sociologists have a name for the work behind staying close with extended family: kinkeeping. It's the ongoing effort of remembering birthdays, organizing gatherings, and simply picking up the phone — and it turns out to matter more than most people realize.
Learn about kinkeeping
The term was coined by sociologist Carolyn Rosenthal, whose research found a designated "kinkeeper" — usually a woman between 40 and 59 — in the majority of families, quietly holding the network together. Read up on the concept and notice who plays that role in your own family.
Make the visit happen
Call, video chat, or actually drive over to see relatives you don't see often. Distance and busy schedules are the usual excuses — but kinkeeping research suggests the effort itself is what keeps family bonds from quietly fading.
Pass the role on
If you're not the one in your family who tracks birthdays and organizes reunions, use today to help out whoever is — a phone call to say thanks, or an offer to plan the next gathering yourself.
Helpful resources: The (Almost) Lost Art of Kinkeeping Makes Families Happy (Psychology Today)
Fun facts
- While its exact origins are largely informal, Visit Your Relatives Day is an unofficial observance aimed at promoting family connections.
- Studies indicate that maintaining strong family ties can contribute to improved mental and emotional well-being.
- The day encourages various forms of connection, from in-person visits to phone calls or video chats, emphasizing the importance of bridging geographical distances.
Sources and attribution
External links may lead to third-party websites.
Continue your streak
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FAQ
- When is Visit Your Relatives Day?
- It is observed on May 18 each year.
- What is Visit Your Relatives Day?
- Visit Your Relatives Day, observed annually on May 18th, is a day dedicated to encouraging people to connect with their extended family members. It serves as a reminder to make time for those who are part of your family tree, whether through a physical visit, a phone call, or a virtual chat, fostering stronger bonds and cherishing familial relationships.
- How do people celebrate Visit Your Relatives Day?
- Call or visit extended family, and learn about 'kinkeeping,' the sociological term for the ongoing work of keeping family networks connected.
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