Cousins Day

Cousins Day History

Cousins Day is an annual observance aimed at celebrating the special bond between cousins in families. The purpose of this day is to recognize the role that cousins play in our lives and to strengthen the bond between extended family members. Cousins often serve as friends, confidants, and playmates during childhood, while providing support and encouragement throughout one's life. This observance encourages people to connect with and cherish the relationships they have with their cousins.

Although there is no confirmed origin of Cousins Day, it is believed to have begun in the United States. South Africa is a diverse nation with numerous cultural groups, each having their distinct traditions and customs. Cousins Day bears significance in this country as it aligns with the values shared by South African communities, such as the emphasis on the importance of family and maintaining strong bonds with all family members, including cousins.

In South Africa, Cousins Day is observed informally by people who choose to connect with their cousins on this day. Families get together for reunions, picnics, or any other activity that enables them to spend quality time with one another. Sharing memories and creating new ones are key aspects of the observance. Cousins Day is celebrated annually on July 24th, providing an opportunity for South Africans to honor and appreciate the significant relationships with their cousins.

Cousins Day facts

• According to smithsonianmag.com, geneticist Yaniv Erlich was able to connect 13 million relatives around the world over the course of 5 years (2013-2018). These relatives were all mostly of European descent and their data was compiled by Erlich and his team. Using names, sex, dates and places of birth, and the dates of death, Erlich's team was able to create a data base of 5.3 million family trees.
• Despite the familial term kissing cousins, it is not a day for kissing your cousins. The term usually refers to a distant relative who is familiar enough to be greeted with a kiss.
• Some genetics experts say that cousins share about 12.5% of their DNA if they are first cousins, about 3.13% if they are second cousins, and about 0.78% if they are third cousins.
• The Ubuntu philosophy widely practiced in South Africa teaches that a person is only a person through their relationships with others, which includes cousins.
• Among the Xhosa people, paternal and maternal cousins hold different positions in the family hierarchy and have separate terms to address each other.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for Cousins Day

Top things to do in South Africa for Cousins Day

• Host a family reunion. You might see cousins that you haven't seen in a while. You may even meet new ones.
• Try discovering your own family tree. You can search by name and birthplace to see if you have any family out there that you didn't know about.
• Take a road trip with your cousins along the scenic Garden Route, stopping at coastal towns and natural vistas.
• Enjoy the sun with your cousins at popular beaches such as Camps Bay in Cape Town, Umhlanga in Durban, or Muizenberg in Cape Town.