National Cousins Day on July 24th recognizes the lifelong relationships that grow among cousins. Our first friendships often form with cousins as young as infants and endure a lifetime. 

Whether cousins grow up together in close-knit families or only see each other occasionally, they share common memories through grandparents, aunts, and uncles. At family gatherings, cousins entertain each other and get into trouble together, too. They celebrate birthdays and might even blow out the other’s candles to their cousin’s annoyance. When their siblings irritate them, cousins become an ally. Sometimes cousins seem more like siblings, especially if they’re only children.

As cousins grow up, watching their children grow reminds them of their youth. And that’s when the cycle begins anew.