National Aunt and Uncle Day (2024)

When is National Aunt and Uncle Day 2025?

Our beloved aunts who support our decisions and uncles who crack jokes at the dinner table are celebrated on National Aunt and Uncle Day on July 26.

History of National Aunt and Uncle Day

It’s unclear exactly when National Aunt and Uncle Day was started, but it’s safe to say people have been celebrating their parent’s siblings for a long time. The word aunt is derived from the French word for the same familial relation, tante. Uncle is also derived from a french word — oncle. Both of these words start even further back in history, stemming from the Latin words amita and avunculus respectively.

Aunts and uncles have different roles in many human societies. For example, in the Ashanti tribe of Ghana, aunts and uncles are given free reign to discipline and raise their siblings’ children. They’re essentially a second set of parents, who you real parents trust the most because, well, they were raised together. In many Polynesian cultures, anyone older than you may be addressed as aunt or uncle as a term of respect and endearment. Aunts and uncles also occupy a place of importance in modern pop culture, with many famous examples across television, literature, and film. Often, these characters, such as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince, act as parental figures for their niece, nephews, and their own children, signifying their position as wise and trusted members of the family.

National Aunt and Uncle Day timeline

Traditions of the Day

Most of us have numerous aunts and uncles, and we all have our favorites. The aunt who has always given us a haircut or supported our rash decisions and tried explaining it to our mothers, and the cool, laid-back uncle who always has great stories to tell and who would give us money every time we see him. National Aunt and Uncle Day honors these extended family members.

Traditions for the day are different for everyone, depending on the nature of your relationship with your aunts and uncles. Spend the day with your favorite aunt or uncle, and maybe have your parents join in on it as well. Family dinners are also common, which of course, usually end with a ‘hilarious’ joke from our uncles.

By the Numbers

4,514 – the Guinness World Record for the largest family reunion, held in France in 2012.

13 million – the number of people in the world’s largest family tree.

6.9 – the average household size of families in Sub-Saharan Africa.

3.1 – the average household size of families in Europe.

4.9 – the average global household size.

45% – the percentage of Asians who live in extended families.

11% – the percentage of Americans who live in extended families.

58–85 million – the population increase of people living in extended families in the U.S. from 2001 to 2014.

95–87 million – the population decrease of people living in nuclear families in the U.S. from 2001 to 2014.

13% – the percentage of extended families living in central cities in the U.S.

National Aunt and Uncle Day Activities

1. Spend some quality time with your aunts and uncles

   This might seem obvious, but what better way is there to celebrate your extended family than by spending time with them?

2. Go through a photo album with them

   Dust off an old photo album and fip through it with your aunts and uncles. Find pictures of them — and your parents — as kids, and have them tell you the stories that go with them.

3. Make a family tree

   Your aunts and uncles might have better insight into your family history than you; after all, they’ve been around longer. Asking them to help you flesh out a family tree will be fun, and educational.

5 Facts About Aunts And Uncles

1. Talk about “great” aunt

   Susannah Jones, an American woman who lived to be 116 years old, had over 100 nieces and nephews at the time of her death.

2. An uncle you can’t refuse

   Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Godfather, is actor Nicholas Cage’s uncle.

3. “I want you”

   Uncle Sam, the personification of the United States, is named for Samuel Wilson, a man from New York upon whom his appearance is also based.

4. You’re moving with your auntie and uncle

   The first season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in 1990

5. Quakers and pancakes

   The Quaker Oats Company originally based their Aunt Jemima logo off of a minstrel show.

Why We Love National Aunt and Uncle Day

1. It reminds us to spend time with our family

   Today’s world is busy and distracted. It’s easy to forget to check in with family if youdon’t see them every day — so make a point of getting in touch to celebrate this holiday!

2. It makes memories that will last forever

   Taking the time to have a great day with your family is never something you’ll regret. Use today to have great times that you’ll always remember.

3. You can learn about yourself and your family

   Aunts and uncles are full of stories and family history. By spending the day with them, you’ll probably learn some new and fun information about your family

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