Fun Holiday – Good Neighbor Day

The holiday was created by Becky Mattson of Arizona in the 1970s as a way to encourage neighbors to be good to each other. In 1978, then American President, Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation that designated September 24, 1978 as National Good Neighbor Day. In 2004, the United States Senate passed a resolution to celebrate September 26, 2004 as National Good Neighbor Day.

Prior to 2003, the holiday was celebrated on the fourth Sunday in September. Now it is unofficially celebrated in the U.S. and around the world as Good Neighbor Day.

How to Celebrate?

• Be nice to your neighbor – at home or elsewhere.
• If you don’t know your neighbors well, maybe today is your chance to go up to them and strike up a conversation.
• Bake some goodies and share them with your neighbors. Bring them to work for your work neighbors.
• Invite your neighbors to your home for a meal.
• Don’t live in the U.S.? Don’t let that stop you from showing your appreciation for your neighbors.

Did You Know…

…that the word neighbor comes from the Old English word neahgebur, where neah means near and gebur means inhabitant?