National Call a Friend Day Date in the current year: December 28, 2024

Even though most people own a phone these days, many of them don’t talk on the phone much. They prefer messaging because it gives them more control over their time and conversations, as well as use Facebook and Instagram to learn about what is going on in their friends’ lives. On the one hand, it is perfectly understandable, especially when time difference is involved. On the other hand, hearing a loved one’s voice is so nice!

National Call a Friend Day has murky origins, just like many other unofficial quirky holidays celebrated across the nation almost every day. However, this should by no means stop you from observing it! The holiday is celebrated on December 28, which might seem odd at first, but the choice of the date is in fact quite understandable: the end of the year is hectic for most people, and it is especially important to take breaks and fill them with pleasant experiences like chatting to a friend.

Despite its unclear origins and unofficial status, National Call a Friend Day is supported by many psychological organizations and therapists because talking to friends is beneficial for your mental health. Picking up your phone and taking a few minutes from your day to talk to a friend is not hard, but it can make such a difference for your mental state!

The best way to celebrate National Call a Friend Day is, of course, to call a friend or video chat with them. The call doesn’t have to be long if you’re both busy; we’re sure that hearing your friend’s voice and seeing their smile even for a couple of minutes will give you both a mood boost you need to get through the end of the year. 

If you’re feeling up to it, you can organize a group call or a Zoom meeting with your high school or college friends to catch up. It can be quite a task, especially if your friends live in different states and time zones, but just imagine how thankful they will be if everything works out.

To make things more interesting, you can turn the celebration of National Call a Friend Day into a “pay it forward”-type flashmob: call three friends to chat and ask each of them to call three more friends. This way, the holiday will spread exponentially, making dozens and maybe even hundreds people just a little bit happier this December day. And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #NationalCallAFriendDay and #CallAFriendDay.

Since the end of the year is the time when many people make New Year’s resolutions, you can make a resolution to call your friends more. It doesn’t have to be every day or even every other day; we understand that you are busy, and they are busy, and it’s so hard to coordinate schedules. However, having a standing phone date with a friend, even if it’s just once a month, will be good for you.