October 19 – National New Friends Day

National New Friends Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY STEP-BY-STEP

•  Host a new friends party – invite your own friends (and a new friend), each of your friends brings a new friend.
•  Meet new friends and find activities on MeetUp.
•  Learn how to start a conversation with new friends.
•  Read the article, “How to Make New Friends.”
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM FOR NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY

National New Friends Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the new connections we make in life. Whether it’s a chance encounter or a purposeful reach out, making new friends can bring so much joy and excitement. It’s an opportunity to expand our social circles and learn new things from people with different perspectives and experiences.

In a world where technology enables us to connect with people from all over the globe, this day reminds us of the value of making meaningful connections in person. So grab a cup of coffee, strike up a conversation, and celebrate National New Friends Day by making a new friend today!

NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY:  A BRIEF HISTORY OF NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY

Making new friends is something that has been an integral part of human interaction for centuries. Throughout history, people have found different ways of recognizing new friends among strangers. Whether it was a simple gesture of kindness, a shared interest, or a mutual friend, recognizing someone new as a potential friend has always been important. In some cultures, offering food or drink was a way of showing hospitality and opening the door to new friendships. In others, exchanging business cards or other tokens was a way of indicating a desire to stay in touch. Regardless of the methods used, the importance of forming new connections and friendships has remained a vital aspect of human socialization throughout history.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY

1. Icebreaker Games: Break the ice with fun games that encourage interaction and laughter.
2. Speed Friending Event: Host a speed friending event where participants can meet and connect with new people quickly.
3. Outdoor Picnic: Organize a picnic in the park, providing an opportunity for relaxed conversations and camaraderie.
4. Board Game Night: Invite new friends over for a board game night filled with friendly competition and bonding.
5. Cooking Class: Attend a cooking class together and bond over learning new culinary skills and tasting delicious dishes.
6. Group Exercise Session: Join a group exercise session or fitness class, promoting teamwork and encouragement.
7. Volunteer Work: Volunteer together for a cause you’re passionate about, fostering bonds while making a positive impact.
8. Book Club Meeting: Start or join a book club where members can discuss literature and share their perspectives.
9. Art Workshop: Attend an art workshop or paint night, expressing creativity while getting to know each other.
10. Hiking Adventure: Embark on a hiking adventure, exploring nature and enjoying meaningful conversations along the way.
11. Language Exchange: Participate in a language exchange program, practicing language skills while making new friends from diverse backgrounds.
12. Game Night at a Local Cafe: Gather at a local cafe for a game night filled with coffee, snacks, and friendly competition.
13. Movie Marathon: Host a movie marathon featuring classic films or a favorite movie series, complete with popcorn and cozy blankets.
14. Karaoke Night: Organize a karaoke night where everyone can showcase their singing talents and enjoy a lively atmosphere.
15. Cultural Festival: Attend a cultural festival or event, immersing yourselves in new experiences and traditions.
16. DIY Craft Workshop: Participate in a DIY craft workshop, creating handmade items while bonding with new friends.
17. Photography Walk: Take a photography walk around the city or scenic areas, capturing moments and sharing photography tips.
18. Outdoor Yoga Session: Practice outdoor yoga together, promoting relaxation and mindfulness in a serene setting.
19. Group Cooking Challenge: Organize a group cooking challenge where teams collaborate to prepare delicious meals and desserts.
20. Potluck Dinner: Host a potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish to share, showcasing their culinary skills and cultural flavors.
21. Live Music Event: Attend a live music event or concert, enjoying great music and creating lasting memories together.
22. Board Game Cafe Visit: Visit a board game cafe to try out various games while enjoying snacks and beverages.
23. Community Cleanup: Participate in a community cleanup initiative, bonding over teamwork and environmental stewardship.
24. Outdoor Sports Day: Organize an outdoor sports day with activities like soccer, frisbee, or volleyball, promoting teamwork and camaraderie.
25. Group Meditation Session: Join a group meditation session, fostering mindfulness and deepening connections with new friends.
26. Two Truths and a Lie: Participants take turns sharing two true statements and one false statement about themselves, while others guess which statement is the lie.
27. Human Knot: Players stand in a circle, each person grabs the hands of two different people across from them, and they must work together to untangle without letting go of each other’s hands.
28. Pictionary: Players take turns drawing a word or phrase while their teammates try to guess what it is within a time limit.
29. Charades: Players act out a word or phrase without speaking, while their teammates try to guess what it is within a time limit.
30. Trivia Quiz: Host a trivia quiz covering various topics, with teams competing to answer questions correctly and earn points.
31. Telephone: Participants sit in a circle, and a message is whispered from one person to the next, with the final person announcing what they heard, often resulting in humorous misunderstandings.
32. Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt with a list of items or tasks for teams to find or complete within a specified time frame.
33. Capture the Flag: Divide into teams and compete to capture the opposing team’s flag from their territory while defending your own.
34. Escape Room: Visit an escape room attraction where participants work together to solve puzzles and challenges to “escape” within a time limit.
35. Karaoke Battle: Hold a karaoke competition where participants sing their favorite songs and compete for the title of the best performer.
36. Balloon Pop Relay: Teams race to pop balloons by sitting on them, with one member popping the balloon and passing it to the next until all are popped.
37. Giant Jenga: Play a larger-than-life version of Jenga, taking turns removing blocks from a tower and placing them on top without causing it to collapse.
38. Trivia Pursuit: Play a game of Trivia Pursuit, testing participants’ knowledge across various categories as they compete to collect pie pieces.
39. Dance Off: Have a dance-off competition where participants showcase their best dance moves to music, with judges or the audience voting for the winner.
40. Name That Tune: Play snippets of songs and challenge participants to guess the song title or artist as quickly as possible.
41. Bingo: Play a game of Bingo with customized cards featuring various themes or topics, with prizes for the first to complete a row or blackout their card.
42. Ultimate Frisbee: Play a game of Ultimate Frisbee, a fast-paced team sport where players pass a Frisbee downfield to score points.
43. Minute to Win It Challenges: Set up a series of short, timed challenges inspired by the TV show “Minute to Win It,” such as stacking cups or balancing cookies on their face.
44. Sardines: A reverse hide-and-seek game where one person hides, and as others find them, they join them until everyone is squeezed into the hiding spot.
45. Duck, Duck, Goose: Players sit in a circle, with one person walking around tapping others’ heads, saying “duck” until they choose someone to be the “goose,” who then chases them around the circle.
46. Simon Says: One person plays “Simon” and gives commands prefixed with “Simon says,” and players must only follow the commands if “Simon says” before the command.
47. Wink Murder: Players sit in a circle, and one person is secretly designated as the “murderer.” They “kill” others by winking at them, and the detective must guess who the murderer is before everyone is “killed.”
48. Bocce Ball: Play a game of Bocce Ball, a relaxing lawn game where players take turns tossing balls to get as close as possible to the target ball.
49. Guess Who: Each person writes down a famous person’s name and sticks it on another player’s forehead. Players take turns asking yes or no questions to guess who they are.
50. Bean Bag Toss: Set up a bean bag toss game where players toss bean bags into holes or targets to score points, either individually or in teams.
51. Friendship Bracelet Exchange: Make colorful friendship bracelets and exchange them with new friends as tokens of your bond.
52. Collage of Friendship: Create a collage using photos and mementos shared by new friends, commemorating your connections.
53. Customized Friendship Pins: Design and make personalized pins for each new friend, reflecting their interests and personalities.
54. Memory Jar: Decorate jars and fill them with handwritten notes about memorable moments shared with new friends.
55. Friendship Rocks: Paint rocks with inspiring messages or symbols of friendship, then exchange them with new friends.
56. Friendship Scrapbook: Compile a scrapbook together, filled with photos, quotes, and memories from your time spent with new friends.
57. DIY Friendship Bookmarks: Craft unique bookmarks using colorful paper, stickers, and ribbons, perfect for sharing with new friends.
58. Origami Friendship Stars: Fold origami stars and write affirmations or compliments on them to give to new friends.
59. Friendship Keychains: Make keychains using beads and charms that represent shared interests or inside jokes with new friends.
60. Friendship Collar Pins: Create matching collar pins with initials or symbols that represent your friendship with new pals.
61. Friendship Planters: Paint and decorate small planters together, then plant seeds or succulents as a symbol of growing friendships.
62. Friendship Tote Bags: Decorate tote bags with fabric markers or paint, showcasing your unique friendship with new companions.
63. DIY Friendship Puzzle: Design and assemble a custom puzzle featuring photos of you and your new friends, symbolizing the pieces of your bond coming together.
64. Friendship Candle Holders: Decorate glass candle holders with friendship quotes or symbols, perfect for illuminating your bond with new pals.
65. Friendship Dreamcatchers: Craft dreamcatchers together, incorporating feathers, beads, and ribbons to represent your collective dreams and aspirations.
66. Friendship Magnets: Create personalized magnets using photos or quotes that remind you of special moments shared with new friends.
67. Friendship Shadow Boxes: Fill shadow boxes with mementos, tickets, and small trinkets that represent memories made with new friends.
68. Friendship Photo Frame: Decorate a photo frame together, then fill it with a memorable photo of you and your new friends.
69. Friendship Sun Catchers: Make sun catchers using colorful beads and wire, symbolizing the bright and colorful friendships in your life.
70. Friendship Wall Art: Collaborate on a piece of wall art using paint, stencils, or mixed media to represent the bond between new friends.
71. Friendship Mason Jar Lanterns: Decorate mason jars with paint or decoupage, then add tea light candles to create warm and inviting lanterns to share with new friends.
72. Friendship Paper Lanterns: Design and assemble paper lanterns together, each person contributing their unique touch to the creation.
73. Friendship Wind Chimes: Craft wind chimes using recycled materials and colorful beads, symbolizing the harmonious connection between new friends.
74. Friendship Mobile: Create a hanging mobile together, with each element representing a different aspect of your friendship with new pals.
75. Friendship Banner: Design and decorate a banner with messages of friendship and unity, celebrating the bonds formed with new friends.
76. Mini Caprese Skewers: Skewer cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves for a delightful appetizer to share with new friends.
77. Build-Your-Own Taco Bar: Set up a taco bar with various fillings and toppings, allowing everyone to customize their tacos to their liking.
78. Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing: Toss together a refreshing fruit salad with a zesty honey-lime dressing, perfect for a light and healthy treat.
79. Stuffed Mushrooms: Fill mushroom caps with a savory mixture of cream cheese, herbs, and breadcrumbs, then bake until golden and bubbly.
80. Vegetable Spring Rolls: Roll up a colorful assortment of vegetables and herbs in rice paper wrappers, served with a tangy dipping sauce.
81. Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce: Skewer marinated chicken strips and grill them to perfection, serving with a creamy peanut dipping sauce on the side.
82. Mediterranean Mezze Platter: Arrange a selection of olives, hummus, feta cheese, roasted vegetables, and pita bread for a Mediterranean-inspired feast.
83. Shrimp Cocktail: Serve chilled shrimp with a zesty cocktail sauce, providing a classic and elegant appetizer option for new friends to enjoy.
84. Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette: Combine cooked quinoa with fresh vegetables and a tangy lemon vinaigrette dressing for a flavorful and nutritious dish.
85. Vegetarian Sushi Rolls: Roll up sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, and other veggies in nori sheets, then slice into bite-sized pieces for sharing.
86. Caprese Pasta Salad: Toss cooked pasta with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil, and a balsamic vinaigrette for a delicious pasta salad.
87. Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast: Stuff chicken breasts with a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, and garlic, then bake until juicy and tender.
88. Mango Salsa with Homemade Tortilla Chips: Prepare a vibrant mango salsa with diced mango, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice, served with crispy homemade tortilla chips.
89. Vegetable Stir-Fry: Stir-fry a colorful array of vegetables with tofu or chicken in a flavorful sauce, served over steamed rice or noodles.
90. Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil: Top slices of toasted baguette with diced tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a tasty appetizer.
91. Teriyaki Salmon Skewers: Marinate salmon cubes in teriyaki sauce, then skewer and grill until caramelized and tender, perfect for sharing.
92. Greek Salad: Toss together chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olives, and feta cheese with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette for a refreshing salad.
93. Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables: Toss cooked pasta with homemade pesto sauce and grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant.
94. Cheese and Charcuterie Board: Arrange an assortment of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, and fruits for a sophisticated and indulgent grazing board.
95. Homemade Pizza: Prepare homemade pizza dough and let everyone customize their pizzas with their favorite toppings before baking to perfection.
96. Chicken and Vegetable Kabobs: Skewer marinated chicken pieces with bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms, then grill until charred and flavorful.
97. Avocado Toast: Top slices of toasted bread with mashed avocado, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a trendy and tasty snack.
98. Stuffed Bell Peppers: Fill bell pepper halves with a mixture of seasoned ground meat, rice, and cheese, then bake until the peppers are tender.
99. Vegetarian Chili: Simmer a hearty chili made with beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and spices for a comforting and satisfying meal.
100. Chocolate Fondue: Melt chocolate and serve it alongside a variety of dippable treats like strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, and pretzels for a sweet and interactive dessert.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National New Friends Day?  Please share them!