September 28 – National Neighbor Day

National Neighbor Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NEIGHBOR DAY

Watch neighbor movies; The Trouble With Harry, The Burbs, Rear Window, Crash, Neighbors. Invite your neighbors!
Send a card or note of thanks to your neighbors, or hand-deliver it.
Introduce yourself to some neighbors you don’t know, take a casserole!
Host a neighborhood potluck.
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04/27/2024 02:53 pm GMT

There’s an old saying that good fences make good neighbors. But what about the value of good neighbors themselves? After all, a fence can’t offer companionship or a helping hand when you need it. Good neighbors can provide both of those things and more. They can offer a sense of community, share their gardening expertise, and even help to keep an eye on your property when you’re away.

In short, good neighbors are worth their weight in gold. And even if you don’t have perfect neighbors, try to be one yourself. After all, it’s said that good deeds beget good deeds. Who knows? By being a good neighbor, you just might find that your neighbors start to look a little better too.

NATIONAL NEIGHBOR DAY: A BRIEF HISTORY OF NEIGHBORS

The first recorded mention of neighbors dates back to the Old Testament, when Abraham was living in Canaan. At the time, neighboring tribes were constantly at war with each other, and Abraham’s tribe was no exception. In order to protect his family and livestock from raids, Abraham built a high fence around his property. This fence not only kept out unwanted visitors, but it also prevented his animals from straying too far from home.

Abraham’s fence was so successful that other families began to copy his idea. Soon, most properties in Canaan were surrounded by tall fences. However, this created a new problem: with everyone living behind their own walls, it became difficult to know who your neighbors were. To solve this problem, people started hanging signs on their fences that identified their tribe or clan.

As civilization progressed, people began to settle in smaller communities and build houses next to each other. This close proximity made it impossible to avoid your neighbors altogether, so people had to find new ways to deal with them. In medieval Europe, for example, neighbors were often required by law to help each other in times of need. If one family’s house caught on fire, their neighbors were obligated to lend them a bucket or two of water. Similarly, if a neighbor fell ill, his or her neighbors were expected to bring them food and medicine.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NEIGHBOR DAY

Community Potluck Dinner: Organize a potluck dinner where neighbors can come together to share food and conversation, fostering a sense of community.
Neighborhood Clean-Up Day: Coordinate a day where neighbors work together to clean up litter and beautify shared spaces in the neighborhood.
Block Party Celebration: Host a block party with games, music, and food to encourage neighbors to mingle and build connections.
Front Yard Picnic Gathering: Invite neighbors to bring blankets and picnic baskets for a casual gathering in front yards, enjoying snacks and conversation.
Neighborhood Garden Tour: Arrange a garden tour where neighbors can showcase their gardens, exchange tips, and admire each other’s green spaces.
Book Swap Event: Set up a book swap station where neighbors can trade books they’ve finished reading, promoting literacy and community bonding.
Street Chalk Art Contest: Organize a chalk art contest for kids and adults, decorating sidewalks with colorful and creative designs.
DIY Workshop: Host a DIY workshop where neighbors can learn new skills together, such as gardening, crafting, or home repair.
Neighborhood Sports Tournament: Plan a sports tournament for residents of all ages, featuring games like basketball, soccer, or volleyball.
Movie Night Under the Stars: Set up an outdoor movie screening in a park or backyard, providing popcorn and blankets for neighbors to enjoy a film together.
Storytelling Circle: Gather neighbors for a storytelling circle where they can share anecdotes, memories, and local history.
Community Volunteer Day: Coordinate a volunteer day where neighbors work on projects to benefit the community, such as painting benches or planting trees.
Neighborhood Garage Sale: Host a neighborhood garage sale where residents can declutter and shop for bargains, promoting sustainability and camaraderie.
Art Walk Tour: Organize an art walk tour featuring local artists’ work displayed in neighborhood shops and galleries.
Bike Ride Excursion: Arrange a group bike ride around the neighborhood or to nearby scenic routes, promoting exercise and outdoor enjoyment.
Cooking Class Exchange: Share culinary skills by organizing a cooking class exchange where neighbors teach each other their favorite recipes.
Pet Parade and Contest: Hold a pet parade where neighbors can show off their furry friends, with prizes for the cutest, most talented, or best-dressed pets.
DIY Birdhouse Building: Host a birdhouse building workshop where neighbors can construct birdhouses together to attract local wildlife.
Outdoor Yoga Session: Invite neighbors to join an outdoor yoga session in a park or backyard, promoting relaxation and mindfulness.
Music Jam Session: Gather musicians from the neighborhood for a jam session, playing instruments and singing songs together.
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Organize a nature scavenger hunt for families, encouraging exploration and appreciation of the outdoors.
Community Cookbook Creation: Collaborate on creating a neighborhood cookbook, collecting favorite recipes from residents to share and preserve.
Cultural Exchange Potluck: Host a potluck dinner where neighbors bring dishes from their cultural backgrounds, celebrating diversity and culinary traditions.
Home Garden Tour: Arrange a tour of residents’ home gardens, showcasing different landscaping styles and plants.
Random Acts of Kindness Day: Dedicate a day to performing random acts of kindness for neighbors, such as delivering baked goods, offering help with chores, or writing encouraging notes.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood, with clues leading participants to various landmarks and hidden treasures.
Street Bingo Challenge: Create bingo cards with items commonly found in the neighborhood, such as a red mailbox or a blue front door, and challenge neighbors to find them all.
Block-Wide Relay Race: Divide the neighborhood into teams and host a relay race, with each team racing through a designated course of obstacles.
Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition: Hold a sidewalk chalk art competition where neighbors can showcase their creativity and artistic skills on their driveways and sidewalks.
Neighborhood Trivia Night: Host a trivia night with questions about the local history, landmarks, and residents, encouraging friendly competition and community bonding.
Front Yard Olympics: Set up mini-Olympic games in front yards, with events like hula hoop contests, sack races, and bean bag tosses.
Community Capture the Flag: Organize a game of capture the flag in a local park or open area, with teams competing to capture each other’s flags while avoiding being tagged.
Street-Wide Water Balloon Fight: Cool off on a hot day with a street-wide water balloon fight, where neighbors can splash and play together.
Neighborhood Bingo Run: Create bingo cards with tasks to complete around the neighborhood, such as finding a certain house number or petting a neighbor’s dog.
Block Party Dance Off: Have a dance-off at the block party, with neighbors showing off their best moves and grooving to the music.
Outdoor Movie Screening: Set up a projector outdoors and host a movie screening in a local park or backyard, complete with popcorn and blankets for neighbors to enjoy.
Neighborhood Mini Golf Tournament: Create a mini-golf course in the neighborhood, with neighbors competing to see who can complete the course with the fewest strokes.
Street-Wide Karaoke Contest: Set up a karaoke machine outdoors and host a karaoke contest where neighbors can belt out their favorite tunes.
Community Soccer Match: Organize a friendly soccer match in a local park or field, with neighbors of all ages participating.
Sidewalk Hopscotch Tournament: Draw hopscotch grids on the sidewalk and host a tournament where neighbors compete to see who can complete the course the fastest.
Neighborhood Puzzle Challenge: Create large jigsaw puzzles and challenge neighbors to work together to complete them, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
Block-Wide Hide and Seek: Play a game of hide and seek throughout the neighborhood, with neighbors hiding in yards, behind trees, and in other creative spots.
Community Kickball Game: Set up a kickball game in a local park or field, with neighbors taking turns kicking and fielding.
Street-Wide Relay Drawing: Create a large-scale drawing on the street with chalk, with each neighbor adding to the drawing in a relay-style fashion.
Neighborhood Bicycle Parade: Decorate bicycles and ride through the neighborhood in a parade, showcasing creative decorations and costumes.
Community Freeze Tag: Play a game of freeze tag in a local park or field, with neighbors tagging each other and freezing in place until tagged by a teammate.
Street-Wide Simon Says: Play a game of Simon Says with neighbors taking turns giving commands and following along.
Block-Wide Sack Race: Hold a sack race competition in a local park or field, with neighbors hopping their way to the finish line.
Neighborhood Relay Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course in the neighborhood, with teams racing to complete challenges like jumping over hurdles and crawling through tunnels.
Community Three-Legged Race: Pair up neighbors for a three-legged race, with teams working together to race to the finish line while tied together at the ankle.
Handmade Welcome Signs: Create personalized welcome signs for neighbors’ front doors or yards, using wood, paint, and stencils.
Neighbor Appreciation Cards: Design and craft handmade cards to express gratitude and appreciation for your neighbors, incorporating heartfelt messages and designs.
DIY Birdhouses: Build and decorate birdhouses using wood, paint, and other materials, providing homes for feathered friends in the neighborhood.
Upcycled Planter Boxes: Repurpose old crates, cans, or pallets to make planter boxes for flowers or herbs, adding greenery and beauty to the neighborhood.
Homemade Suncatchers: Craft colorful suncatchers using beads, wire, and glass, hanging them in windows to catch sunlight and spread joy.
Community Quilt Project: Collaborate on a community quilt, with each neighbor contributing a square or patch decorated with their own unique design.
DIY Herb Gardens: Plant and decorate herb gardens in pots or raised beds, providing fresh herbs for neighbors to enjoy in their cooking.
Handmade Wind Chimes: Create personalized wind chimes using repurposed materials like metal pipes or seashells, adding musical charm to the neighborhood.
Neighbor Memory Jars: Decorate jars or containers to make memory jars, where neighbors can write down and store special moments and memories.
DIY Flower Crowns: Make flower crowns using fresh or artificial flowers, hosting a flower crown-making party for neighbors to enjoy.
Community Mosaic Art: Work together to create a mosaic art piece, using tiles, glass, or other materials to depict scenes or patterns that represent the neighborhood.
Hand-Painted Rocks: Paint rocks with inspirational messages or designs, placing them in shared spaces around the neighborhood for others to find and enjoy.
Homemade Bird Feeders: Construct bird feeders using recycled materials like plastic bottles or milk cartons, attracting birds and wildlife to the neighborhood.
DIY Street Sign Art: Paint or decorate street signs with colorful designs or messages, adding a creative touch to the neighborhood’s streetscape.
Community Dreamcatchers: Make dreamcatchers using hoops, feathers, and beads, hanging them in trees or windows to catch bad dreams and spread good vibes.
Recycled Paper Lanterns: Create paper lanterns using recycled materials like old newspapers or cardboard, illuminating the neighborhood with soft, glowing light.
DIY Seed Bombs: Mix seeds, clay, and compost to make seed bombs, which neighbors can scatter in empty lots or gardens to promote wildflowers and green spaces.
Neighbor Cookbook Compilation: Compile a neighborhood cookbook with favorite recipes contributed by residents, creating a collection of culinary delights to share and enjoy.
Handmade Friendship Bracelets: Craft friendship bracelets using colorful thread or yarn, exchanging them with neighbors as tokens of friendship and unity.
Community Art Fence: Transform a fence into a community art installation by painting or decorating it with murals, mosaics, or collaborative art projects.
DIY Garden Markers: Create garden markers using painted rocks or wooden stakes, labeling plants and herbs in community gardens or individual yards.
Homemade Wind Spinners: Construct wind spinners using metal or plastic, painting them with vibrant colors and designs to add movement and visual interest to outdoor spaces.
Recycled Bottle Planters: Repurpose plastic bottles or containers as planters for small flowers or succulents, adding greenery and charm to balconies or windowsills.
Neighbor Story Stones: Decorate stones with symbols or images that represent neighborhood stories or landmarks, placing them in shared spaces as conversation starters and reminders of community history.
DIY Welcome Baskets: Assemble welcome baskets filled with homemade treats, local products, or small gifts to greet new neighbors and foster a sense of belonging in the community.
Potluck Party Spread: Prepare a variety of dishes for a potluck party, inviting neighbors to share their favorite homemade foods.
Build-Your-Own Taco Bar: Set up a taco bar with a selection of fillings, toppings, and salsas for neighbors to customize their tacos.
Community BBQ Cookout: Host a BBQ cookout with grilled burgers, hot dogs, and veggie skewers, fostering a relaxed and social atmosphere.
Neighborhood Pizza Night: Arrange a pizza night where neighbors can make their own pizzas with a variety of toppings and sauces.
Homemade Soup Exchange: Organize a soup exchange where neighbors can swap homemade soups, providing a comforting meal for everyone to enjoy.
International Potluck Dinner: Host an international potluck dinner, inviting neighbors to bring dishes from different cuisines around the world.
Neighborhood Brunch Buffet: Set up a brunch buffet with a spread of sweet and savory dishes, including pancakes, quiches, and fruit platters.
Garden Harvest Feast: Celebrate with a garden harvest feast featuring dishes made from fresh produce grown by neighbors in community gardens.
DIY Sandwich Bar: Create a DIY sandwich bar with a variety of bread, meats, cheeses, and toppings for neighbors to build their perfect sandwiches.
Farmers Market Potluck Picnic: Gather at a local farmers market for a potluck picnic, enjoying dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Neighborhood Dessert Swap: Host a dessert swap where neighbors exchange homemade sweets like cookies, cakes, and pies.
Family-Friendly Ice Cream Social: Organize an ice cream social with an assortment of ice cream flavors, toppings, and sauces for neighbors of all ages to enjoy.
Neighbor-Style BBQ Ribs: Grill up delicious BBQ ribs seasoned with homemade rubs and sauces, showcasing regional BBQ flavors.
Build-Your-Own Salad Bar: Set up a salad bar with an array of greens, vegetables, proteins, and dressings for neighbors to create their own salads.
Tapas Night Fiesta: Host a tapas night with a variety of small plates inspired by Spanish cuisine, encouraging neighbors to sample and share different flavors.
Homemade Pasta Party: Make homemade pasta from scratch and serve it with a selection of sauces and toppings for a delicious pasta party.
Neighborhood Seafood Boil: Gather for a seafood boil featuring a bounty of shrimp, crab, corn, and potatoes cooked in flavorful spices and herbs.
Picnic in the Park: Pack picnic baskets with sandwiches, salads, and snacks for a leisurely afternoon picnic in the neighborhood park.
Community Breakfast Buffet: Host a breakfast buffet with a spread of morning favorites like eggs, bacon, pancakes, and fresh fruit.
Neighborhood Food Truck Festival: Bring in food trucks offering a variety of cuisines for neighbors to enjoy a festival-style dining experience.
DIY Sushi Rolling Party: Roll your own sushi rolls with neighbors, using fresh fish, vegetables, and sushi rice for a fun and interactive dining experience.
Neighbor-Sourced Cheese Board: Create a cheese board featuring locally sourced cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts for a sophisticated and delicious spread.
Homemade Bruschetta Bar: Set up a bruschetta bar with toasted bread slices and a variety of toppings like tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and olive tapenade.
Family-Friendly Taco Night: Enjoy a family-friendly taco night with a selection of taco fillings, toppings, and sides for neighbors of all ages to enjoy.
Neighborhood Wine and Cheese Soirée: Host a wine and cheese soirée with a selection of wines paired with artisanal cheeses, crackers, and charcuterie for an elegant and relaxed gathering.