National Kiss and Make Up Day
August 25
About National Kiss and Make Up Day
National Kiss and Make Up Day takes place every year on 25 August. It is a light-hearted occasion that encourages people to set aside grudges, repair strained relationships, and reconnect with the friends, family members, and partners they may have fallen out with. The day celebrates the simple but powerful act of reconciliation, reminding us that most disagreements are easier to mend than to carry.
How to Celebrate National Kiss and Make Up Day
This is a day built for action, so the best way to mark it is to actually do something about an unresolved rift. Here are plenty of ways to take part.
- Reach out first – Pick one person you have drifted from or argued with and make the first move. A simple message saying you would like to clear the air often removes the awkwardness that has kept you both quiet.
- Offer a genuine apology – If you played a part in the falling-out, own it. A sincere apology that takes responsibility, without excuses, does more to rebuild trust than almost anything else.
- Listen properly – Reconciliation is a two-way street. Hear the other person out, try to understand their side, and resist the urge to defend yourself before they have finished speaking.
- Write a heartfelt letter – If a face-to-face conversation feels too daunting, put your thoughts on paper. A handwritten note gives you the space to say everything clearly and gives the recipient time to absorb it.
- Seal it with a kiss or a hug – Where it feels right, a warm embrace or a kiss on the cheek can do what words cannot. Physical affection releases oxytocin and endorphins, which is partly why making up feels so good.
- Mark the moment together – Once the air is cleared, celebrate the renewed bond. Share a meal, go for a walk, or simply spend unhurried time together to remind yourselves why the relationship is worth keeping.
- Reconcile across the distance – If miles or poor health keep you apart, a video call, a phone conversation, or even a thoughtful message can carry just as much warmth as being in the same room.
- Forgive yourself too – Reconciliation is not only about other people. Letting go of guilt or resentment you have been holding against yourself can be just as freeing as patching things up with someone else.
What is National Kiss and Make Up Day?
National Kiss and Make Up Day is an unofficial holiday dedicated to forgiveness and the repairing of relationships. It is observed mainly in the United States but resonates internationally, given how universal the experience of falling out and making up really is. The day is not about romantic kisses alone. It applies equally to friends, siblings, parents, colleagues, and neighbours, and the “kiss” is best understood as a symbol of peace rather than a literal requirement. Anyone carrying the weight of an old argument is invited to take part.
When is National Kiss and Make Up Day?
National Kiss and Make Up Day falls on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. The date is fixed, so it lands on 25 August every year regardless of the day of the week. This places it conveniently in late summer, when many people are in a relaxed, reflective frame of mind and more open to mending fences before the busier autumn months arrive.
The History of National Kiss and Make Up Day
The day is most often credited to Jacqueline Milton, who created it as a playful nudge for people to re-examine old relationships and find ways to repair them. She chose 25 August as the annual date, and it has been observed ever since as a yearly reminder that grudges are heavier to hold than they are worth. As with many unofficial awareness days, the precise founding year is not well documented, and a few sources offer competing accounts of who first popularised it. What is consistent across them is the spirit of the day: forgiveness, reconnection, and the deliberate ending of a grudge.
The phrase “kiss and make up” itself is far older than the holiday. It grew out of the earlier expression “kiss and be friends”, which appears in English usage stretching back centuries, with the modern wording settling into place during the late nineteenth century. The gesture of sealing a reconciliation with a kiss has even deeper roots, appearing in customs across many cultures as a way of marking the end of a dispute and the restoration of goodwill.
Over time the day has been embraced by relationship counsellors, schools, workplaces, and families as a gentle prompt to address conflicts that might otherwise be left to fester. Its enduring appeal lies in its simplicity. There is nothing to buy and nothing to organise, only the willingness to reach out.
Fun Facts About National Kiss and Make Up Day
- A single kiss can engage somewhere in the region of 100 facial muscles, giving your face a small workout as well as a mood boost.
- Kissing prompts the body to release oxytocin, often nicknamed the “love hormone”, along with feel-good endorphins.
- Forgiveness has been linked in research to lower stress, reduced blood pressure, and better cardiovascular health.
- The custom of kissing to mark peace is ancient, with kiss-related greetings documented across the Roman world, including the friendly “osculum” and the romantic “basium”.
- The day shares its date with a cluster of other quirky observances, including National Banana Split Day and National Whiskey Sour Day, making 25 August a surprisingly busy day in the calendar.
- Because the date never moves, it is one of the easiest reconciliation prompts to remember year after year.
Why National Kiss and Make Up Day Matters
Unresolved conflict quietly drains a great deal of emotional energy, and lingering friction has been shown to raise stress levels and blood pressure. A timely apology or a warm hug can lower both, which is why this gentle, good-humoured day carries more weight than its playful name suggests. Mending a relationship strengthens bonds, sharpens communication, and lifts mood for everyone involved. If you enjoy days that celebrate connection and affection, you might also appreciate National Loving Day, which honours love and acceptance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Kiss and Make Up Day?
It is an unofficial holiday encouraging people to forgive, drop grudges, and repair strained relationships with partners, friends, family, and colleagues. The “kiss” is best read as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.
When is National Kiss and Make Up Day in 2026?
It falls on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. The date is fixed and stays on 25 August every year.
Who created National Kiss and Make Up Day?
It is most commonly credited to Jacqueline Milton, who established the day as a yearly prompt to re-examine old relationships and find ways to mend them. The exact founding year is not well documented.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your reconciliation stories on social media with #KissAndMakeUpDay and #KissAndMakeUpDay2026. Tag someone you have made up with, and challenge a friend to mend a rift of their own.
Related Awareness Days
- National Loving Day – Celebrates love and acceptance, making it a natural companion to a day about repairing relationships.
- National Kiss a Wookiee Day – A playful kiss-themed observance for fans of all things light-hearted and affectionate.
- Love Your Freckles Day – A feel-good day about self-acceptance, echoing the kindness at the heart of making up.
Links
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