National Sisters Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August — this year it falls on August 2. Nothing can quite compare to the bond that sisters have and this is a day to treasure the closeness that forms as you grow up together, sharing your secrets, your dreams, and all the fun times. Sisters have a deep connection that grows throughout childhood and remains strong throughout life. National Sisters Day is a chance for you to spend some quality time with your sister and to cherish the connection that you have.
History of National Sisters Day
Whilst the origins of National Sisters Day is unknown, we can trace the English word for sister back to the Old Norse word “systir”, which derives from the Proto–Germanic “swester.” In some societies, the term “sister” has broadened in its colloquial meaning to include women who share a close friendship. However, whether the relationship is formed by blood or friendship, sisters have been kicking butt and taking names since the beginning of time. Let’s take a moment to celebrate some great and memorable sisters from throughout history.
In 39 CE, the Trung sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, led the first Vietnamese independence movement by successfully rebelling against their Chinese dictators and establishing their own matriarchal independent state. They were raised learning martial arts and studying the art of warfare and went on to create a large army of rebels who were mostly women.
The Grimke sisters, Angelina and Sarah, were 19th century women’s rights activists and abolitionists, which is extremely impressive considering their own father was a wealthy slave owner in their hometown of Charleston. The ladies rejected their luxurious lifestyle, moved north, became Quakers, and gave lectures about their experiences witnessing the brutalities of slavery.
The Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne are known for their novels and achievements in literature. Between them, their body of work includes classics such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The sisters are said to be particularly close due to the deaths of their mother and two elder sisters, as well as being raised in relative isolation.
Patricia, Minerva, and Antonia Mirabal, also known as Las Mariposas, are national heroines in the Dominican Republic for their opposition to dictator Rafael Trujillo. The three young women became symbols of both popular and feminist resistance during the 20th century.
Serena and Venus Williams are arguably the most famous sisters in the world right now. They will both go down in history as being among the greatest tennis players of all time. They have also paved the way for many other African American and Hispanic players in a once very exclusive and homogenous sport. As well as winning over 100 singles titles between them, they have won 22 titles when playing doubles together, including 14 grand slam titles and three Olympic gold medals.
These are just some of the badass sisters throughout history. Make sure you cherish your sister or sisters on National Sisters Day.