National Pen Pal Day is a holiday observed on June 1st every year, and it’s a great day for people to start a new pen pal relationship or to appreciate the one they currently have. Although many people start writing to pen pals while they’re in school to improve their reading and writing skills, many continue to write to pen pals well into adulthood.

Even with social media being widely available, there are still plenty of people who write to their pen pal regularly. And that’s why this holiday continues to be celebrated in North America and around the world.

The History of National Pen Pal Day

This holiday was first created in 2017 by Rosie Tholl—an American who enjoyed writing to her pen pals and has even traveled the world just to meet some of them. She is also the co-founder of Pen Pals United.

The Benefits of Having a Pen Pal

For people who have never thought about celebrating National Pen Pal Day, it might seem a bit strange to think about writing to a complete stranger in another city. However, once they learn the benefits of having a pen pal and get used to the idea, it becomes crystal clear to them. Below are some of the benefits of having a pen pal that we discovered on our journey researching this holiday.

• Having a pen pal develops reading and writing skills for children.
• Having a pen pal can expose people to different cultures and languages.
• Having a pen pal can develop communication skills and help alleviate loneliness.

Observing National Pen Pal Day

For people who don’t have a pen pal, this is the perfect day to consider getting one. There are several groups that can be found on the Internet with the sole purpose of connecting prospective pen pals with one another.

It’s also a good day for people who already have a pen pal to thank them for their correspondence over the past few months or years. Finally, people can observe this holiday by spreading the word about it using the hashtag #NationalPenPalDay on social media.