National Spread Joy Day (October 11th)

Quick facts
When is it?	Every October 11th
Tagged as:	Attitudes & Emotions Life & Living People & Relationships
What's the hashtag?	#NationalSpreadJoyDay
When was it founded?	2018
Who founded it?	Laura Jennings
We first published this page on:	May 25th, 2025
We last updated this page:	May 25th, 2025

Contents

National Spread Joy Day is all about lifting spirits in the simplest ways. Think of it like a friendly nudge to brighten someone’s day—no big plans needed.

Maybe it’s a note on a neighbor’s door, a quick message to a friend, or just taking a moment to really listen.

These little things stick. They create warmth that lingers longer than expected. When people pause to be kind, the mood shifts. Smiles pass along like dominoes falling in the best way.

What makes this day special isn’t the scale—it’s the intention. Everyone has the chance to join in, no matter where they are or what they’re doing. A joyful act from one person can light up the path for someone else.

It spreads further than you’d think. And when enough people join in, that gentle wave of kindness grows strong. It turns ordinary moments into something meaningful.

That’s the real heart of the day: finding joy and letting it move through us.

How to Celebrate National Spread Joy Day

Here are five fun and easy ways to celebrate National Spread Joy Day, each with its own special spark:

Start With One Thoughtful Message

Begin the day with a kind message to someone who wouldn’t expect it. Think of a friend, former teacher, or neighbor.

Share a memory or tell them how they’ve mattered. Words sent with care often reach far beyond the screen. You may brighten a moment they didn’t know needed light.

Offer Help Quietly

Look for where you’re needed without waiting to be asked. Help carry groceries. Let someone cut in line. Watch for the tired, the hurried, the overwhelmed.

These moments don’t ask for applause. They ask for a heart. And when we give without seeking credit, the world softens just a little.

Be Fully Present

Put your phone away when someone talks. Listen without thinking of your reply. See what happens when you give your full attention.

Real presence feels rare, and that makes it powerful. It shows others they matter more than your next notification.

Leave Something Behind for a Stranger

Write a short note, draw something kind, or leave a small item with a message attached. Hide it in a library book or pin it to a bulletin board.

Someone will find it. Someone will smile. Joy left behind is joy that travels.

Reflect, Then Act

Pause and ask yourself, “Who could use a little joy today?” Maybe it’s someone who hides their struggles. Maybe it’s you.

Joy doesn’t always look loud—it might mean rest, grace, or a second chance. Choose one action that reflects care, then follow through with purpose.

History of National Spread Joy Day

National Spread Joy Day began in 2018. Laura Jennings, the founder of Knack, a gift company in Seattle, started it. She felt the world was getting too heavy with negativity, especially online.

So, she decided to do something simple but powerful—bring joy back into focus. Her idea was clear: small, kind actions can lift others and change the tone of a day.

She created the day not as a business move, but as a heartfelt response to what she saw around her. Kindness had become quiet, and she wanted to turn up the volume. That’s where National Spread Joy Day came in.

It invites people to pause and share happiness with intention. Whether through a kind word or a caring act, the goal stays the same: make someone feel seen and valued.

Since its start, people across the country have joined in. Schools, companies, and families have found their own ways to spread happiness.

What began as one woman’s idea has grown into a shared effort to lighten the world, even if just a little. On this day, joy isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you give. And giving it can change more than one person’s mood. It can shift a whole moment.

National Spread Joy Day