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National Siblings Day: How did the annual event begin and where is it celebrated?

National Siblings Day, a day on which siblings express their appreciation for one another, is upon us.

Similarly to Mother's Day and Father's Day, the annual event is recognised around the world as an opportunity to showcase just how much your family means to you.

Here's everything you need to know about National Siblings Day:

When is it?

National Siblings Day falls on 10 April every year.

While the day is widely celebrated around the world, it isn't federally recognised in the US, where the idea for the celebration was conceived.

How did it begin?

National Siblings Day was created by an American woman called Claudia Evart.

Ms Evart had suffered the loss of her older brother, Alan, and sister, Lisette, at an early age.

The former paralegal founded the national day with the aim of honouring her late siblings.

The date she chose, 10 April, is the day of her sister's birthday.

Ms Evart has been the president of the Siblings Day Foundation since 1997, an organisation that she founded.

"I have dedicated my life to ensuring the bond of brother and sister is forever recognised as the special gift it is," she states.

Where is it celebrated?

National Siblings Day is primarily celebrated in the US, where it was founded.

However, over the past 20 years the annual event has become more widely recognised around the world.

While it doesn't have quite the same prominence as other familial occasions such as Mother's Day and Father's Day, National Siblings Day is marked in countries including the UK, Australia and India.

Which sibling has it best?

The question over which sibling in the family is the most favoured is an old-age debate.

The topic has been explored in several studies throughout the years, sparking contention every time.

In 2018, a study conducted by Mumsnet concluded that the youngest child tends to be the parents' favourite.

This finding was supported by research conducted by Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, which found younger siblings tend to compare themselves more to their older siblings.

When a child is born in the family may also determine the career path they choose to take later on in life, a study conducted by Disney found in 2018.

According to the research, eldest children are most likely to become scientists or engineers.

On the other hand, middle children are 30 per cent more likely than their siblings to become company CEOs, while youngest children are more likely to become classical musicians.

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Youngest child tends to be parents' favourite, survey finds