Flock of American flamingos, Isabela Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Family, in full colour. National Cousins Day

Today is National Cousins Day—a perfect excuse to reconnect with the people who know your family stories best and probably helped create a few of them. Think of cousins as your built-in crew: part family history, part lifelong adventure. The celebration originated in the United States, but some countries have adopted it as a fun way to honour family bonds.

Take a cue from a flock of flamingos in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. These birds don't wander solo—they gather in lively groups, feeding, calling and moving in sync. Their bold pink colour comes from a diet rich in algae and tiny crustaceans—proof that even diet can shape identity.

Cousins work much the same way. Shared holidays, inside jokes and summer chaos create bonds that feel natural, even when distance grows. Like flamingos standing side by side in shallow water, cousins form a vivid, ever-shifting flock—connected, resilient and full of personality.