“YOU’RE WELCOMEGIVING DAY” | Grandma’s Stories

Nov 27th “YOU’RE WELCOMEGIVING DAY”

You’re Welcomegiving Day is observed annually on the day after Thanksgiving. Conventionally when someone thanks us for a kindness or service, we respond by saying, “You’re Welcome.” So, it was inevitable that someone would suggest the day after Thanksgiving we should remember to say, “You’re welcome.”

The phrase “you’re welcome” covers a variety of thank yous in English. Whether the appreciation is coming from an individual or a group, “you’re welcome” works. It can be said while giving a hug, a handshake, or a smile. When we really mean that our effort was meant with care, “you’re very welcome” goes a long way. Our tone and facial expressions say a lot, too.

However, in other languages, “you’re welcome” doesn’t translate so well. The plural and singular “you” is part of the problem. Also, in some languages, the phrase is unknown altogether. Variations of a response to a show of appreciation exist all over the world, but “you’re welcome” as a polite social necessity seems to only exist in English.

Other similar responses in English exist, but they don’t seem as automatic making them more sincere when spoken. Try these examples out the next time someone thanks you:

It was our pleasure.
I was honored to do it.
Our home is your home.
I was happy to (fill in the blank).
It was a delight having you.
I hope someone will do the same for me if I’m ever in the same predicament.
We enjoyed (fill in the blank).
This is our favorite thing to do!

HOW TO OBSERVE #YoureWelcomegivingDay

What is your favorite way of saying “you’re welcome”? Do you know someone who has a memorial way of making people feel at ease when they’ve completed a favor? You know, someone who is always helping out, and when you go to thank them, they are either gone or their genuine response is something other than “You’re welcome,” but means the same thing.

On You’re Welcomegiving Day, say “You’re welcome” in your own way. Whether you host an event, volunteer, or help someone out, what’s your favorite way to say, “You’re welcome”? Let us know by using #YoureWelcomegivingDay to post on social media.

YOU’RE WELCOMEGIVING DAY HISTORY

Richard Ankli of Ann Arbor, Michigan, creator of the unreasonable holiday Sourest Day and the rhyming May Ray Day, designated You’re Welcomegiving Day in 1977 as a way to create a four-day weekend.