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Esther Day

annual day · in 32 videos (2010–2026)

Esther Day is Nerdfighteria's August 3 holiday on the birthday of Esther Earl, who in 2010 chose that it celebrate non-romantic love among family and friends.

Videos by year: 2010: 2 · 2011: 3 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1

Also known as: Happy Esther Day

Threads

Also named in the threads: Death of Nerdfighter Esther Earl, John's friend (2010) · Incongruent: Hank's album with Hank Green and the Perfect Strangers (2013) · Dear Hank and John: the brothers' advice podcast (2015) · Hank's Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis and chemotherapy (2023) · John's 2024 depression and his month away from the internet (2024)

Often together

What comes up in the same parts of the videos; the number is how many parts.

Esther Earl (45) · This Star Won't Go Out (charity) (12) · This Star Won't Go Out (book) (3) · cancer (9) · doobly-doo (4) · Sarah Urist Green (6) · DFTBA Records (4) · YouTube (6) · The Fault in Our Stars (3) · Mike Green (2)

What the videos say

The most important statements of each year; all statements.

2010

  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — announcement: John says it is Monday, August 2, 2010 (August 3 in Australia), so in Australia it is Nerdfighter Esther's 16th birthday, a.k.a. Esther Day. — 00:00:00
    • John says that when he met Esther in Boston, he promised her that on her birthday, forever, the brothers would make videos about whatever she wanted. — 00:00:00
    • The description points to Esther's own vlog and asks viewers to wish her a happy birthday and to make someone they love aware of that love today. — video description
    • Esther told John she wants Esther Day to be about family and love. — 00:00:29
    • John jokes that showing Hank love should be enough without talking about it, but because it is Esther Day they will talk about family and love. (playful) — 00:00:29
    • John's hypothetical: saying you like your brother and showing love (thousands planting trees for his birthday) is not the same as telling him you love him, which John thinks Esther wants. (playful, hedged) — 00:02:26
    • John tells Hank that he loves him. — 00:02:55
    • John asks Nerdfighters to join Esther and him in telling someone they love that they love them today. — 00:02:55
    • John invites viewers, if feeling exhibitionistic, to say in the comments who it is hard for them to say 'I love you' to. — 00:02:55
  • 2010-08-27 · Rest In Awesome, Esther — John says it was because of Esther that on Esther Day he told Hank he loves him, which he does, though he doesn't want to talk about it. — 00:01:08

2011

  • 2011-08-03 · I Love My Brother — Hank says Esther was an awesome Nerdfighter who did amazing things with her friends; she would have turned 17 today had she not died of cancer. — 00:00:00
    • Hank opens by announcing it is Esther Day and trying out 'I love you' on John, promising he'll get there eventually. (playful) — 00:00:00
    • Hank recounts that last year (2010), when Esther was very sick, John promised the brothers would do whatever she wanted on her birthday in perpetuity, and she asked them to talk about family and love every year. — 00:00:29
    • Hank says he and John have a long-standing agreement (jokingly 'from birth') not to use the L-word about each other, though Nerdfighteria kept asking why they never say they love each other. (playful) — 00:00:58
    • Hank thinks Esther asked for Esther Day a little for herself and for Nerdfighteria, but mostly for the brothers themselves. (hedged) — 00:01:27
    • Hank tells viewers that this is what Esther Day is about: tell the people you love that you love them so that they know. — 00:01:56
    • Hank asks viewers to say in the comments who they love and how they're going to tell them. — 00:02:26
    • Having put it off since the opening ('John, I will get to you later'), Hank ends the video by telling John 'I love you'. — 00:03:16
  • 2011-08-05 · Vidcon: Thoughts from Places — John tells Hank 'I love that. I love you,' and wishes him a happy belated Esther Day. — 00:02:20
  • 2011-08-19 · Outtake Insanity and NERD FACTOR — John tells Hank the last reason they came to Montana is that Hank is his brother and John likes him; both then find the moment too awkward. (playful) — 00:02:02

2012

  • 2012-07-31 · Nerd Olympics — announcement: John announces that Friday is Esther Day, honoring Esther, who inspired much of The Fault in Our Stars and Nerdfighteria, by telling people we love that we love them. — 00:02:03
    • Esther's family is holding an Esther Day event in Quincy, Massachusetts; John urges viewers to go (link in the description). — 00:02:03
    • John loves Esther Day and is grateful to Esther for the gift of making people say 'I love you' to each other. — 00:02:32
  • 2012-08-03 · I Don't Understand My Life — Hank: When Esther was really sick, John told her the brothers wanted to celebrate her birthday every year the channel existed; after about two weeks she chose a day for saying 'I love you' to family and friends. — 00:02:19
    • This Esther Day viewers 'get a gold medal in love' if they say 'I love you' to people they don't usually say it to; don't take love for granted or assume people know how you feel. — 00:03:03

2013

  • 2013-08-03 · Esther Day 2013 — John marks Esther Day 2013, the day in memory of Esther when people say 'I love you' not to romantic partners but to friends and family, to whom it is harder to say. — 00:00:00
    • The description asks viewers to tell someone they love them today, even and especially if it is hard. — video description
    • both: John and Hank tell each other 'I love you'. — 00:00:18
    • John: the brothers remember Esther on Esther Day and every day by trying to spread her message of love. — 00:01:07
    • John recalls telling Esther the brothers would hold Esther Day on her birthday as long as they make Vlogbrothers videos; she chose love between family and friends as its theme. — 00:01:19

2014

  • 2014-05-06 · TFIOS Movie Madness, Incongruent, and Headless Hotel People — John: Getting 'Esther Day-y', John says listening to the album reminded him what a great musician Hank is and that he admires Hank and how he goes about his work. — 00:01:18
  • 2014-08-03 · Happy Esther Day! — Hank explains Esther Day: in 2010 John asked Esther Earl, a nerdfighter who helped inspire The Fault in Our Stars, what the community should do on her birthday; she chose love in families and friendships, not romance. — 00:00:35
    • Hank recalls that John last year (2013) called Esther Day a Valentine's Day for the rest of love. — 00:00:51
    • Hank asks viewers to take time today to say 'I love you' to people they don't normally say it to: it's a good thing to do, and it's what Esther wants. — 00:01:09
  • 2014-08-08 · Who Owns a Monkey's Selfie? And a Song About Meningitis! — Hank says that, for a first time ever on Vlogbrothers, he has three videos in a row, because of Esther Day and John's missed video; it's like the Hank Show and he doesn't like it. (playful) — 00:01:59

Also named in: Is the American Dream Real?

2015

  • 2015-08-03 · I Love You, Hank. Esther Day 2015 — John: On Monday, August 3rd, Esther Day, John says he is in Agloe, New York, though he can't be sure exactly where it is, a place 'only sometimes real'. (playful, hedged) — 00:00:00
    • John says that on Esther Day we remember Esther Earl as she wished, by celebrating love in families and friendships, not just romantic love. — 00:00:17
    • John says Esther Day is the day to say 'I love you' to family and friends even, especially, when it's hard. — 00:00:27
    • It is the one day a year the brothers say they love each other, so John 'reluctantly' acknowledges he loves Hank immensely. (playful) — 00:00:33

2016

  • 2016-05-03 · No Fumar — John wonders why it is so easy to say 'I love you' to his parents when he can only say it to his brother once a year, on Esther Day. (playful) — 00:00:56
  • 2016-08-03 · Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 — The description says Esther Earl, a Nerdfighter who died in 2010 at 16, asked that her birthday be a day for saying "I love you" to people you love but don't tell enough. — video description
    • Hank says Esther Day, August 3, celebrates kinds of love society is less good at celebrating, though they hold society together. (hedged) — 00:02:03
    • Hank tells John he loves him not for their projects or as collaborator and thinker but because he's a great brother who stands by him even when he's a jerk. — 00:02:16
    • Hank thanks Esther for giving everyone a day to remember that. — 00:03:15
  • …and 1 statement more in 2016 — all statements of 2016

2017

  • 2017-08-03 · HAPPY ESTHER DAY!!! — John marks Esther Day: seven years ago today Esther Earl made a video saying she loved her sisters, brother, parents, pets and friends, online and in real life. — 00:00:03
    • John says Esther died a few weeks later aged just 16, and every year on August 3, her birthday, they pause to celebrate Esther Day, a celebration of love. — 00:00:23
    • John says he will not say 'I love you' to Hank again for a year, and at the end looks forward to saying it again in 365 short days. (playful) — 00:00:53
    • John hopes viewers will take a moment on Esther Day to tell people in their lives that they love them, especially if it is hard to do. — 00:00:57
  • …and 1 statement more in 2017 — all statements of 2017

2018

  • 2018-08-03 · How Do Adults Make Friends? — Hank marks Esther Day, a day in the community, and ideally the world, to celebrate non-romantic love by telling the people you love that you love them, even if awkward. — 00:00:00
    • The description recalls that Esther Earl, asked by her family how she wanted to be remembered on her birthday, chose a celebration of love among family and friends. — video description

2019

  • 2019-08-02 · The Cutest Octopus — ask: Hank notes Esther Day is tomorrow and tells everyone to get ready to tell the people they love that they love them. — 00:03:37
  • 2019-08-03 · I Love John: Esther Day 2019 — Hank marks the occasion: it is the tenth Esther Day. — 00:00:20
    • For ten years, at the request of nerdfighter Esther Earl, the community has taken a day to tell friends and family, not internet faves or crushes, that we love them. — 00:00:45
    • Esther's request to celebrate her birthday by celebrating familial love was genius: there was no day for that, and the tradition needed to exist. — 00:02:40
    • Hank would never say any of that without the tradition; ten years in, it is normal for him. — 00:03:17
    • Hank asks everyone else, first-timers or ten-year veterans, to text, email, call or write a letter telling people who probably know it that they love them; they'll love hearing it. — 00:03:25

2020

  • 2020-08-03 · you're bundled up now? wait till you get older. — John recalls that just over ten years ago Esther Earl texted him that she wanted the holiday Nerdfighteria celebrated on her birthday, August 3rd, to be about love. — 00:00:20
    • About ten years before the first Esther Day, the picture was taken on a trip to the Grand Canyon, when they were young and full of hope and strong opinions. — 00:01:41
    • John says Esther was right that the constant is love: much from 2010 feels dated now, but not Esther Day. — 00:03:35
    • John hopes viewers will take a moment to tell friends and family that they love them and are grateful for their love. — 00:03:42

2021

  • 2021-08-03 · I L*** Hank — John: Eleven years ago, asked what holiday to celebrate on her birthday, Esther Earl imagined one celebrating non-romantic love in friendships and families, which too often goes unspoken. — 00:00:00
    • On Esther Day John tells Hank he loves him. — 00:00:00
    • Esther knew non-romantic love got too little attention and that John rarely said 'I love you' to Hank, so she gave them Esther Day, for which he is grateful. — 00:00:29
    • Esther died a few weeks after the first Esther Day in 2010, aged 16; her parents then founded This Star Won't Go Out, which gives direct financial support to families of kids with cancer. — 00:00:58
    • Tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern, This Star Won't Go Out's annual gala is virtual and free, with special guests including Sarah Urist Green and chances to donate. — 00:01:27
    • John sees the response in thousands celebrating Esther Day, the community's commitment to child health including pediatric cancer care in impoverished communities, and support for This Star Won't Go Out. — 00:02:26
    • John hopes viewers take a moment today to acknowledge the love in their lives, especially the kinds that are hard to say out loud. — 00:02:55
    • In a P.S. John says he really hopes to see viewers at tonight's Esther Day Gala, linked in the description. — 00:03:25
  • 2021-08-06 · Remembering What's Special — Hank says Esther Day this week (week of 2 August 2021), and all the lovely things that happened around it, reminded him what is so remarkable about this community, an even more important reason not to make gripe videos. — 00:00:48

2022

  • 2022-08-02 · Liberty Leading the People: How Revolutions Turn — ask: The description says tomorrow is Esther Day and asks viewers to register for the Esther Day livestream (8 PM Eastern) featuring Sarah and John. — video description
  • 2022-08-03 · Why is it So Hard to Say 'I Love You'? — Hank wishes John a happy Esther Day, tells him he loves him, and says that saying it is getting easier, and he has ideas why. — 00:00:00
    • The description asks viewers to register for the Esther Day livestream (8 PM Eastern) featuring Sarah and John. — video description
    • Hank's third reason: Esther made them practice. — 00:01:56
    • Hank says anything new is hard the first time, and outside one's experience still hard the fifth, but after about 12 Esther Days it is easier, which is a good gift. — 00:02:40
    • Hank announces an Esther Day livestream tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern with people from This Star Won't Go Out, Esther's family, John and Sarah, and the Animal Wonders folks. — 00:02:40

2023

  • 2023-08-03 · I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. — John explains Esther Day: a holiday founded by Esther Earl, a friend and longtime nerdfighter who died of cancer in 2010 at 16, for the love between family and friends. — 00:00:00
    • The description invites viewers to join the Esther Day livestream tonight at 8 PM Eastern. — video description
    • John says he is now functionally forced to say 'I love you' to Hank once a year, and the brothers have been saying it more in private. (playful) — 00:00:58
    • John says this Esther Day hits different: Hank's cancer diagnosis reminded them life is fragile and that they are fortunate in the people they share life with. — 00:01:27
    • John says Esther saw this at 16 better than he did in 2010, and gave them the holiday as a chance to tell people they care. — 00:01:27
    • John encourages viewers to say 'I love you' to the people they love, especially when it's hard. — 00:03:16
  • 2023-08-04 · The Biggest Science Story of the Week — Hank thanks John for his lovely Esther Day video and tells him he loves him too. — 00:00:29
  • 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated — John says he told Esther the holiday would be on her birthday as long as they make Vlogbrothers; she wanted it about love between family and friends, a Valentine's Day for the rest of love. — 01:43:00
  • …and 1 statement more in 2023 — all statements of 2023

2024

  • 2024-08-03 · I Love Hank. (Also I'm back.) — John returns to YouTube on Esther Day after his longest break in 11 years, says he is feeling much better and thanks viewers for their kind messages. — 00:00:00
    • The description asks viewers to register for the Esther Day Party this evening. — video description
    • John recounts that in 2010 the community created a holiday on the birthday of nerdfighter Esther Earl, who was dying of cancer and was asked what holiday she wanted. — 00:00:20
    • John hopes viewers who have a moment today will tell someone that they love them, in Esther's honor. — 00:00:40
    • John tells Hank he loves him, noting they have traditionally said it only on Esther Day for fear of being too cloying or sentimental. — 00:00:45
    • Esther's friends and family will celebrate her and Esther Day tonight, Eastern Time; John, Wheezy Waiter and Flula will be there, with a link in the doobly-doo. — 00:02:26

2025

  • 2025-08-03 · Why I Actually Love My Brother — Hank says saying 'I love you' to his brother is not physically difficult but not natural: even after all these years of Esther Days, the words feel like they belong somewhere else. — 00:00:00
    • Hank says dads and daughters, dads and sons (newly) and sisters say 'I love you', but brothers not so much. — 00:01:31
    • Hank explains Esther Day: on her birthday, an annual celebration of Esther Earl's life, which she asked to be a celebration not of romantic love but of platonic love. — 00:03:03
    • Hank invites viewers to the 15th annual Esther Day celebration, a virtual party starting at 3 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Mountain, where folks celebrate love, friendship and community; the link is in the description. — 00:03:14
  • …and 1 statement more in 2025 — all statements of 2025

2026

  • 2026-08-03 · Esther Day 2026: Some Thoughts on Loss — John explains that since 2010 the community has marked Esther Day each August 3rd in memory of nerdfighter Esther Earl, who wished for a day to tell friends and family 'I love you'. — 00:00:00
    • The description says that at tonight's free Esther Day Virtual Party, celebrating love, friendship and community, John joins Sarah Urist Green for a special Esther Day Dear Hank & John. — video description
    • John hopes viewers will overcome the awkwardness of saying 'I love you' and let people in their lives know they love them. — 00:04:08
    • John hopes viewers will join him, Sarah and lots of others today for an Esther Day party hosted by Esther's family, with more info in the description. — 00:04:08
  • …and 1 statement more in 2026 — all statements of 2026