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Esther Day: the brothers' annual videos on Esther Earl's birthday about what she chooses (2010)

project history · status: running · last event: milestone (2026-08-03)

Esther Day began on 3 August 2010, Esther Earl's 16th birthday, when John kept his promise to make videos on her birthday about what she chose: love in families and friendships. The brothers have marked it every year since, telling each other 'I love you', through 2026.

Parts: John asks Nerdfighters to tell someone they love that they love them on Esther Day (2010) · John asks viewers to comment who it is hard for them to say 'I love you' to (Esther Day 2010) · Hank asks viewers to comment who they love and how they will tell them (Esther Day 2011) · John asks viewers to attend Esther's family's Esther Day event in Quincy, Massachusetts (2012) · John invites viewers to enter the This Star Won't Go Out t-shirt design contest (2012) · Hank invites viewers to donate to This Star Won't Go Out on Esther Day (2012) · Project Lovely: This Star Won't Go Out's $5,000 grants for 13- to 30-year-olds to make the world better (2017) · The brothers ask viewers to join the annual Esther Day livestream party (2021)

Told alongside: Death of Nerdfighter Esther Earl, John's friend (2010) · The brothers' agreement never to use the L-word about each other (2010) · John asks Nerdfighters to buy This Star Won't Go Out bracelets at DFTBA.com/Esther (2010) · John asks viewers to vote for the Harry Potter Alliance to win a $250,000 contest, 'with Esther' (2010)

About: Esther Day, Esther Earl

date event what video
2010-08-02 launched On Esther's 16th birthday John marks Esther Day, explaining his promise to Esther that the brothers will make videos on her birthday, in perpetuity, about whatever she wants; she chose family and love. I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 00:00:00
2010-08-27 looked back John recalls that because of Esther he told Hank 'I love you' on Esther Day. → refers to I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 Rest In Awesome, Esther 00:01:08
2011-08-03 milestone Hank marks Esther Day 2011, what would have been Esther's 17th birthday, the second Esther Day, on her chosen theme of family and love. I Love My Brother 00:00:00
2012-08-03 looked back Hank retells Esther Day's origin: when Esther was really sick, John told her the brothers wanted to celebrate her birthday yearly, and she chose a day for saying 'I love you' to family and friends. I Don't Understand My Life 00:02:19
2013-08-03 milestone John marks Esther Day 2013, recalling that he promised Esther the day would fall on her birthday for as long as the brothers make videos and that she chose love between family and friends as its theme. Esther Day 2013 00:00:00
2014-08-03 milestone Hank marks Esther Day 2014, recalling its 2010 origin (Esther chose love in families and friendships) and John's phrase from last year (2013), 'a Valentine's Day for the rest of love'. → refers to Esther Day 2013 Happy Esther Day! 00:00:29
2015-08-03 milestone John marks Esther Day 2015, remembering Esther Earl by celebrating love within families and friendships, as she wanted. I Love You, Hank. Esther Day 2015 00:00:17
2016-08-03 milestone Hank marks Esther Day 2016, the day for kinds of love society celebrates less, telling John he loves him and thanking Esther. Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 00:02:03
2017-08-03 milestone John marks Esther Day 2017, seven years after Esther's video, celebrating the non-romantic love among family and friends she wanted honoured. HAPPY ESTHER DAY!!! 00:00:02
2018-08-03 milestone 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. How Do Adults Make Friends? 00:00:00
2019-08-03 milestone Hank marks the tenth Esther Day and shows John announcing the very first one. → refers to I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 I Love John: Esther Day 2019 00:00:20
2020-08-03 milestone John marks Esther Day 2020, ten years after the first, recalling Esther's text asking that the day celebrate non-romantic love. you're bundled up now? wait till you get older. 00:00:00
2021-08-03 milestone 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. I L*** Hank 00:00:00
2022-08-03 milestone Hank marks Esther Day 2022, saying the brothers have now practised saying 'I love you' about 12 times thanks to Esther. Why is it So Hard to Say 'I Love You'? 00:02:40
2023-08-03 milestone John marks Esther Day 2023, telling Hank he loves him; this year's (2023) Esther Day hits different after Hank's cancer. I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. 00:00:00
2024-08-03 milestone John marks Esther Day 2024, returning to YouTube for it and recalling its 2010 origin on Esther Earl's birthday. I Love Hank. (Also I'm back.) 00:00:00
2025-08-03 milestone 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. Why I Actually Love My Brother 00:03:03
2026-08-03 milestone 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'. Esther Day 2026: Some Thoughts on Loss 00:00:00

What is said about it

44 statements, by date (the events above are the turns of the thread; these are the details).

  • 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
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — 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
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — ask: 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
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — John: Esther told John she wants Esther Day to be about family and love. — 00:00:29
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — 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
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — 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
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — John tells Hank that he loves him. — 00:02:55
  • 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 — ask: John asks Nerdfighters to join Esther and him in telling someone they love that they love them today. — 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
  • 2011-08-03 · I Love My Brother — announcement: 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
  • 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
  • 2011-08-03 · I Love My Brother — 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
  • 2011-08-03 · I Love My Brother — Hank thinks Esther asked for Esther Day a little for herself and for Nerdfighteria, but mostly for the brothers themselves. (hedged) — 00:01:27
  • 2011-08-03 · I Love My Brother — Hank: 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
  • 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
  • 2013-08-03 · Esther Day 2013 — both: John and Hank tell each other 'I love you'. — 00:00:18
  • 2013-08-03 · Esther Day 2013 — John: the brothers remember Esther on Esther Day and every day by trying to spread her message of love. — 00:01:07
  • 2013-08-03 · Esther Day 2013 — 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
  • 2014-08-03 · 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
  • 2014-08-03 · Happy Esther Day! — Hank recalls that John last year (2013) called Esther Day a Valentine's Day for the rest of love. — 00:00:51
  • 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
  • 2016-08-02 · Beckoning Lovely — announcement: John will see Hank tomorrow because it will be Esther Day. — 00:02:58
  • 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
  • 2016-08-03 · Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 — 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
  • 2016-08-03 · Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 — 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
  • 2016-08-03 · Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 — Hank thanks Esther for giving everyone a day to remember that. — 00:03:15
  • 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
  • 2018-08-03 · How Do Adults Make Friends? — 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
  • 2019-08-02 · 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: 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
  • 2019-08-03 · I Love John: Esther Day 2019 — Hank: 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
  • 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
  • 2020-08-03 · you're bundled up now? wait till you get older. — John: 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
  • 2020-08-03 · you're bundled up now? wait till you get older. — John says Esther was right that the constant is love: much from 2010 feels dated now, but not Esther Day. — 00:03:35
  • 2021-08-03 · I L*** Hank — John: On Esther Day John tells Hank he loves him. — 00:00:00
  • 2021-08-03 · I L*** Hank — John: 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
  • 2021-08-03 · I L*** Hank — 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
  • 2022-08-03 · Why is it So Hard to Say 'I Love You'? — Hank's third reason: Esther made them practice. — 00:01:56
  • 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
  • 2023-08-03 · I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. — announcement: In a channel comment John says he added 'Happy Esther Day' to the title because people seemed to get the wrong vibe from it. — creator comment
  • 2023-08-03 · I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. — 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
  • 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
  • 2024-08-03 · I Love Hank. (Also I'm back.) — 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