World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship takes place on 30th July.
The original idea for a day of friendship came from Hallmark cards in the 1930’s. Originally celebrated on 2nd August, the day was largely viewed cynically by the public as a money making exercise, sales of friendship day cards did not take off in Europe and by the mid-1940’s the day had faded into obscurity in the USA. The idea of a day to honour friendship was, however, adopted by a number of countries in Asia where it remained a popular custom to reserve a day for celebrating friendships and the exchange of gifts between friends.
The first World Friendship Day was proposed for 30 July 1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organisation that campaigns to foster a culture of peace through friendship. Many years later, in 2011, the 30th July was declared as the International Day of Friendship by the General Assembly of United Nations.
With the growing popularity of social media throughout the world, there has been an increase in celebrating World Friendship day and International Day of Friendship online as well as with community activities in local communities aimed at bringing those of different backgrounds together.
How to celebrate Friendship Day
There are no set rules on how to celebrate Friendship Day. The beauty of all friendships, whether tried and tested or new and burgeoning, is that each one is unique from the last. This gives you and your best buddies a blank slate to do whatever you want to do, within reason, of course, and celebrate it however you see fit, and how to honour the memories you have made together.
Taking a trip together to celebrate is an excellent way to make the day all about each other. You can visit places that mean something to you, whether that’s the beach where you first met or the scene of your most infamous exploits. Or, you can go to that one place where you promised each other you’d always go.
With so many people living such busy lives, however, not everyone can plan a big day out for each other. But that’s what makes Friendship Day such a wonderful occasion. Best friends understand that life often gets in the way, so they won’t be disappointed if there’s no colossal celebration in their honour. Maybe next year, though?
Just a phone call checking in on them could morph into an hours-long conversation discussing life, the universe, and everything in between. For long-lost friends, this is a great way to catch up and spill all the secrets that don’t end up on social media. For friends who still keep in regular contact, it’s always a great way to learn about what each other had for lunch.
Likewise, celebrating Friendship Day at school is easy, too. Students can write essays about what friendships mean to them, and why they consider their friends to be their best. Similarly, art, poetry, and other avenues are all ways to get kids thinking about what friendship is.
So, today more than any other day is the chance to let all your besties, whether near or far, know how much you care for and appreciate them. It’s the chance to reach out to old friends, new friends, and even those you see every day of the week, and do something that celebrates what your friendship means to you.