World Friendship Day: About, Themes, Origin

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Jul 13, 2023, 12:29

International Friendship Day is celebrated worldwide to promote a feeling of friendship among various countries to live in harmony. Humans have an innate ability to make new friends.

Today's world faces numerous challenges related to discrimination, distrust, cultural bias, maltreatment, and miscommunication. Amid this chaos, friendship is a breath of fresh air. It provides an escape from problems while also assisting in searching for solutions. Friendship, compassion, unity, peace, and happiness are promoted on International Friendship Day.

History of International Day of Friendship

The International Friendship Day celebration date is July 30. Friendship day reminds us of Hallmark greeting cards, meeting with friends, exchanging gifts, and happy moments. The day started in the early 1930s.

  • However, the World Friendship Crusade first proposed and promoted the idea of celebrating International Friendship Day on July 30, 1958.
  • In 1998, UN Secretary Nane Annan's wife declared Winnie the Pooh, the world ambassador for friendship in the United Nations.
  • After several years, the United Nations declared July 30 as the date for the celebration of International Friendship Day to honor the special bond of friendship.
  • The idea of celebrating International Friendship Day was to unite people, countries, and cultures who can together inspire others to spread peace and happiness.

Aim of International Friendship Day

Today, International Friendship Day has found a deeper meaning and a broader aim of mitigating hate and mistrust. The day aims to spread awareness and promote peace around the world. International Day of Friendship aims to -

  • Enhance peace and harmony across the world
  • Appreciate unique friendships among people
  • Encourage friendships not restricted in age, culture, gender, color, or background.
  • Enhance the feeling of oneness and equality among people
  • Promote respect, tolerance, and understanding

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Worldwide International Day of Friendship Dates

It is important to note that every country's International friendship day date is not fixed. The dates vary; somewhere, the day is celebrated on July 30, whereas in some countries, the day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August.

Given below is a brief overview of the dates of International friendship day 2022:

Country

When is International friendship day celebrated?

India

First Sunday of August

Spain

July 20

Colombia

Second Saturday of March

Finland

February 14

Bolivia

July 23

Significance of Happy International Friendship Day

The International Friendship Day signifies the bond between friends and the characteristics of selflessness, tolerance, and acceptance.

  • Through the International Day of Friendship, the United Nations aimed to evoke the feeling of peace, acceptance, and tolerance between countries.
  • This effort can bridge the gaps between countries and work out solutions for different problems.

International Friendship Day 2022 - Themes

International Day of Friendship is celebrated by millions of people worldwide. They express their love for their friends through several gestures and activities. Some of the gestures involved in celebrating International Friendship Day include -

  • Phoning, meeting, and sharing warm wishes with friends
  • Sending Friendship Day emails, texts, and cards
  • Sharing meals
  • Sending flowers, chocolates, and gifts to friends
  • Exchange friendship bands and bracelets
  • Exchanging letters with PenPals
  • Reading books on friendship
  • Participating in meetings, activities, and community events that promote friendship
  • Sharing social media posts on friendship

Quick Facts About International Friendship Day

  • World Friendship Day is one of the most famous and celebrated days worldwide.
  • The International Friendship Day was first celebrated in Paraguay in 1958 and was proposed by Dr. Artemio Bracho.
  • The idea of celebrating the International Day Of Friendship came from Hallmark, a popular greeting card company.
  • The date proposed by the company was 2nd August.
  • However, this day did not gain popularity as people found it a deliberate move to earn profits.
  • On the 10th Anniversary of International Friendship Day, the Beatles released the song "with a little help from my friends," dedicated to friends and friendship.
  • Nane Annan, the wife of the UN Secretary-General, named the cartoon character Winnie the Pooh as the friendship ambassador.
  • We all have friends, and we cherish their friendship. International Friendship Day celebrates this bond.
  • Further, the day aims to enhance peace and happiness.
  • The world is encouraged to celebrate International Friendship Day in communities and schools.
  • Celebration of this day has positively impacted people and young children concerning building relationships, developing caring behaviors, and respecting people despite different cultures, ages, gender, or preferences.

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Brief Summary of International Friendship Day 2021

The day was celebrated by sending gifts and greeting cards from one friend to another. Most people who believe in International Friendship Day make sure they spend quality time with their special friends.

  • Not only this, as a commitment to maintaining a friendship for a long time, individuals put extra effort into friendship bands and tie them on their friends' wrists.
  • It gestures to make their friends feel special about them and their bond.
  • International Friendship Day 2021 helped people strengthen their friends' bond with modesty and reality.
  • The day let them overlook the differences and the grudges they bear about each other.

Celebration During International Day Of Friendship

There can be many ways to celebrate International Friendship Day in 2022. Some of the best ones are mentioned below.

  • If you haven't met your friends for a while, you can plan a causal outing with them or your regular friends. It is a perfect way to create fresh memories during this special occasion.
  • Hallmark presented the concept of celebrating friendship by sending cards. You can make and forward a unique card on International Friendship Day and let your friends know how important they are to you.
  • If a community center is near your place, you can visit and explore the cultural celebrations with your close friends. Just check out the timings and attend any events you find interesting. This way you will meet new people and make connections with them.
  • An interesting and exciting way to celebrate international friendship day is to plan a trip to experience adventurous things together and have a wonderful time by knowing each other more.
  • If you haven't contacted any of your best friends, call them and discuss numerous topics. Make them feel comfortable by having long hours of conversations and decide to conduct a small meet-up.
  • Celebrating International Friendship Day at school or colleges can be super fun. Students can write articles about friendships and talk about the importance of their friends in their life.

International Friendship Day Greetings and Quotes

It is necessary to make your friends feel extraordinary on their dedicated day. Below are some of the most recent and loveliest International Friendship Day Greetings. Do not forget to share the adorable friendship day status with your friend.

  • "To my dearest friend, wishing you a very Happy International Friendship Day…. May with each passing year, the colours of our friendship get more intense."
  • "Finding a friend for life is not easy and not everyone is fortunate to have a true friend in life….Wishing a very Happy International Friendship Day."
  • "Friendship demands lots of sacrifices and efforts…. It is a game beyond hopes and expectations… Happy International Friendship Day."
  • "Wishing a very warm and Happy International Friendship Day to you my dear friend…. Let us exchange a promise today to be always there for each other no matter what!!!"

FAQs on International Friendship Day

Q.1. Who was the first to propose International Friendship Day?

Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho first presented the idea of International Friendship Day on July 20, 1958. He could think about this special day when he was having dinner with friends in Puerto Pinasco, a town on the River Paraguay about 200 miles north of Asuncion, Paraguay.

Q.2. Who declared the celebration of International Friendship Day?

World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organization, declared International Friendship Day on July 30, 1958. The main aim was to encourage a peaceful culture among the citizens through companionship. Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho initiated that the day must be celebrated globally.

Q.3. What is the International Friendship Day Date?

July 30 was declared International Friendship Day by the United Nations in 2011. This day we step back and get grateful for these connections between people, countries, and cultures worldwide. The day marks to facilitate peace, joy, and harmony.

Q.4. What is the aim of celebrating International Friendship Day?

Celebrating International Friendship Day promotes peace, happiness, and respect through friendship. The International Day of Friendship got reported in 2011 with the belief that friendship can boost peace and create bonds between communities and cultures.

Q.5. Is International Friendship Day celebrated everywhere on July 30?

A few countries like Bangladesh, South America, India, and Malaysia choose the first Sunday of August as International Friendship Day. In other countries, International Friendship Day is celebrated annually on July 30.

Q.6. What is the International Friendship Day theme for 2022?

“Sharing the human spirit through friendship” will be the theme for International Friendship Day in 2022. It indicates that the actual reason to face any circumstances must always be addressed. This requires promoting a shared spirit of humans in various forms.