International Day of Friendship - July 30th

“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.” – William Butler Yeats

When is the International Day of Friendship?

July 30th is the International Day of Friendship which means a day of honouring one of the most important relationships we can form in our lifetime. Want to learn more about how this special day came to be and what you can do to celebrate? Well then, let’s dive right in!

What is the International Day of Friendship?

The International Day of Friendship (otherwise known as ‘Friendship Day’) is a day dedicated to recognising the lasting bonds we have formed with various friends over time. It’s also a day to celebrate and personally reflect on what it means to be a good friend. They truly make all the difference in our lives. Whether they've been with us since childhood, we’ve met them at work or doing the hobbies we love, one thing is true - that a friend in need is a friend indeed!

The Origins of the International Day of Friendship

For as long as humans have roamed the Earth, friends have helped to make our day just that little bit brighter. So of course it's only right that, as with any loved one, an entire day be dedicated to these special people. Did you know that the origins of Friendship Day can be traced almost 100 years back to America? Let’s take a journey through time and discover the history of this special day.

1930 - The day was first proposed by J.C.Hall (an American businessman and founder of Hallmark greeting cards) who wanted to promote the idea of a global holiday honouring friendships. At the time, Christmas and Valentine’s Day were the only card-giving holidays. Hall chose the date of August 2nd, which was even recognised by the national Greeting Card Association. However, the idea fell out of favour as many interpreted the effort to be a marketing ploy rather than a genuine holiday to celebrate friendship.

1958 - Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho was at a dinner with friends (how fitting!) in the Paraguayan town of Puerto Penasco when he brought up the idea of a Global Friendship Day. Here, the World Friendship Crusade was also born. This is a foundation that promotes friendship and harmony among all human beings, in spite of their differences. Through this organisation, Dr Bracho would continue to lobby the UN until it officially recognised the day in 2011.

1998 - Nane Annan, wife of the late UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, named Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations. The UN awarded the fictional bear an honorary plaque thanking him for his “consistent message of companionship, loyalty and friendship."

2011 - The International Day of Friendship was officially announced by the United Nations General Assembly with the idea that “friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.”

How can you Celebrate International Friends Day?

There are a variety of traditions and activities that people around the world participate in to celebrate International Friends Day. Although 30th July is the United Nations’ designated date, this differs for some countries around the globe. For example, Venezuela, Estonia and the Dominican Republic are just a few countries that choose to celebrate it on the same day as Valentine’s Day. Whereas in India and the USA, a national version is celebrated on the first Sunday in August.

In Paraguay, they play a game named ‘Amigo Invisible’ (Invisible Friend) which works in a similar way to ‘Secret Santa'. Each person within a group of friends writes their name down on a small piece of paper and puts their name in a hat. The hat is then shaken and everybody must pick one piece of paper (with one name) and not tell anybody whose they have got. This is the person that you will then get a gift for. On Friendship Day, the ‘Amigo Invisible’ (Invisible Friend) must then reveal themselves.

Here are some fun ways to celebrate Friendship Day with you and your friends:

• Meet up with your friends outside - go for a walk in the park and have a picnic

• Book a dinner reservation to catch up with friends

• Give your friends a call - either audio or video - if you’re not able to meet up

• Exchange small gifts with friends

• Make friendship bracelets for you and your friends to tie around each other’s wrists

• Make and send cards to all your closest friends

• Continue being a great friend - encourage, support and take care of those nearest and dearest to you!

In the mood for more feel-good stories of friendship? Our Tandem Tales tell the stories of friends from different corners of the globe whose love of languages connects them in ways they would have never imagined beforehand. Why not have a read of some of our recent Tandem Tales!

Now that you know all about International Friendship Day, go ahead and wish your friends well on their special day.

Written by Zsazsa Osei-Gyamfi