International Friendship Day: Why, How, and the Stories Behind It

Friendship is a word that is so simple, but has much emotion, trust, and companionship. Friends make us feel good, and companionship is part of our lives whether it is the childhood friend who held our hand during embarrassing years at school, or the colleague a friend has become, to make long days of work easier. They are the select family who provide help, humor, and consolation with none of the judgment.

International Friendship Day is a very important occasion celebrated in most parts of the world that should be respected not only as an opportunity to send memes to friends or make outing plans but to actually appreciate the bonds that are important in life and to them. However, what is this day and how did it become so popular around the world? So, what is the core, history and significance of International Friendship Day of the modern world?

Why Do We Celebrate Friendship Day?

The idea of dedicating a day to celebrate friendship dates back to the early 20th century. Hallmark cards Joyce Hall became the first recorded person to propose a bottle cap moment in 1930. This vision led him to believe that a day will come when people will exchange greeting cards with their friends on their behalf.

However, it was not until 2011 that the United Nations officially recognized and established the International Day of Friendship. The program was set up to foster peace, harmony, and understanding among the different cultures by getting the people to create friendship bridges irrespective of race, religion, and nationality.

In most countries such as India however, it is more acceptable to celebrate friendship day on the first Sunday of augment, usually making appeal to the media, school culture and pop fads. It is less important which day you are willing to celebrate that day but the fact that it celebrates the spirit of true friendship.

Why Friendship Matters in the World Today?

In the busy digital era when followers on social media are treated as good friends, actual friendships have become more treasured, and needed, than ever. Here’s why:

• Sensorial Well-being: A good friend gives us a platform to be ourselves. Spouses take care of us during bad moments, making us happy in a successful endeavour, reducing stress and anxiety.
• Social Connection: Particularly in a solitude period, like the one with COVID-19, the significance of a successful social connection stood out. It is not merely pleasant to be connected to other human beings but it is biologically necessary.
• Cultural Awareness: Minorities and foreignness in friendship foster acceptability, sympathy and international dissimilarity.
• Lifelong Development: Friends make us grow-both in personality and as well as in professional life. They provide worldviews that we did not previously take into consideration and press us to become the best versions of ourselves.

How International Friendship Day Celebrated Around the World?

All countries and cultures have their own way of celebrating Friendship Day. The festivities will be different but the spirit of celebrating friendship will be the same.

India

In India, the day is bright in whatever way among teenagers as well as college students. Friends even make Friendship Bands amongst each other, exchange gifts and more frequently share stories on social media. Friendship Day is marked with special offers in cafes, restaurants, brand-names and is a day of celebration and strengthening of friendship.

United States

It is not extensively recognized as a national holiday, rather people organize barbecues, meet up with their friends, send cards and wish each other digitally.

Brazil

In Brazilian culture, there is a day dedicated to friends and it is unofficially referred to as Dia do Amigo (Friend day). This is celebrated on July 20 where friends eat out and exchange gifts.

Argentina

Amigo Day, also known as Día del Amigo, is one of the most significant celebrations in Argentina, dedicated to honoring friendships and social bonds. Restaurants are full and phone lines are clogged with greetings and social media is flooded with appreciation messages to friends.

Online Celebrations

With the digital era, virtual birthday parties are popular with some people using Zoom or virtual messages to friends as well as tagging friends in nostalgic photos. The Internet has made the world more international thus a globalized day due to the evolution of friendships between people living in different countries.

How To Make Friendship Day Special?

These are a few considerate ideas of how to carry out the International Friendship Day, be it your neighbors or your international friends:

1. Write a Letter by hand

A handwritten note on a personal note can be very moving. Describe to the full extent how you feel, appreciate your friend in particular memories and teach your friend about your unique bond.

2. Surprise Call/visit

A phone call with an old friend, particularly, someone you have not talked to in a while would make the day special to both of you.

3. Friendship Brunch or Virtual Gathering

Celebrate by having a mini party or a virtual one. Memory-sharing, games, and laughter can help a lot.

4. Memory Scrapbook

The first triangle activity, a Memory Scrapbook is a good activity to use at the start of this lesson to raise awareness of some of the challenges facing the poor today. In Memory Scrapbook, the students are given issues about the lives of the poor that they cut and paste into a scrapbook.

Make a digital or physical scrapbook, with photos and old texts and some small inside jokes. It is a classic gift to mark your friendship odyssey.

5. Volunteer Together

Spread kindness to people outside your circle on the day. You can volunteer with a friend or collect donations to a local NGO. Friendship at its greatest can be built when something good is done and memories created.

The Friendship & Mental Health 

Numerous studies have shown that friendship plays a crucial role in supporting and maintaining mental well-being. They minimize the threat of depression, uplift self-esteem and in fact give way to some physical well being benefits such as reduced blood pressure and an extended life.

In contrast to family (which we do not make a choice), it is all voluntary when it comes to friendships. The voluntary part brings in a special layer thereof – we put emotions into it, we forgive, we evolve. Our true friends can tell when we are up to something, when we are in trouble, they do not need our assistance because they will stick by us and they will congratulate us even remotely.

Having a reliable friend may be all that makes a difference especially during the time of a personal crisis.

Conclusion

One of life’s treasures is friendship, taking it in the purest form possible. International Friendship Day does not merely boil down to putting on fun activities or sharing on social media but it is about celebrating loyalty, trust and love that friends bring into our lives.

Friendship is a reminder in a world that worlds highlight the little things that make us different and in a world where divisions occur everywhere that there is commonality in experience, values and respect. In the midst of celebrating this day, we have time to give some appreciation to the people who stood by us and maybe give a call to the people we lost touch with.

Therefore, this Friendship Day, say it with a call, say it with a card, or say it with a good heartfelt hug; just make your friend know that they matter. Real friends do not enter your life; they are there to stay in your life and enrich your life like no other person can. In simple terms, they only make days special and precious, and they make routine days live like memories. Since behind all great memories will always be a friend who has made them memorable.

FAQs About International Friendship Day

Friendship Day Quotes

“A good friend glances over your damaged fence and appreciates the beautiful flowers”  

“True friends who can grow separately without growing apart is the most beautiful revelation”

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world that probably doesn’t come to life until they approach us”

“A true friend is somebody who sees anguish in your eyes when everyone else focuses on the smile”

“Anybody can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathize with a friend’s success.” – Oscar Wilde

“To have a friend, one has to be a friend”

“True ties are not determined by the time or favours spent together. But through comfort, when you know that you have each other”

“Real friends are not those who remove your difficulties. They are the ones that will not disappear when you face hardships”

“Good friends are like diamonds — bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style.” – Nicole Richie

“The one who believes in you, when you stop believing in yourself, is a loyal friend”