International Friendship Day 2023, Date, History and Significance

International Friendship Day 2023

Every year on July 30, people all around the world come together to observe International Friendship Day also known as World Friendship Day. This special day is for celebrating the beautiful bond of friendship and promoting its importance in the life of an individual. One of the most well-known quotes that perfectly captures the emotions of friendship is “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Friends are the ones on whom we can always count on during challenging times, for receiving support and advice. In the given post, we have discussed in detail International Friendship Day 2023, Date, History and Significance.

Important Days In July 2023

International Friendship Day 2023: Date

The date for International Friendship Day marks on 30 July 2023. World Friendship Day is a means to convey the message of peace and harmonious relationships between individuals, communities, cultures, and countries. By emphasizing the value of friendship, this day encourages people to build strong connections with one another, spreading a sense of unity and understanding throughout the world.

International Friendship Day 2023: History

In 1930, Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards, organized the first Friendship Day on 02 August in the United States. However, over time, the celebration lost its popularity as people realized it as a plot to enhance the sales of greeting cards. In 1958, the World Friendship Crusade, an International Civil Organization, proposed observing International Friendship Day on July 30. In 1998, the United Nations designated Winnie the Pooh(cartoon character) as the world’s Ambassador of Friendship by Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The idea of an International Friendship Day was initially proposed by UNESCO and was later adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997. To bridge the gap among people from different countries, irrespective of their religion, gender, race, color, etc. was the main motto behind the celebration of World Friendship Day. On April 27, 2011 the United Nations officially declared July 30 as International Friendship Day. While various countries celebrate Friendship Day on different dates, India observes it every year on the 1st Sunday of August .

International Friendship Day 2023: Significance

The significance of friendship is not only found in human relationships but is also depicted in the holy books of different religions. In the Epic book Mahabharata and the Bible, friendship is explained as a bond of trust, faith, and companionship. International Friendship Day serves as a medium to connect communities worldwide. Friends are the ones whom we choose and they have a crucial role in our lives. At the darkest moments of our lives we can rely for a helping hand and emotional support on our friends by making them invaluable companions at every stage of life. During childhood, friends help us learn the values such as sharing, caring, etc. As we grow and enter the phase of adulthood friends become confidants, with whom we can share our feelings and problems that we may not be able to disclose to our family members and thus we make them our secret keepers. Remember true and reliable friends always provide guidance, leading us in the right direction. In times of solitude especially during old age friends become the best companions who bring comfort and joy to each other’s life. On International Friendship Day, the United Nations encourages governments, community groups, and organizations to organize various activities, events, and campaigns that promote the essence of friendship. People commemorate this day by exchanging gifts, cards, friendship bands, chocolates, flowers, and other tokens of appreciation to express their affection and gratitude for their friends.

The theme for International Friendship Day 2023 is “Sharing The Human Spirit Through Friendship”. The main objective of World Friendship Day 2023 theme is to build strong and meaningful connections between individuals.