International Day of Friendship is celebrated every year on July 30. This significant day aims to give a reminder to the people that friendships, whether between individuals, communities, or nations, play a crucial role in building peace, understanding, and harmony across the globe.
Origin
Paraguay proposed the idea of an International Day of Friendship in 1958, but in 2011 the United Nations General Assembly officially declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship. The UN’s vision was to promote dialogue among cultures, encourage mutual respect, and nurture friendships that can bridge differences and promote global cooperation.
Significance
True friendship is about support, empathy, and connection. The International Day of Friendship aims to highlight the role of friendships in fostering unity and reducing conflicts at every level. This day encourages people to reach out, make new bonds, and appreciate the friends who stand by them. It also inspires communities and governments to involve young people in activities that promote peace, respect for diversity, and kindness.
Celebrations around the world
People celebrate this day in meaningful ways, by sending messages, exchanging friendship bands, and tying friendship bands to their close friends. Schools and organisations often host events, storytelling sessions, and community-building activities to mark the occasion. So, whether it’s a childhood friend, a coworker who became family, or a companion from across borders, July 30 is the perfect day to tell them how much they mean to you because friendship is one bond that truly knows no boundaries.
