Celebrated as a day for friends, this is one of the most popular global celebrations
As the world celebrates ‘Friendship Day’ on Sunday, 6 August, we get into some interesting facts and details related to this popular day.
For those who are unaware, the ‘International Friendship Day’, also popularly known as the ‘World Friendship Day’, was first proposed by the ‘World Friendship Crusade’, an international civil organization, in 1958. The organisation advocated fellowship and friendship among fellow human beings, irrespective of their race, colour, or religion.
Originally meant to be celebrated on the 30th of July, the celebration was moved on to the first Sunday of August.
In 2011, the United Nations had officially declared 30th July as the ‘International Day of Friendship’, with the sole aim to a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding among nations and individuals, and fostering friendly bonds between people from across diverse backgrounds.
However, many countries across the globe, including India, celebrate the International Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August, and despite the difference in dates, the spirit of the celebration remains the same.
This year the International Friendship Day, which is being celebrated on 6 August, coincides with the ‘Hiroshima Day’, a very significant day which marks the 77th anniversary of the devastating atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, during World War II. This historic day stands as a remider of the destructive power of nuclear weapons and the catastrophic impact they can have on civilian populations across the world. In a way, it emphasises on the importance of global friendship for a better future for all.
Today, the ‘International Friendship Day’ enjoys a global observance and is enthusiastically celebrated in various countries across the world. For millions this day provides with an oppourtunity to express their love and appreciation for their friends.
This day is celebrated in unique ways and styles in different cultures and communities, with the popular ones being the exchanging of gifts, organizing of fun events, and spending of quality time with friends. together.
Following into the digital age the celebrations of ‘International Friendship Day’ spreads across the social media like wildfire. On this day, like in the case of many other such celebrations, the internet gets flooded with people sharing messages of friendship, photos and memorable moments with their friends.
All online platforms are filled with friendship hashtags like #InternationalFriendshipDay, #WorldFriendshipDay, #FriendshipDay, #BestFriendsForever and the likes.
On a different level, many people also encourage to take the spirit of friendship beyond their loved friends and into the world of strangers who may not be lucky enough to have good friends or friends in general.
Many charitable campaigns and events flag off on the International Friendship Day and continue strong for years. If nothing else, then some kind souls share their kindness and goodwill with strangers, if only for a day.
Many look at this day as an opportunity to reignite lost friendships and make up for the past as an act of friendship and forgiveness.
Whatever the reason, and whatever the way, the ‘International Friendship Day’ helps spread the strong message of friendship, understanding, compassion and the natural bond that binds us all as humans.
Happy Friendship Day to all of you!
Last Updated on August 6, 2023 by lp@admin
