About Friendship Day

The emotions and feelings related to the friendship is difficult to be deciphered. From ancient times, there has been numerous instances of friendship that have changed the entire meaning of humanity. The friendship is one such emotion which is well utilized by the writers and directors into books, literary works or movies.

Emphasizing on the importance of friendship, the great ancient Greek Philosopher and scientist exclaimed, "Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god. "

The virtue of friendship has been appreciated by one and all over the world. To encourage the global bonding of friendship among people, Friendship is celebrated among people on different dates. Most of the countries like India followed the USA date of the occasion which falls on First Sunday of August every year. The Friendship Day in UAE is celebrated on 30th July every year.

What is true friendship?

True friendship is a profound connection that transcends mere acquaintanceship. It is a bond built on trust, loyalty, and unwavering support. It is a safe haven where we can be our authentic selves without fear of judgment. It is a relationship that withstands the test of time and embraces us in both joyful and challenging moments. In true friendship, there is mutual respect, understanding, and acceptance. It is a deep connection that goes beyond surface-level interactions, where we share our joys, sorrows, and vulnerabilities without hesitation.

Moreover, a true friend celebrates our successes, comforts us in times of sorrow, and stands by our side through thick and thin. They are someone who listens without judgment, offer guidance without imposing, and love unconditionally. They inspire us to grow, challenge us to become better versions of ourselves, and believe in us even when we doubt ourselves. Furthermore, true friendship is a treasure that brings laughter, warmth, and a sense of belonging. In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, true friendship nourishes our souls and reminds us that we are not alone. It is a priceless gift that fills our lives with love, support, and companionship.

Origin and significance of Friendship Day

The idea of Friendship Day was given by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards in the year 1930. Earlier, it was proposed to celebrate the Friendship Day on 2nd August by sending greeting cards and other items as the holiday celebrations. The idea was further promoted by the greeting card National Association during 1920s but was not taken in a healthy spirit as it reflected the commercial gimmick to promote the greeting cards in the name of Friendship Day.

The present day efforts in this direction was evident when the US Congress in the year 1935 decided to celebrate a day in the honour of friends. Although, the exact reason for the celebration of Friendship Day is not known but the need for it was felt due to the devastating effects of the First World War. The occasion was thought as an effort that could dissolve the mistrust, hatred and enmity among people of various countries through the strong ties of global friendship.

To work in the same direction, US Congress marked the First Sunday of August as Friendship Day through a formal proclamation that was announced in the year 1935 as a holiday to honour the friendship. Later on other countries also joined the celebration and the Friendship Day began to be celebrated in other countries as well. The International Friendship Day was also decided to be celebrated on 30th July as per the resolution adopted by United Nations in 2011. It was decided to forge a strong bond of friendship among people of various countries irrespective of their race, colour, gender, religion, ethnicity and other such factors.