Día Internacional de la Amistad

It’s that time of year! Finally, it’s International Friendship Day on Saturday, July 30, 2022! You might think it might just be another one of those holidays made up by social media, but it’s not. Instead, there’s a lot more depth you might not have thought was there.

In this article, we’ll discuss the history behind International Friendship Day, how to celebrate it, and why you should observe it!

The History Behind International Friendship Day

Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Inc., created Friendship Day. However, at the time, people in America did not appreciate it for what it was. Instead, most people considered it as a marketing campaign to sell more gift cards. And while the holiday never caught on, it was eventually adopted by social media and thus brought back into the mainstream.

In 2011, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed July 30 as International Friendship Day. As a result, the holiday took on a deeper meaning than its last incarnation.

The UN intended for the day to be one in which we commemorate peace, happiness, appreciation, and unity. As such, it helps further the message of world peace, co-existence, and cooperation.

And while in the US, it might not be a huge deal. But, in East Asia, India, and South America, it is. In these countries, they make an effort to spend the day with family, close friends, and people they interact with daily.

How Do We Celebrate International Friendship Day?

There aren’t any specific rules or norms for celebrating International Friendship Day. But there are a couple of things you and your friends can do to celebrate and commemorate the occasion.

Creating Gifts for Your Friends

It might not be Christmas or their birthday. Still, you can buy your friend something small for International Friendship Day or, better yet, make them something!

Create a nice little gift for your friend, something unique they might not get anywhere else. Creating something for your friend shows the lengths you would go to show how much you care.

Spending the Day with Your Friends

Perhaps the best way to celebrate International Friendship Day is to hang out and enjoy the company of your buddies! Watch some movies, eat dinner, or just chill at your house together. Whatever you choose, make sure your friend knows you appreciate and love them.

Host a Small Party

That’s right! Hold a party at your place, make some food, and invite your friends over! Gathering friends helps build those connections to people you might have spoken to in a while. In addition, it brings some of your most important people under one roof. It will also help your friend groups get to know one another.

Do Something New and Exciting Together

Doing something new and exciting with your friend can bring you closer to one another. Research shows that relationships become much more intimate when people experience life-changing events or exciting adventures together. So take your friends to an amusement park, go on an adventurous road trip, or do anything enjoyable. The more experiences you have with them, the closer you will become.

Thank Them on Social Media

It might be a bit cliche, but social media is a great way to show your friends that you appreciate them and everything they have done for. Commemorating them in a public space lets them know how much you appreciate them. It’s social proof of your strong friendship.

The Beauty in Friendship

The beauty of friendship comes from the memories, the experiences, and the love you have for one another. So this International Friendship Day, commemorate the memories and good times with the special people in your life.

Happy International Friendship Day!