I love celebrating any holiday, as long as it’s fun and brings positivity to my life. So I mark the first Sunday in August each year as a keeper, just as I do all essential holidays I want to remember annually.
Here in the U.S., we celebrate National Friendship Day on the first Sunday in August. International Friendship Day is observed on July 30 each year. But remember that every day is an excellent opportunity to toast a friend!
How Did this Holiday Come About?
This holiday began in the 1920s, started by the Greeting Card Association. It wasn’t until 1930, however, when Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards, proposed the idea of Friendship Day being on the 2nd of August. In 1935, the U.S. Congress officially proclaimed the first Sunday of August as National Friendship Day. Its aim was to promote peace and goodwill after the First World War. Then, in 2011, the United Nations declared July 30th as International Friendship Day, encouraging global unity and respect across cultures, races, and beliefs.
How to Celebrate the Day
As shared from the start, I love any reason to celebrate anything fun and positive, any day of the year. Here are a few ideas you can do to celebrate this impactful holiday, this year and every year from now on:
- Send cards, notes, and gifts. Send a minimum of three cards, notes, or a fun (small in size and cost) gift by regular mail to someone you’ve not been in touch with for a long time. Who cares if it arrives past the actual holiday? Make mention of the holiday, and I guarantee your friend will receive your message or gift with joy. Of course, you can still send electronic greetings of any kind. It is the thought that counts.
- Spend time. Invite and gather friends to hang out — just for an hour, for a quick meal, beverage, or walk or hike. Who cares if your place is small? Invite as many people as the floor space will accommodate for an informal, home-cooked, carry-out, or potluck dinner. The beauty of this holiday is that it always occurs on a Sunday, a day most people observe as a day of rest and relaxation.
- Put effort into electronic messages. Make electronic messages more meaningful by attaching images of past times together that are reminders of cherished memories.
For more ideas on how to celebrate this day, click here for an article by Shutterfly. (Also at: https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/the-ultimate-guide-to-friendship-day/#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20Friendship,bring%20joy%E2%80%94your%20closest%20friends.)
Happy Practicing!
