As Beth Stuckwisch once said, “The circle of friendship is a place of warmth and care, where people come together for listening and sharing…“ To mark this special bond without which life seems to be mundane; every year Friendship Day is celebrated, on the first Sunday of August, to honour the role of a friend in one's life.
Friends are indeed an integral part of our lives. That one person with whom you can just be yourself, and who loves you in all your flaws. That person who enjoys irritating you for no reason but is also the only person you know to turn to when you need someone. Friendships have a lot of memories to unfold... That person who rejoices in your success while also lends a shoulder to cry on when you fail; there are far too many stories about friends and friendships!
History Of National Friendship Day:
In the 1930s, Hallmark Cards used National Friendship Day as a marketing strategy. Joyce Hall decided it would be a day to celebrate the people who mean the most to you — and to send them a card or two in the process. When the United States Congress declared the first Sunday of August as National Friendship Day in 1935, it quickly became a bigger deal than anyone had anticipated.
The holiday grew in popularity, and the United Nations designated Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship in 1998. It also designated July 30 as International Friendship Day during its 65th session in 2011.
Significance Of Friendship Day:
According to the United Nations, the International Day of Friendship can help to advance world peace and social harmony. Poverty, violence, and violations of human rights are just a few of the challenges, crises, and dividing factors threatening global peace, security, development, and social harmony. Promoting and maintaining a familiar spirit of human solidarity, which manifests itself in a variety of ways, the most basic of which is friendship. As a result, friendship is necessary.
Celebrations In India:
Students and teenagers tie friendship bands on each other’s wrists as a gesture to celebrate the bond of friendship. Some also exchange gifts and cards to make the day even more special.
Thus, friendship has got different kinds of stories and all of them are beautiful in their own way. But, with time, many of them are left behind in this journey of life. What stays back are some old letters, friendship bands, cards and a whole lot of memories to cherish for a lifetime.