Friendship Day Today 2020: We realise the importance of friendship and the presence of this lifeline is more crucial as the world is coping with the new normal times. With so much uncertainty around us, there is much anxiety and nobody can understand it better than your friends with whom you have literally grown together. As they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder so this friendship day will be more special as you try to keep the bond alive and also create more memories.

When was the friendship day introduced?

Friendship’s Day was first conceptualised by the founder of Hallmark cards, Joyce Hal, in 1920. Back in those days, it was celebrated by exchanging greeting cards. It was later in 1958 that Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho coined the term ‘Friendship Day’ and built a foundation namely The World Friendship Crusade.

After several years of the World Friendship Crusade, the United Nations recognised July 30 as World Friendship Day and finally, in 2011, the General Assembly of the UN declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship. However, it is celebrated on different days across the world. For instance, India celebrates it on the first Sunday of August but in Oberlin, it is celebrated as Ohio Friendship Day on April 8 every year. The US was the first country to start this tradition which was then followed by other countries.

What is the significance?

Friends are the ones with whom you share joys and sorrows and some of the friends turn out to be the best guide who helps you sail through the ups and downs of life. This is why there is a special day to honor these individuals who are such an important part of our lives.

Normally, people wish each other on this day and exchange gifts, wrist bands, etc. Friendship Day began to cherish friendships and life-long bonds but the occasion has been highly commercialized nowadays. Various companies manufacture greeting cards and gifts for selling.

Friendship day quotes

Friends make you smile, best friends make you giggle ’til you pee your pants. – Terri Guillemets

Best friends can turn a horrible day into one of the best days of your life. – Nathanael Richmond

A best friend is someone who can see the truth and pain in you even when you are fooling everyone else.

Best friends don’t necessarily have to talk every day. They don’t even need to talk for weeks. But when they do, it’s like they never stopped talking.

WATCH | Best friends Shivangi Joshi and Mohsin Khan narrate about their special bond