Friendship Day 2023: Who introduced the concept of friendship day and when

"A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies." — Aristotle. 

Friendship is a beautiful bond and however cliché it may sound, there’s no better relationship than friendship. And to commemorate it we celebrate it annually on the first Sunday of August. 

But the question is why? Even after the UN has declared July 30 as the International Friendship Day, in India we celebrate friendship day on the first Sunday of August and this year it falls on August 6.  

History of Friendship Day 

The Greeting Card National Association had introduced this idea in 1920 to increase the sale of greeting cards but people soon realized that it was just a marketing gimmick and stopped following it. Later the concept of this day was again introduced by the owner of Hallmark Greeting cards, Joyce Hall in 1930. 

After almost 3 decades, in 1958, World Friendship Crusade also proposed the idea, but it was only in 2011, that the United Nations declared July 30 as World Friendship Day. Since different nations celebrates it on this day and India celebrates it on the first Sunday of August. 

Other than India, countries like Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Bangladesh also celebrate friendship day on the first Sunday of August. 

3 best ways you can celebrate this day:

Go for a movie date:

If your friend is a movie junkie then what better than a movie date followed by an amazing meal at your favourite restaurant.

Explore the city:

In our busy schedule we often forget to spend time with our friends. So, this friendship day explore the city and discover new places with your friends and make new memories with them.

Plan a staycation:

As friendship day falls on a Sunday, what's better than a staycation? Surprise your friend and book a nice bed and breakfast or a room and spa with a pool and spend an Ah-mazing day with your BFF.

Also watch: According to a study platonic friendship is good for mental health