Friendship is a unique bond that is both simple and profound. It’s a relationship built on trust, empathy, and shared experiences. Friends are the people who stand by us through thick and thin, offering shoulders to cry on, a listening ear, and a hearty laugh when we need it the most. They are the people who see us at our best and the worst, yet love the same. Friendships enrich our lives, bringing a sense of joy, security and belonging that few other relationships can offer.  From a young age, we learn about the significance of friendships and their impact on our lives, especially in a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected and globalized. Friendships are a significant part of our existence. International Friendship Day which falls on the 30th of July is a special occasion dedicated to cherishing friendships.

As earlier noted, this is not the only day that friendship is celebrated in different parts of the world. Several countries like Paraguay celebrate this ceremony on the 30th of July, while other countries have selected different dates. For examples, Argentina, Brazil and Spain observe Friendship Day on the third Saturday of July which is within the second week of July, while in India and the US, they celebrate it on the first Sunday in August. In Finland and Estonia, Friendship Day is celebrated on the same day as Valentine’s Day, 14 February. It’s a day to cherish the bonds that enrich our lives, bringing joy, comfort and a sense of belonging. This heartwarming day reminds us of the beauty of friendship, transcending boundaries and cultures and highlights the universal human need for companionship and support.

International Day of Friendship got its start about a hundred years earlier though. Originally founded by Hallmark in 1919, this was intended to be a day for people to celebrate their friendship by sending each other cards. But, by 1940, the market had dried up, and eventually, it died out completely.

Why Friendship Matters:

• Mental Health: All human beings need friends in their lives to be psychologically healthy. Friends share daily experiences, stress, joys and challenges which cause either an increase or decrease in health.
• Support System: Often, friends are viewers and listeners who provide advice, the balm for sorrow, the spur to action. They can also provide comfort and help to accept one’s role in the social structure or cope with life’s highs and lows.
• Personal Growth: Friends help us to transform. It also makes us personally develop and improve on an aspect of being open.
• Joy and Fun: Having a party at election time or on such occasions as Friendship Day, one can have simple joy with friends. This celebration is always characterized by humor or happiness in the form of fellowship, gifts or random acts of charity.

How People Celebrate It:

Wherever it’s celebrated, the celebrations are very similar. Friends meet up to spend time together. They may eat out or have a meal at home. They give each other small gifts: books, flowers, and simple Jewellery such as a friendship band (a simple bracelet). Some people send each other cards and greetings online. Whatever form the celebration takes, the spirit is the same – to remember the importance of friends and the power of friendship.

Message to the World:

The essence of friendship lies in kindness, empathy and genuine care for one another. The true meaning of friendship can be found in small acts of love, shared laughter and unwavering support. On this day, we should also spend some time and share with those who are lonely or in dire need of fellowship. Open the door for someone, give a thumbs up and brighten their day. For in giving friendship, we get the biggest thing that we could ever have.

Cheers to those friends that are like our siblings, to all the stories told, shared and untold and to all the fun that is yet to be experienced. May our amicable relationships remain on, to brighten our lives and that of our surrounding environment.

References:

https://shorturl.at/RFkCd
https://shorturl.at/VHrtu

Image Courtesy:

Featured Image – https://shorturl.at/VZTId
Content Image 1 – https://shorturl.at/OaXwY
Content Image 2 – https://shorturl.at/rZFbF
Content Image 3 – https://tinyurl.com/4rjtkjua