National Friendship Day is celebrated every year on the First Sunday Of August to honor the purest bond of friendship. Friendship is a treasure trove of laughter, memories, and support. It's the sunshine on a cloudy day, the warm hug when you need it most, and the bond that lasts a lifetime.

Friendship provides a foundation and a ballast upon which humans can rely in this ever changing world. National Friendship Day offers an ideal opportunity and reminder to show appreciation and affection toward friends. National Friendship Day gives us a chance to express gratitude towards our friends and reflect on the cherished bond and people that support us through thick and thin. 

History of National Friendship Day 

Starting out more than 100 years ago as simply a way to encourage people to send a card to friends to show that they care, National Friendship Day has morphed and evolved over the past century.

Less than a decade after the Hallmark Card Company was started in 1910, founder Joyce Hall was working to find creative ways to encourage people to send more greeting cards. Friendship Day began as one of these ideas in 1919, to add to other days like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Sweetest Day. By 1922, the idea was brought to the Greeting Card Association and it became more widespread.

By 1935, the United States Congress followed suit, making National Friendship Day the first Sunday of August. Though the popularity of National Friendship Day fizzled out a bit in the United States in the 1940s, perhaps related to global events, it seems to have been making a comeback in recent decades.

In fact, in 2011, the United Nations began its recognition of the International Day of Friendship, which runs along the same vein and is set to be celebrated a few days sooner than National Friendship Day.

No matter how it began or where it has gone along the way, the idea for a day of friendship is meant to recognize and appreciate the bond of friendship between humans. A shared spirit of solidarity is vital when facing the pressures of the world today.Deepening bonds of trust and camaraderie among people, young and old, can help to provide stability and safety that help to make the world a better place. And National Friendship Day is the perfect way to get started!

How To Celebrate and Activities National Friendship Day

1. Send a Handwritten friendship card

A simple, handwritten card on friendship Day can go a long way! First, let your friend know that you appreciate their friendship. Then, a handwritten card can quickly bring a smile to your friend’s face and nurture your connection. 

Mention what you love most about your friends, such as honesty, kindness, humor, acceptance, and generosity. Ensure that you are open and sincere about your expressions without any exaggerations.

2. Give a friendship hug!

A warm hug from a friend can make them feel loved and appreciated. It is an expression of love and how special someone is to you. A hug is a communicative and comforting form of touch that makes others know how we feel about them.

3. Make or Buy Friendship Bracelets

One person gives a friendship bracelet to another as a symbol of friendship. The history of friendship bracelets dates back to the indigenous peoples in South and Central America. Friendship bracelets are primarily homemade and symbolize true devotion and care towards one another. It also signifies a unique bond and respect in the relationship.

4. Take some photos

This year’s National Friendship Day can be more memorable if you take photos or shoot videos of you and your friends having fun! Photography or video shooting provides a great way to cherish a moment and preserve memory. Taking pictures with friends can help you maintain their faces when they are far away and remember what you shared when you were together.

Friendship day is an important occasion because friends are an important part of our life. Without friends, people would feel lost and lonely. Friends cheer up our life and bring joy. Hence, this special day is necessary to celebrate all the important friends in our life. Children’s social skills develop only when they have a lot of friends. Children who do not have friends end up becoming shy and alone.