Hi folks! Wish you a happy friendship day. People celebrate this day by exchanging wishes and friendship bracelets. With the advent of Social Networking and Digital greeting cards, the prominence of this day is felt all over the world. But only few people knew the origin of this culture. It always good to know something about a custom rather than following it blindly.
How it Started?
Tradition of celebrating a day in honor of friends began in 1935 in USA. Actually its origin dates back to 1919. In 1930, Joy Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards intended to celebrate the day on 02 AUG as this day falls between the null created by western calender holidays.
Fall and Rise in Popularity
By 1940, the custom gradually died out in USA as it was considered as market gimmick to promote greeting card sales(which is obvious!). It failed to spread other parts of the world except Asia. Asia carried this custom and eventually helped to revitalize it. First World Friendship Day was proposed in 1958 by many south american countries especially Paraguay and celebrated on 30 July every year. It gained high popularity in countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Southern America.
This day is celebrated on different dates by different countries. India celebrates it on every first Sunday of August, so this year it falls on 04 August.
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| Winnie the Pooh - World Ambassador of Friendship Day |
In 1998, Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, named Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship in an event that was co-sponsored by the United Nations Department of Public Information and Disney Enterprises.
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