Recognizing the power of friendship makes the day extra special.
Today, July 30th, is International Friendship Day! I researched the history of this special day, and thought I'd share what I recently learned.
Origination of the Idea
In my research, I learned the idea of the day originated by Joyce Hal, the founder of Hallmark Cards.
Some online articles state she came up with the idea in 1919 while other online articles state 1920. There are a few online articles that claim Hallmark Cards created the day as part of a marketing strategy in the 1930s.
Perhaps Joyce Hal originally came up with the idea in 1919 or 1920 and later decided to promote it as part of a marketing strategy after she founded Hallmark Cards in the 1930s. However, this thought is just a guess as I couldn't confirm it through my research on Friendship Day.
No matter the year, Joyce recognized the value of friendship (and marketing).
Founder Joyce Hal intended for friendship day to be celebrated on August 2nd. The goal was for people to celebrate their friendship with their closest friends. Of course, a great way to celebrate their friendship in the early 1900s was to buy and send greeting cards.
Going Worldwide
The idea of celebrating friendship day gained a lot of popularity. In the 1950s, Dr Ramón Artemio Bracho proposed the idea of World Friendship Day to his colleagues in Paraguay. His proposal led to the creation of the World Crusade of Friendship.
The World Crusade of Friendship promoted celebrating those closest to you, be it family members, friends, colleagues, or employees. The group encouraged peace, friendly gestures and behavior, cultural awareness, attempts to understand others' situations and problems, build companionship through social interactions, and acknowledgement of all people of good will.
The World Friendship Crusade pushed for the United Nations to recognize July 30th as World Friendship Day. Apparently, their push to have Friendship Day recognized were effective. In 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared July 30th as International Friendship Day.
Many countries, including the United States, celebrate International Day. However, there are some countries that also celebrate Friendship Day at other times of the year. For example, in 1935, the United States Congress declared National Friendship Day as the first Sunday of August each year.
The Ambassador of Friendship
So, who is the Ambassador of Friendship? I'll give you a few hints below:
He's good-natured.
He's a loyal friend.
He's always willing to lend a helping hand.
He loves "hunny."
He often has a "rumbly in his tumbly."
His friends are his neighbors in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Winnie the Pooh, also known as Pooh Bear, was named the Ambassador of Friendship by the United Nations in 1998. According to the AP Archive, Winnie the Pooh was chosen as an Ambassador of Friendship because of "his consistent message of companionship, loyalty and friendship."
Silly fun fact: Winnie the Pooh is my dog Shadow's favorite plush toy. Shadow has several Pooh Bear plush around the house. If I don't feed Shadow his dinner on time, sometimes Pooh Bear makes his way into a food bowl or in front of the fridge.
What Makes a Friend?
The Oxford Dictionary defines "friend" as "a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations."
In my research of Friendship Day, I came across several online articles that state there are three types of friendships:
Friendships of Utility. This friendship proves to be beneficial and useful to at least one individual in the 'relationship.' There's something to gain from being friends, such as labor or gifts. This is most common between colleagues or business partners who work closely together to get a job or project done.
Friendships of Pleasure. This friendship stems from the pleasure, or enjoyment, at least one person has from another. It's a step up from friendships of utility in that the individuals in this relationship typically enjoy one another's company.
Friendships of the Good/Virtue. This friendship, considered to be the highest level in all the online articles I read on this topic, consist of individuals who genuinely care for their friend(s) based on their character, not what their friend(s) have to offer. Admiration of the greatest form exists in this friendship. Individuals in this relationship typically have similar values and goals in life. They want nothing but the best for their friend(s), inspire one another to strive for greatness, and love one another for who they are.
I don't have a lot of friends, but I'm fortunate and blessed to have a couple great friends that care about me and like me the way I am, despite my quirky traits. I also care about them and hope the best life has to offer goes to them first.
My Friends
Of course, I can't finish this blog without bragging about my own friends. I'm fortunate to have four great friends. I'd say our relationships are a combination of friendships of pleasure and friendships of the good.
My friends make me feel good about myself, which is beneficial for me emotionally since I tend to put myself down a lot. They like me for who I am, which I still haven't figured out why since I've pranked them often with fake insects and threaten gifting glitter bombs constantly.
I won't mention their names because I want to protect their identities. However, they may read this (even though one hates reading outside of work) and I want them to know what I value most about their character and personality. Speaking of character...
Below are a couple Disney characters that I feel sum up my friends well. Hopefully, they'll be able to tell which character I chose to represent them.
Pirate Redd. After a refurbishment in 2018 that changed the infamous auction scene in Disney Parks' Pirates of the Caribbean rides, Redd, also known as the Redhead, now appears to be a woman who can hold her own with the men. She embodies empowerment and represents great strength. My Pirate Redd friend possesses a great deal of confidence, especially when put in a difficult challenging situation. She becomes stronger with each passing day.
Belle. Belle is the embodiment of unconditional love and friendship. She's intelligent, open-minded, and has an active imagination that allows her to think outside of the box. Belle demands to be treated as an equal and speaks up for her rights and the rights of others. My Belle friend possesses humility, thinking about others before herself. Recently, she's finally been focusing on her own well-being, showing her determination to find and create her own exciting adventures of happiness in life.
My other two friends are my dogs, Shadow and Rascal. They're loyal, playful fur balls that love me unconditionally every day. That, or they look forward to the meaty treats they get from time to time. I choose to believe the former.
What's Next?
While today is International Friendship Day, mark your calendar for National Friendship Day on August 2nd, 2020 as celebrated in the United States.
Keep in mind that good friends are worth celebrating every day, even if celebrating simply means sending a message letting them know they're on your mind.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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