International Day of Friendship 2018 – July 30

We have a question for you—would you say your friendships enrich your life? The United Nations General Assembly loves their friends too—so much, in fact, that they proclaimed July 30 as International Day of Friendship. The resolution, launched in 2011, recognizes that friendship between individuals, countries, and cultures can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. It’s focused on promoting conversations between different communities and civilizations—so it’s all about planning community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity. How are you going to celebrate friendship today?

International Day of Friendship Activities

1. Send a card to a friend
Yes, they’re probably your Facebook friend, but a card sent through postal mail can mean a lot to both the sender and the recipient. There's nothing like an actual greeting card to brighten your friend’s day—it’s more personal.

2. Become a pen pal
Remember the fun of having a pen pan in grade school? Revive that feeling as an adult! You'll have even more deep and meaningful conversations than you did as a kid, and you might even make a new friend.

3. Throw a dinner party
What better way to get all of your friends gathered in one place? Have your friends invite one of their friends that you don’t know. It’s a great way to meet new like-minded people who want to get involved in the community.

Why We Love International Day of Friendship

A. It encourages you to learn about other cultures
Our country, workplaces, and schools increasingly consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups, so making an effort to learn about another’s way of life, belief system or language is important. Every person makes a unique contribution to the larger society because of, rather than in spite of, their differences. And today reminds us to celebrate them all.

B. It opens the door to new friendships
For some of us, making new friends can seem overwhelming—it’s out of our comfort zone. But the skill of building friendships is one of the most important ones you can learn, and striking up a conversation with someone new can lead to a lasting friendship.

C. It can teach you how to be a better friend
Let’s face it; we’re all super busy these days. We work, spend time with our significant others and family—and many times our friendships are the relationships that are neglected the most. But International Day of Friendship is a day where we can reach out to our friends, new and old.
