International Day of Friendship has its origins thanks to the American company Hallmark. To this day, the company is still known for its greeting cards. They hoped that people would embrace the idea and send each other cards with good wishes. The international organisation
World Friendship Crusade, founded in Paraguay in 1958, is also linked to the origins of the
International Day of Friendship, as they have been working for decades for the day to be recognised internationally. The International Day of Friendship ("Día de la Amistad") still has a special charm in Paraguay today. If we act in a spirit of goodwill, we can make this day special for ourselves and our friends.
In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the
International Day of Friendship to be observed on 30 July. Dialogue between different cultures, solidarity, mutual understanding, and reconciliation are promoted through events and other activities on this day. At times of insecurity and unrest, this is particularly important. The values that friendship embodies bring trust, togetherness, and happiness into our lives.
Having friends is an important part of our existence and affects the quality of our lives. Friends give us a sense of belonging and support, as well as bring joy into our lives. As humans, we are
social beings and having a friend means having someone with whom we share our interests, values, and experiences. In addition, friendships play a key role in shaping our identity and the way we deal with the world around us.
Friends can...
🍀 … have a positive impact on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
🍀 … be a source of support when we fall on hard times.
🍀 … be a source of encouragement when we face new challenges.
🍀 … create an environment and opportunities for us to grow as a person.
🍀 … reduce our stress and improve our self-esteem.
A very interesting research has demonstrated how powerful the impact of friendship can truly be. The research focused on the visual perception of slants. They asked participants who were alone, and participants who were accompanied by a friend, to estimate the steepness of a hill. Participants accompanied by a friend estimated a hill to be less steep when compared to participants who were alone. (Schnall et all., 2008)
Time at university is also a time to form new friendships and make new professional acquaintances. The university environment is unique, as individuals with different backgrounds come together. By interacting with new people, especially those with diverse backgrounds, our horizons are broadened, and our world view is shaped. The university years are among the most important periods of our lives, during which we can form precious friendships that leave us with many beautiful and interesting memories.
Time at university is also a time to form new friendships.
The International Day of Friendship is certainly a day, when we reflect with gratitude on the friends who are an important part of our lives.
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Schnall, S., Harber, K. D., Stefanucci, J. K., and Proffitt, D. R. (2008). Social support and the perception of geographical slant. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 1246-1255.