Celebrating National Friendship Day In August And Beyond

National Friendship Day is a yearly holiday celebrated on the first Sunday in August. This event is a time to remind ourselves that no matter where we live—from a small town to a big city—true friendship remains a universal source of comfort and wonder as well as an essential part of emotional well-being and community. Learning about the importance of friendship, the history of this holiday, and how you can celebrate old and new friendships can be a way to honor Friendship Day this year. 

Friendships are important to your overall wellness

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The history of National Friendship Day

While the US came to officially recognize Friendship Day in 1935, many other countries—particularly India and various places in South America—embraced this type of event far earlier, incorporating it into local customs. The spirit of Friendship Day transcends geography, and it has now become a cherished tradition across more than one culture.

Friendship Day around the world

Friendship Day is celebrated in many different ways across countries and cultures around the world. For example:

• In some places in South America, particularly Paraguay and Argentina, people celebrate by exchanging bracelets and handwritten notes.
• In India, Friendship Bands have become a long-standing tradition among students and young adults.
• In Japan and parts of Europe, social organizations and schools mark the event with community activities.

These worldwide celebrations highlight a culture of connection and gratitude that unites people globally. Wherever you are, National Friendship Day offers a better way to reflect on meaningful relationships and remind you to take a rest from the stress of everyday life to enjoy your closest bonds. Taking time to connect with friends—through calls, letters, or social gatherings on this day and year-round—may help improve mental health, reduce loneliness, and foster a sense of community belonging.

Celebrating on the first Sunday of August or on July 30th 

The date of Friendship Day can vary in some countries. Some countries celebrate it on the first Sunday of August. However, in other countries, the celebration is on the 30th of July.

National Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August

The Greeting Card Association voted to observe the first National Friendship Day on Sunday, August 6th, 1922, the first Sunday of the month. Some saw the idea as a commercial gimmick devised by the industry to sell more greeting cards. While the idea of celebrating friendship may have been positive, connecting it to the industry that would profit from it was not well-received. Nevertheless, in 1935, Congress legitimized the idea, proclaiming the first Sunday of August National Friendship Day and June 8th National Best Friends Day the same year.

International Friendship Day on July 30th

Other countries adopted the idea officially in the years that followed. The United Nations General Assembly named Winnie the Pooh the world's ambassador of friendship in 1997 and observed the first International Friendship Day, or International Day of Friendship, on July 30th, 2011. 

How friendship day can help promote emotional well-being

Building and maintaining friendships can help improve self-esteem, emotional balance, and resilience. In fact, research suggests that close social connections can be crucial for overall well-being, with social isolation identified as one of the “main predictor variables” in mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety.

That’s why celebrating the tradition of Friendship Day is not just a social event, but an opportunity to improve connectedness and wellness. It’s one chance people have out of many year-round to nurture their social relationships through gestures large and small. This day can remind all who celebrate it, regardless of the culture they come from, that going through life with friends is usually a better way than going through it alone.

How to celebrate this day with friends

When you have friends who you see all the time or who are a constant presence in your life, you may not always take the time to let them know how much they mean to you. For these close friendships, you can use National Friendship Day as a reason to let them know how important they are to you and an opportunity to do something special for them. Below are a few ways to do so: 

Ways to celebrate National Friendship Day with existing friends

If you’re looking for ideas on how to celebrate National Friendship day with your existing friends, there are plenty of options. Consider some of the following:

• Seek out the perfect gift or make them an item that shows a friend how much they mean to you and how well you know them. If you’re stuck for ideas, friendship bracelets and best friend necklaces may be positive options. 
• Instead of squeezing in a quick dinner or night out, plan an entire day of fun or a weekend away for you and your closest friends.
• Send personalized messages or small gifts inspired by Friendship Day customs from a particular culture in South America or India.
• Binge-watch a new series together, making time to get together once a week or once a month to spend some downtime together in rest and relaxation.
• Sit down and create a “Friendship Bucket List” together, listing all the adventures you hope to have together. 
• Plan a “no tech” gathering with your friends, inviting everyone to dinner at your house or a picnic in the park and enforcing a “no smartphones” rule to encourage you to spend quality time together.
• Host a virtual celebration with friends from a different town or even different countries.
• Donate in your friend’s name to a charity that means a lot to them.
• Take a class together to learn a new skill, like cooking, knitting, or dancing.

Regardless of the activity you choose, the goals of this holiday are simply to spend quality time with those you love and to show them how much they mean to you.

How to reconnect with old friends on National Friendship Day

If you have friendships that have lasted decades but don’t always have time to get together, National Friendship Day can be an opportunity to reconnect.

Tips for catching up with old friends, no matter the distance

Friendship Day can be a valuable opportunity to reconnect with old friends. Some ideas for how to do this include:

• Send them a thoughtful hand-written card, whether they live on the other side of the county or across the street.
• If you have an old friend who is a morning person, ask them to meet for breakfast at their favorite restaurant or a quick cup of coffee to catch up.
• Show them some virtual love by creating a social media post celebrating your friendship and memories, complete with photos, videos, and memes to share your connection and let them know how much they mean to you, even though you may not have the same area code.
• Post pictures taken back when you first met and post them alongside the last photo you took together.
• Take a road trip to a place you spent time together when you were younger, like your hometown, college campus, or destination that has meant a lot to you during your friendship.
• Plan a movie night where you watch the movies you watched together as kids.
• Set up a craft day at home where everyone brings a craft idea and supplies and spends the day creating together. 
• How to make new friends

How to make new friends

Making new friends can also be a meaningful way to spend National Friendship Day. 

Tips for making new friends

Making a new friend can sometimes happen by chance, but it’s also possible to put yourself in situations where you’re more likely to make connections. Here are a few ideas:

• Volunteering can be a way to meet new people. Find a cause you believe in to give back to your community meaningfully and potentially meet people who share your passions.
• Host a barbecue or block party in the name of friendship and invite your neighbors to allow everyone to get to know each other better. 
• Join a book club at your local library or bookstore to meet like-minded people who share your interests.
• Take a class to learn about a topic you are interested in, like watercolor painting, pottery, cake decorating, or poetry.
• Introduce yourself to local online groups and mention that you are seeking new friends.
• Consider strengthening your connections with friends of friends by hosting a dinner party or BBQ and asking each friend to bring one or two acquaintances to expand your friend group.
• Join an amateur sports team or exercise class to meet others while staying active.
• Join an outdoor group such as rock climbing, rockhounding, or hiking groups. 

Get support cultivating friendships in therapy

Research has found that adult friendships predict or are positively correlated with well-being. One review of 38 studies conducted between 2000 and 2019 found that socializing with friends and the quality of friendships predicted overall well-being. 

Learning friendship skills in therapy

Making and maintaining friendships often involves respect and communication. If you are looking to improve your relationships or want to become more comfortable making new ones, working with a therapist may help. A mental health professional can teach you more about conflict resolution, setting boundaries, and building confidence so that you will be more comfortable meeting new people and making new friendships.

How online therapy can help

Those who face barriers to finding a therapist in their area may also benefit from online therapy. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can meet with a licensedtherapist virtually—via phone call, video call, or live chat—from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have an internet connection at a time that suits your schedule. More than 30,000 providers are on the platform worldwide, and you can change therapists anytime until you find a fit. 

Research on the effectiveness of online support

In addition to being flexible and convenient, research has found that online therapy can be effective for treating a variety of mental health concerns in many cases. For example, a 2021 meta-analysis examined outcomes from both online and in-person therapy treatments. Its findings suggest that “clinically, therapy is no less efficacious when delivered via videoconferencing than in-person.”

Friendships are important to your overall wellness

Talk with a therapist to learn more