Friendship Day 2024: When Was The Ocassion Celebrated For The First Time

Friendship Day is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of August. This year, the occasion will be marked on August 4. Ahead of the day, know all about its history and who commemorated it first. 

When was the first Friendship Day celebrated?

The first Friendship Day was celebrated on July 30, 1958, in Paraguay, South America. The day was declared by Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho, a Paraguayan politician and writer, who proposed the idea of a day dedicated to friends. Bracho's vision was to create a day where people could come together and strengthen their friendships, fostering a sense of community and belonging. The day quickly gained popularity in Paraguay and soon spread to other countries in South America.

When was it globally recognised?

In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship, recognizing the importance of friendships in promoting peace, understanding, and social cohesion. This recognition marked a significant milestone in the evolution of Friendship Day, as it acknowledged the universal value of friendships in bringing people together. 

Now, Friendship Day is celebrated in many countries around the world on the first week of August, this year it will be celebrated on August 4.