JAKARTA - July 30 coincides with International Friendship Day or International Friendship Day. It's not a hard day to celebrate. But Friendship Day means a lot if it is spent by the special people in our lives.
Maybe in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic like this it is not possible to gather. But whatever it is, minimizing the hatred and humiliation that spreads around the world is an idea that International Friendship Day wants to share.
Citing National Today, International Friendship Day was first proposed on July 30, 1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, an international civic organization that campaigns to promote a culture of peace through friendship. The idea of celebrating Friendship Day globally came from Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho on 20 July 1958.
At that time he was sitting down to dinner with friends in Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay. The group of happy friends paved the way for the founding of the World Friendship Crusade.
This organization is intended to be a foundation that will promote friendship and fellowship among human beings regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. Friendship Day in the United States (US) was promoted by the National Association with greeting cards during the 1920s.
But such celebrations have been rejected because they are considered to take commercial advantage to promote greeting cards. In the 1940s the number of Friendship Day cards available in the US dwindled.
Until now Friendship Day is not known to be celebrated in Europe. But Friendship Day is more lively in Asia.
Then in 1998, the wife of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Nane Annan named the cartoon character Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations. The event was hosted by Kathy Lee Gifford and sponsored by the United Nations Department of Public Information and the Disney Company.
Finally, on 27 April 2011 the UN General Assembly declared 30 July as the official International Day of Friendship. The Assembly even went so far as to invite all member states to celebrate the occasion in accordance with the customs and practices of their respective countries.
Although July 30 is a day designated by the United Nations as Friendship Day, some countries choose to hold the celebration earlier and extend it to July, August and/or April.
Such as in South America, Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia. The countries choose the first Sunday of August each year to commemorate Friendship Day.
Meaning of friendship
Friendship is studied for centuries from ancient times to the present day as the basis of social foundation. Friendship is present at all stages of life and belongs to the realm of true sentiment.
The health benefits of friendship have also been proven. The journal “This Brings you to Life” The Impact of Friendship on Health and Well-being in Old Age: the Case of La Verneda Learning Community by Susana León-Jiménez features research on adults in a Barcelona school.
The research shows how friendships formed in adult schools operating for more than 40 years have a positive impact on well-being and health. With friendship and solidarity, people at the school do not feel alone.
They don't worry much when trouble comes because they realize they are not alone. The impact of friendships experienced at school is significant.
Some doctors even recommend their patients to attend the school to overcome loneliness and improve health. With the friendship that is formed at the school, they feel valuable and feel again "breathing life."
This is in line with the words of Aristotle that friendship is the most important thing in life.
*Read other information about WORLD HISTORY or read other interesting articles from Putri Ainur Islam.
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