International Friendship Day 2025: Date, History, Significance, Celebration And Gift Ideas
International Friendship Day 2025 Date: Introduced by the United Nations (UN), International Friendship Day is observed every year on July 30. The day promotes friendship, harmony, and mutual understanding across cultures, races, religions, and nations. Though not a public holiday, people mark the occasion by exchanging warm messages, spending time with friends, and celebrating the spirit of unity.
Friendship Day History And Significance
The concept of a global friendship day was first proposed in 1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, a civil organisation based in Paraguay. Decades later, in 2011, the UN General Assembly officially designated July 30 as International Friendship Day.
The goal: to inspire peace-building efforts and strengthen bonds between individuals and communities, regardless of their background. The UN particularly encourages the involvement of youth, believing young people can foster a culture of respect and diversity, paving the way for a more inclusive and peaceful world.
Many nations have also adopted their own National Friendship Day. In India, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August, while in the United States of America (USA), it is observed on February 15.
Friendship Day Celebration Ideas
In our increasingly busy lifestyles, it is getting harder to reunite with friends. But the International Friends Day is a fantastic opportunity to share an evening and spend time together with your school or college friends, whom we only occasionally meet these days.
People celebrate International Friendship Day by calling, greeting their friends and organising fun activities, including parties, moving outings, night outs, vacations, hiking or even something as simple as a lunch or dinner taken together amidst a dose of old stories, jokes and nostalgia.
Friendship Day Gift Ideas
Friends also give each other gifts on International Friendship Day. Here are a few thoughtful gestures you can make for your friends:
Traditionally, friends tie wristbands on each other in schools and colleges and established it as a mark of their connection.
Friends also give each other colourful cards with friendship vows and messages, flowers and other gifts that convey how special our friends are to us.
The colourful wristbands have given way to bracelets and jewellery these days for kids and adults that are available easily in the market.
People also share handmade cards on International Friendship Day, expressing their true feelings for each other.
You can also give your friends a pleasant surprise by creating an attractive and heartfelt post on your Instagram handle with your best pictures and memories together, bringing a smile to their faces.
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First Published:
July 30, 2025, 06:02 IST
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Hindustan Times
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Happy Friendship Day wishes 2025: 50+ messages, images, status, quotes to share with close friends
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You've been my safe space, my cheerleader, and my anchor. I'm forever grateful for your friendship. Happy Friendship Day. 2. You came into my life and made it warmer, kinder, and so much better. Happy Friendship Day. 3. Thank you for being the kind of friend who makes the world feel less heavy. Happy Friendship Day. 4. Distance, time, or silence — nothing can weaken the bond we share. Happy Friendship Day. 5. Through every season and storm, you've stood by me. I couldn't ask for more. Happy Friendship Day. 6. Your friendship feels like home — steady, comforting, and full of love. Happy Friendship Day. 7. I may not say it often, but your presence in my life is one of my greatest blessings. Happy Friendship Day. 8. You've held my hand in silence when words failed. Thank you for being you. Happy Friendship Day. 9. To the one who sees my soul even when I hide behind smiles — Happy Friendship Day. 10. Friends like you make life's toughest moments survivable and its best moments unforgettable. Happy Friendship Day. Nostalgic Friendship Day wishes Memories with friends are cherished forever. (PC: Canva) the days when we had zero money but all the fun? Those were the best. Happy Friendship Day. 12. From sharing lunchboxes to life lessons — we've come a long way, haven't we? Happy Friendship Day. 13. Our friendship was written in doodles, bunked classes, and late-night calls. Happy Friendship Day. 14. The chaos we created in school still makes me smile. Happy Friendship Day! 15. We've grown up, but the memories still feel like yesterday. Happy Friendship Day. 16. Every time I see an old photo of us, I'm reminded of just how epic our friendship is. Happy Friendship Day. 17. Thank you for being part of my childhood, teenage drama, and adulting struggles. Happy Friendship Day. 18. Life keeps changing, but our friendship remains a constant comfort. Happy Friendship Day. 19. 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It is about cherishing the deep strength of knowledge, support, and human connection to bring a more empathetic and more accepting world. Friends are our surrogate family. They give us a unique support system, a safe haven where we can relax enough to be ourselves without worrying about judgment. They are the ones who celebrate with us in our victories, hear patiently our troubles, and stand with us firmly through life's many twists and turns. From the earliest years, when friendships teach us the lessons of caring and sharing, through adolescence, when friends are the best of all buddies with whom to ride the whirlwind of teen metamorphosis, and even in later life, friends fight off loneliness and bring the necessities of living into sunlight and fullness. The day invites us to look at such valuable connections and to thank the positive that friendship brings into our lives. 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