Friendship day was first celebrated in United States. It was promoted by Joyce Hall – Founder of HallMark cards. You will be surprised to know that it was celebrated in United States at the time of official announcement of Congress. After that United Nations joined this event and slowly it spread all over globe. In 1998, Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, named Winnie the Pooh as the world’s Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations.
Among all countries in Asia, Friendship day is most popular in India. On friendship day, there is public holidays in schools and government offices. People gather in small or large groups and celebrate this day by having drinks, lunch or dinner together. Friends acknowledge each other by giving cards and gifts.
Friendship Day celebrations occur on different dates in different countries. The first World Friendship Day was proposed for 30 July in 1958, by the World Friendship Crusade. On 27 April 2011 the General Assembly of the United Nations declared 30 July as official International Friendship Day. However, some countries, including India, celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August.