| Author: bipan thakur 05 Sep 2009 | Member Level: Silver Points : 2 |
International Friendship Day celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. The tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends began in US in 1935. Gradually the festival gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in a large number of countries.[citation needed] On this day people spend time with their friends and express love for them. The exchange of Friendship Day Gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this occasion.[1][2]
The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed the first Sunday of August as National Friendship Day.[citation needed] Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event.[citation needed]
Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world.
In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.[citation needed]
Many friends wish each other with exchange of gifts and cards on this day. "Friendship bands" are very popular in India and Nepal.[1] With the advent of social networking sites, friendship day is also being celebrated online.[2] The commercialization of the Friendship Day celebrations has led to some dismissing it as a "marketing gimmick".[3]
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