History of Friendship Day

The National Friendship Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in August. There is not much history that can be garnered for this day except the fact that the US Congress proclaimed this day as the Friendship Day in the year 1935.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13-15

There is not much literature on Friendship Day history as we celebrate today. However, there are numerous folktales and several instance in mythological legends that shows that friends and friendship have been valued since the beginning of civilized world. As an intrinsically social creature, men love to make friends to further this process of socialization.


History of Friendship Day in US

Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was deemed to fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day. Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event. The noble idea of honoring the beautiful relationship of friendship caught on with the people and soon Friendship Day became a hugely popular festival.

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 including India.

In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie - the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Bible

The Bible, the primary text of the western civilization, reflects upon friendship as the bond that forms the foundation to human faith, trust and companionship. Following verses from the bible aptly portray the importance of friends:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13-15

Besides, there are several tales from the Old Testament and the New Testament about the value of friendship and how true friendship is a treasure to unearth. A noticeable point is that, both the versions make a difference between the two broad meanings of friendship- one is a mere acquaintance, the other is a more affectionate relation.

In the Old Testament, Abraham is called the “friend of God” because of the intimacy of his relations. God speaks to Moses face to face “as a man…unto his friend” (Ex 33:11). The romantic friendship of Ruth and Naomi, the devotion of the subordinate Hushai for David, or the mutual relation between David and Jonathan - the Old Testament is replete with these interesting tales of friends and friendship.

In the New Testament, the relationship between Jesus and his disciples clearly depicts how human friendship can constantly grow. From being teacher and disciple, to lord and servant their relationship finally grew to an unparalleled friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Mahabharata
In the famous Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’, Lord Krishna demonstrates the many colors of friendship - affection, romance, brotherhood, protection, guidance, intimacy and even teasing. Friendship is all about these and much more.

Quotes About Friendship Day

" Two may talk together under the same roof for many years, yet never really meet; and two others at first speech are old friends. " - Mary Catherwood

" Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival. " - C. S. Lewis

" Anybody can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend's success. " - Oscar Wilde

Some Quotes for Love and Friendship

"Love doesn't make the world go round, it makes the ride worthwhile." -F.P. Jones

"All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering if somewhere and somehow there is someone searching for us." -The Wonder Years

"We laughed

until we had to cry.

We gave love,

right down to our last goodbye.

We were the best

we thought we'd ever be

Just you and me,

for just a moment...

"You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back." -Barbara DeAngelis

"My wish upon this shooting star is that your heart be happy." -Gilbert

"If we discovered that we had only 5 minutes left to say what we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people calling other people to stammer that they loved them." -Christopher Morley

"A friend you have to buy, wont be worth what you pay for him." -Sent in by Maris B

"I can doubt my friends, but I can believe in our friendship."

"IF YOU TREAT YOUR FRIEND AS THEY SHOULD BE, THEY WILL BECOME ONE OF THE CROWD. IF YOU TREAT YOUR FRIEND AS THEY OUGHT TO BE TREATED, THEY WILL BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL."

"True friends, like ivy and the wall stand together and both together fall."

"Friendships are fragile things, and require as much handling as any other fragile and precious things." -Randolph S. Bourne

"With clothes the new are the best, with friends the old are the best."

"Friendship is like thighs, they are always sticking together."

"If you are going to gain anything in life, gain a friend, they will always be there, and that makes all the difference in the world."

"True friends are never apart, maybe in distance, but not in heart"

"A real friend will tell you when you have spinach stuck in your teeth."

"Shared sorrow is half sorrow, shared joy is double joy"

"Most people come into our lives and quickly leave. It is the special few that come in and leave a footprint in our hearts. and we are forever changed."

"There is an exquisite melody in every heart. If we listen closely, we can hear each other's song. A friend knows the song in your heart and responds with Beatiful harmony."

"Friends are like flowers, beautiful flowers; friends are like flowers in the garden of life."

"True friendship is sitting together in silence and feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had."

"If we were leaving in a world where to say i love you would make more sense, i would always say you i love you" -Ozge Dilsiz

"Choose your friends carefully you never know who is on your side, and remember the truth shall prevail. " -LINK

"False friends aren't always that bad because it shows you about yourself and teaches you to be strong and life goes on." -Josh Wojo

"Remember that every good friend was once a stranger"

"They say 'you only regret the things you never do.' Then why do I regret every bad thing I did to you?"

Some Nice Thoughts for Beautiful Life

Friendship Quotations

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." -- Bernard Meltzer.

A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway. -- Fr. Jerome Cummings

Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. -- Cindy Lew

Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure. -- Jewish Saying

"Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you."
-- Elbert Hubbard

"Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure."
-- Jewish saying

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. -- Aristotle

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend.-- Albert Camus

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.-- Abraham Lincoln

Hold a true friend with both your hands. -- Nigerian Proverb

"A faithful friend is the medicine of life."
-- Apocrypha

Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try. -- Claude Mermet

"Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil."
-- Baltasar Gracian (1647)

"Friendship needs no words..."
-- Dag Hammarskjold.

One who looks for a friend without faults will have none. -- Hasidic Saying

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.-- Walter Winchell

Friends are needed both for joy and for sorrow. -- Samuel Paterson

Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.-- John Evelyn

Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.-- Swedish proverb

A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.-- Anonymous

Count your age with friends but not with years - Anonymous

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness. -- Lois L. Kaufman

"I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship."
-- Pietro Aretino (1537)

"There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends."
-- Hillaire Belloc

"The rain may be falling hard outside,
But your smile makes it all alright.
I'm so glad that you're my friend.
I know our friendship will never end."
-- Robert Alan

"Friends are the sunshine of life."
-- John Hay (1871)

"The best mirror is an old friend."
--George Herbert