International Friendship Day 2025: Date, Theme, History and Significance

International Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August to honor the bonds that promote harmony and peace globally. This year's theme, "Building Bridges," emphasizes friendship as a tool for understanding and unity. The day is observed with gifts, gatherings, and online campaigns, reminding us to cherish connections that transcend cultural and geographical divides.

Aug 1, 2025, 14:50 IST

Friendship is one of the most valued connections in life. It means breaking barriers of geography, background, and age. International Friendship Day every year is a time to celebrate these special bonds which bring significance, comfort, and happiness to life. It is not only an individual celebration but a strong global phenomenon promoting harmony, peace, and tolerance in a world that is diverse.

Date of International Friendship Day 2025

In India and other countries, the first Sunday of August, which in 2025 will be August 3, 2025 is celebrated as International Friendship Day.

Theme for 2025

The official United Nations theme is sometimes published closer to the date, yet the essence for 2025 adheres to the continuing mission of the occasion:

"Building Bridges: Celebrating Diversity, Solidarity, and a Culture of Peace."

This emphasis shows the worth of friendship as a tool for fostering reconciliation, comprehension, and acceptance among people, cultures, and states.

History of International Friendship Day

The idea of having a day of celebration for friendship is close to a century old, with origins dating back to the early 20th century in nations such as Paraguay and the United States.

The contemporary International Friendship Day was initially advocated for by Dr. Ramón Artemio Bracho and the World Friendship Crusade in Paraguay in 1958 as a way of promoting peace and solidarity via friendship.


The United Nations, motivated by this movement and a UNESCO proposal to celebrate a Culture of Peace, declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship in 2011. The UN resolution urges all communities to celebrate the day with activities that support dialogue, respect for each other, and global cooperation.

Importance of International Friendship Day

International Friendship Day reflects the notion that friendship among peoples, nations, and cultures:

  • Fosters trust, understanding, and bridges the divide, creating peace and diminishing conflict.

  • Reminds us of our common humanity and the value of being together in a world threatened by separation and isolation.

  • Invites young people—the leaders of tomorrow's world—to engage in activities that promote diversity, respect, and positive change.

  • It is an opportunity for individuals to give thanks, re-establish old friendships, and form new ones that bridge borders and differences.

How Friendship Day is Celebrated?

Observations come in various forms across the globe:

  • Gifts, cards, or friendship bands: The friends usually exchange symbolic gifts as a token of appreciation.

  • Sharing quality time: Most use the day as an excuse for outings, meetups, or simply calling up with a warm message.

  • Online campaigns on social networking sites: Posting stories and quotes regarding friendship and joining online events by using hashtags such as #WorldFriendshipDay and #CelebrateFriendship.

  • Community activities: Institutions, schools, and governments usually stage events that build bridges through dialogue and encourage cultural appreciation.

  • Volunteering and donations: Giving support for causes that advance friendship, acceptance, and humanitarian ideals.

International Friendship Day 2025 is more than a holiday—it's an appeal to all of us to bridge gaps, celebrate diversity, and foster connections that turn the world into a gentler, more peaceful world. By cherishing and affirming the importance of friendship in our lives, we can all help to create a future characterized by oneness, kindness, and hope.

Let's honor our friends, those who are with us in thick and thin, and do our own share of reaching out the hand of friendship across every divide.

Important Days in August 2025

 


Kirti Sharma
Kirti Sharma

Content Writer

Kirti Sharma is a content writing professional with 3 years of experience in the EdTech Industry and Digital Content. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and worked with companies like ThoughtPartners Global, Infinite Group, and MIM-Essay. She writes for the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section of JagranJosh.com.

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