Some Significant Facts About International Friendship Day and how local guides can contribute.docx

Some Significant Facts About International Friendship Day and how local guides can contribute International Friendship Day is observed on July 30 to celebrate friendships that go beyond borders, countries, and cultures. Although the significance of the day is well known to all, there are a few fasc...

Some Significant Facts About International Friendship Day and how local guides can contribute International Friendship Day is observed on July 30 to celebrate friendships that go beyond borders, countries, and cultures. Although the significance of the day is well known to all, there are a few fascinating but little-known facts which add to the greater significance of the celebration. Paraguayan origins: Unlike many other worldwide festivities that originated in the US or Europe, World Friendship Day has originated in South America. It is thought that Paraguay celebrated this day, which highlights the importance of friendship to all people, for the first time in 1958. **United Nations Recognition:** In 1998, the United Nations designated Winnie the Pooh as the global ambassador for friendship; however, it was not until 2011 that July 30 was formally declared as International Friendship Day by the UN. By connecting different groups and using it as a model for peace projects, the UN hoped to highlight the value of friendship in promoting understanding and peace. **Global Involvement:** Friendship Day is observed on various days throughout the world. For instance, India and other South American nations celebrate it on the first Sunday in August, while Finland and Estonia celebrate it as part of Valentine\'s Day, highlighting friendship in along with romantic love. **Cultural Celebrations:** On Friendship Day, individuals from all walks of life engage in a range of social events. For example, friends exchange colorful friendship bands in Nepal and, nowadays, all over the world. However, in the United States, the cards, presents, and get-togethers are utilized to celebrate this day. It is well known that the major greeting card brand, Hallmark, has been instrumental in spreading awareness of Friendship Day throughout the country. **Impact of Social Media:** The use of social media increased the number of Friendship Day events. A growing number of posts, hashtags, and messages on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are dedicated to friends, causing a global online craze. For the first time ever, Twitter, also known as \"X,\" has observed hashtag friendship day on social media. **Philanthropic Aspect:** Many organizations and groups use International Friendship Day to emphasize the idea that friendship may lead to a better and more caring society in order to promote supporting others and community service. **Effects of FMovies:** Many movies have well-known friendships between the main performers and the supporting cast. Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa from The Lion King, Woody and Buz Lightyear from Toy Story, and Baloo and Mowgli from The Jungle Book are a few examples. Bollywood films are known for the friendships between Jai and Veeru in Sholay, Akash, Sameer, and Siddharth in Dil Chahta Hai, and Circuit in Lage Raho Munna Bhai. These lesser-known but significant facts about International Friendship Day emphasize its global significance and the universal values of friendship, kindness, and understanding it promotes. Possibly with simple gestures or grand celebrations, the day is a reminder of the powerful connections that friendship generates in our lives. How we, as loca guides, can contribute: We are very lucky to have this platform to connect with each other globally---literally every day! We all have unique and meaningful ways to honor the day, emphasizing the spirit of friendship through our shared passion for discovery and connection. The various types of meet-ups are a great way to express and connect with others on this day. In-person meet-ups: Such events are the ideal way to connect people who are passionate about mapping and exploration. We can organize events like food walks, photo walks, and social occasions to highlight the distinctive beauty of the local area. These informal gatherings help like-minded people make new friends and offer a forum for sharing advice and experiences. Virtual meet-ups: In today's digital age, distance is not a barrier to celebration. We connect virtually through video calls and online events, sharing our experiences and celebrating our global friendships. We can also conduct online mapping challenges, technical trainings, share their favorite local spots through photo walks, or simply enjoy each other's company, regardless of their physical location. Community contributions and awareness drives: Friendship Day inspires us to give back to our communities. We can organize clean-up drives, support local businesses, or contribute to charitable causes. By working together for a common good cause, we reinforce the values of friendship and community spirit. Sharing posts on our portal: We can celebrate by sharing our friendship stories on social media platforms and the Connect portal. We can share some of our travel adventures with friends and how we enjoyed and discovered various cultural aspects of our journey. By doing so, we inspire others to explore, connect, and contribute. The power of shared experiences and the friendships that blossom from the simple act of traveling and charting the world together are demonstrated on International Friendship Day. For us, the local guides' community, it is a day to commemorate the friendships they make along the journey as well as the locations we explore.