BTN News: Every year on July 20th, Argentina and many Latin American countries celebrate Friend’s Day. This day is all about honoring the bonds of friendship. People gather with their friends, do fun activities, and exchange gifts through the “invisible friend” game. It has become one of the most beloved and anticipated days of the year. It shows the importance of friendship in our lives.
The Story Behind the Origin of Friend’s Day and How It Came to Be
Friend’s Day started with Enrique Ernesto Febbraro, a dentist and philosopher from Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. Febbraro was interested in humanity and cooperation. He was inspired by the moon landing on July 20, 1969. The Apollo 11 mission, with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, was a great example of teamwork.
Febbraro wanted a day to celebrate friendship. He sent many letters suggesting July 20th as Friend’s Day. He saw the moon landing as “a gesture of friendship from humanity to the universe.” He used his connections with the Rotary Club to spread his idea. The idea caught on. In 1983, the Government of Buenos Aires officially recognized July 20th as Friend’s Day. They named Lomas de Zamora the “Provincial Capital of Friendship.”
Recognition and Achievements of Enrique Ernesto Febbraro and His Global Legacy
Febbraro’s idea brought him many awards. He was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. Buenos Aires named him an Illustrious Citizen in 1989, and Miami did the same in 1993. The Rotary Club gave him the Paul Harris Fellow award. In 2003, Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies declared him a “Notable Senior Argentine.” In his last interview in 2008, Febbraro said, “A friend is a real person, who snores, who has a bad temper, and whom one tolerates because one knows them well. A friend is another skin.”
Different Countries and Their Unique Celebrations of Friend’s Day Around the World
Friend’s Day is celebrated in many countries, not just Argentina. Brazil, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay also celebrate on July 20th. In the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and many Asian countries, Friendship Day is on the first Sunday of August. Peru celebrates on the first Saturday of July. Mexico, Venezuela, and Ecuador combine it with Valentine’s Day on February 14th. Paraguay celebrates on July 30th, remembering the World Friendship Crusade of 1958. Bolivia celebrates on July 23rd, and Colombia on the second Saturday of March.
The Joy and Importance of Celebrating Friend’s Day with Loved Ones
Friend’s Day is more than a celebration; it reminds us how important friends are. It is a day to thank friends who support us through good and bad times. It is a day to enjoy the happiness and support they bring. As people gather to celebrate, they remember that friendship is like the moon landing – a sign of human connection and teamwork.
Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Friendship and the Significance of Friend’s Day
Friend’s Day started with a historic event and Enrique Ernesto Febbraro’s vision. It has become a day to celebrate and recognize the power of friendship. Whether in July, August, or any other time, the meaning stays the same – honoring the friends who make our lives better. Febbraro said, “A nation of friends is an unbreakable force,” a truth that we celebrate when we gather to enjoy the gift of friendship.
