Celebrating Friendship Day: Why Childhood Friendships Stay with us Forever 

Friendship Day originated in 1919 as a marketing ploy by America’s Hallmark greeting card company. Other countries also established and celebrated a day to honour friendship at various times during the three decades between 1920 and 1950. However, celebrating Friendship Day did not really become popular until 1998 when Winnie the Pooh was named as the world’s Ambassador of Friendship and the 30th of July was recognized as International Friendship Day. Now, most countries celebrate on the first Sunday in August – this year on Sunday, August 2.

Our childhood friendships stay with us forever and Friendship Day is a perfect time to remember all the reasons they do.

• When you met, you were instant friends.

The bond of friendship was immediate and you knew right away you would be out playing together as much as you could. Although you may live far apart now, whenever you see each other, you pick up right where you left off.

• You know everything about each other.

You know each other better than you do anyone else. You have been together for so long, explaining things about the past is unnecessary as they were with you when things happened. If you forget the details of a past adventure, your friend can fill in the blanks.

• You went through many different phases and stages together.

You suffered through your awkward stage, your first love, and your first job together and learned survival skills along the way. You went through all of life’s important happenings together and will continue to do so the rest of your lives.

• You still laugh together the same way as when you were kids.

You have a million inside jokes and can say a single word that brings back a punch line and causes uncontrollable laughter. Your ability to laugh together may have needed modifying to adjust to social media, but is still strong on Facebook and Twitter.

• You have more than one “home” to visit.

You spent your childhood in each other’s homes so much that you are part of each other’s families. Your share your siblings as well. You think of two places when you think of home – yours and your friend’s.

• You always share the important stuff.

Even if you go ages without talking, when important things happen, your childhood friend is the first person you want with you. Weddings, funerals, the birth of your children – all have more meaning if your childhood friend is with you. They rejoice in your good fortune, cry when you have sorrow, and make even the darkest day seem brighter.

• Your love for each other is unconditional.

You know each other completely and love and accept everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You only remember the past as something to laugh at and learn from.

When you think of your childhood, you think of your childhood friends. Childhood friendships stay with us forever and celebrating Friendship Day is a good way to honour that special relationship.