While it's not fun to admit it, the world is full of problems. Regardless of where you live, you can either experience or see other people encounter hunger, poverty, poor education, violence, or political corruption. Seeing these kinds of issues can be incredibly discouraging and make you question your own beliefs, but getting through and preventing these challenging circumstances is possible when you come together with other people and share a spirit of friendship.
It should come as no surprise that there is power in having friends. This bond has the ability to reduce depression, anxiety, loneliness, and the unbearable feeling that it's you against the world. With loving, reliable people by your side, you can face fears, rest in community, and tackle problems head-on, knowing that you're supported and backed by people who have your best interest in heart.
That power that ignites when people unite and do life together is so strong that there's even a day to celebrate it. On July 30th, the International Day of Friendship marks a time where you can honor the joys of having great friends who push you to be your best and help you navigate all of life's problems.
What is the International Day of Friendship?
The power of friendship has been known for a while, which is why the International Day of Friendship isn't a holiday that someone crafted in the 2000s. In fact, it was in the 1930s that Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards, Inc. created the idea to have a national day of friendship.
Some people believe the concept was inspired by the sole purpose of selling more greeting cards. And while no one can confirm whether this assumption is true, the International Day of Friendship that people celebrate today is founded on legitimate meaning.
In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly made the International Day of Friendship official, hoping to promote the idea that becoming friends with people from different cultures, countries, and ethnic groups could help build bridges between communities and encourage peace efforts.
Additionally, this day is an initiative that builds on the proposal UNESCO made to define the Culture of Peace as a set of attitudes, values, and behaviors that denounce violence and prevent conflicts by attacking the root causes with the intention of solving them. This proposal was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1997, but the International Day of Friendship helps keep the spirit of that proposal top of mind.
To celebrate the holiday, the UN encourages governments, civil society groups, and international organizations to hold initiatives, events, and activities. These celebratory efforts should contribute to building solidarity, dialogue amongst different cultures, international community, reconciliation, and mutual understanding.
Also equally important, the International Day of Friendship should involve young people who will be the world’s leaders tomorrow. When this audience comes together to celebrate diversity in friendship and international understanding, the future becomes brighter, and the hope for unity becomes stronger.
How to celebrate and honor your friendships
Maybe you have friends in your life that you cherish. If that’s the case, you should celebrate the International Day of Friendship to honor the people who mean the most to you. A fun celebration with your loved ones can restate the bond you share, promote gratitude, and provide a space to deepen connections and understanding.
Some good ideas on how to celebrate this holiday include a small get-together, game night, dinner at a restaurant, or maybe a picnic if it's nice outside and you live by a park. However, if you want to step it up a bit and give your friends something small but special to commemorate the important role they play in your life, buy some jewelry that honors unity.
At Khutsala Artisans, you can shop the Unity Collection to find beautiful handmade pieces to give your friends. All of the jewelry offers a reminder to seek unity and reconciliation, which are two defining characteristics of any great friendship.
You can access the entire collection here and start shopping for the International Day of Friendship. But if you need some ideas on what to get, here are five pieces that are sure to put a smile on friends’ faces.
A brand new piece at Khutsala Artisans, the Unity Circle Bracelet is a great way to start a conversation about unity and the need for social justice. The bracelet features a leather band that's easily adjustable, and the piece is hand beaded, with each bead strung onto a wire to help form a circle. Additionally, the beads come in different colors, displaying the importance of having friendships with people from different backgrounds.
Buy the Unity Circle Bracelet HERE.
The Unity Tear Drop Necklace is another new piece at Khutsala Artisans. This jewelry includes different shades of gold beads that form the shape of a teardrop. Also featuring a leather cord, this necklace is easy to adjust, allowing your friends to wear it long or short. Additionally, the Unity Tear Drop Necklace contains beautiful bronze SwaziMUD beads to enhance the overall look.
Get the Unity Tear Drop Necklace HERE.
Made from Khutsala Artisans' signature SwaziMUD beads, these earrings symbolize the beauty of diversity. The beads on this piece represent various shades of skin tone color, including brown, black, white, off-white, and tan. The Corded Triangle Earrings also feature a beautiful bronze wire that can go with anything, and this piece is easy to dress up or down for any occasion.
Purchase the Unity Triangle Earrings HERE.
Regardless of your country, ethnicity, or culture, there's one thing that you share with everyone else: the color of your blood. The Peony Red Unity Bracelet is a reminder that no matter what you look like on the outside, your blood bleeds red just like everyone else. In this fact, there's a sense of unity and togetherness that shouldn't be understated. And if you want your friends to remember that your similarities can overcome your differences, the Peony Red Unity Bracelet is the right gift for you.
Buy the Peony Red Unity Bracelet HERE.
Sometimes, certain words can define the type of friendship you have with someone, and the Corded Word Bracelet honors this truth. A unisex piece that's great for everyone, this bracelet features a leather band and pewter tag with some of Khutsala Artisans' favorite words on it. Those words include Unity, HOPE, JOY, LIVE, and YEBO, which is a positive affirmation in Eswatini that means "yes." For a bracelet that spells out your friendship in one word, give this piece as a gift to a special person in your life.
Shop the Corded Word Bracelet HERE.
Shop in the spirit of friendship
All of the pieces in Khutsala Artisans' Unity Collection are wonderful gifts that honor the International Day of Friendship. Whether you're shopping for a male or female, you can find a special present to celebrate the fantastic people in your life.
Even better, all of the profits from your purchase go to Heart for Africa, a faith-based humanitarian organization that helps reduce poverty, decrease hunger, provide education, and care for orphans and vulnerable children in Eswatini. By shopping at Khutsala Artisans, you can strengthen the people of Eswatini, who are trying to promote unity to decrease conflict in their country.
In February, most people only celebrate Valentine's Day, and it makes sense. It's the most popular and well-known holiday of the month. But there's another special day that also exists: Random Acts of Kindness Day.
