Why Is Friendship Day Celebrated & Why Do We Tie Friendship Bands?

For many of us, Friendship Day meant buying colourful bands for our school friends, tying them on their wrists, eating chocolates, and celebrating together. But have you ever wondered why we did that and why we celebrate this day in the first place? Read on to find out.

The Story Behind Friendship Day

The words ‘Friendship Day’ bring back a lot of nostalgic memories. In school, we used to buy friendship bands and bracelets for our friends. By the end of the day, our wrists would be full of them, with promises in our hearts of staying “besties forever”. But there is a reason we celebrate this day and exchange these bands.

The day was first proposed by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards, in 1930 as a day to celebrate bonds by exchanging greeting cards and gifts. However, many people believed it was more of a marketing idea, and the celebrations gradually slowed down. 

Years later, Dr Ramón Artemio Bracho proposed the idea of World Friendship Day in Paraguay to promote friendship among people regardless of their gender, race, or caste. The United Nations later declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship to encourage peace and friendship across the world. In India, this day continues to be celebrated on the first Sunday of August, especially among school and college students.

Also Read: Friendship Day 2026: 15 Places In India To Brunch, Create Edible Art & Bond With Bestie

Why Do We Tie Friendship Bands?

It is clear that this day has more than one story of origin in its history and is celebrated on different dates across the world. But what about friendship bands? Who started that tradition? There is no single known inventor of these bands. According to Wikipedia, many people believe that friendship bands first came from the indigenous communities of Central and South America, where handmade woven bands were exchanged to show their close bond. 

The trend, however, became popular in the United States during the 1970s. It later spread across the world through television, films, and pop culture. India also welcomed the tradition, and friendship bands soon became a big part of school life. Many people even credit Shah Rukh Khan’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai for making friendship bands even more popular among the youth! And the rest is history. 

Also Read: This Is Why Besties Aparshakti Khurana And Sanya Malhotra Had Their First Fight!

So, how do you celebrate this wonderful day? 

Cover Image Courtesy: Dharma Productions and Canva Pro/Helena Lopes