Friendship Day History

Friendship Day History

The National Friendship Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in August. There is not much history that can be garnered for this day except the fact that the US Congress proclaimed this day as the Friendship Day in the year 1935.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13-15

Thus speaks The Bible about the warmest of all bonds—friendship. The Bible, the most primary text of the western civilization, reflects upon friendship as the bond that forms the foundation to human faith, trust and companionship. There are innumerable tales from the Old Testament as well as the New Testament about the value of friendship and how true friendship is a treasure to unearth. Both the versions make a difference between the two broad meanings of friendship—one is a mere acquaintance, the other is a more affectionate relation. These stories and examples have passed into western literary and cultural realms. In the Old Testament Abraham is called the “friend of God” because of the intimacy of his relations. God speaks to Moses face to face “as a man…unto his friend” (Ex 33:11). The romantic friendship of Ruth and Naomi, the devotion of the subordinate Hushai for David, or the mutual relation between David and Jonathan—the Old Testament is replete with these interesting tales of friendship.

In the New Testament, the relationship between Jesus and his disciples is the most primal example of how human friendship can constantly grow. From being teacher and disciple to lord and servant their relationship finally grew to an unparalleled friendship.

WWW.FRIENDSHIPDAY.COM