There’s a day in the year dedicated to your mother, father and other cherished members of your family. But the family you choose for yourself needs to be celebrated just as much. That’s why we at BetMGM are showing how and why you should celebrate National Friendship Day this August. Keep reading to learn the history of this often overlooked holiday, and the different ways you can celebrate it this year – whether that’s by planning a movie night, buying a gift or enjoying online casino games.
The History of the International Day of Friendship
Friendship Day is not just a US holiday, it’s a global event. It originated in Paraguay in 1958, when Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho proposed a global holiday to celebrate friendship during a dinner with his friends. The World Friendship Crusade was created during this meeting. The crusade promotes friendship, love, and fellowship among all people, regardless of their race, nationality, or religion. Since then, the holiday has been celebrated on the 30th of July in Paraguay.
Seeing the importance of their message of love and friendship, the World Friendship Crusade lobbied the United Nations for years to recognize the holiday on the 30th of July as an international holiday. In 2011, the General Assembly finally agreed, and the International Day of Friendship was born.
The History of National Friendship Day in the US
The United States has its own national holiday dedicated to friendship. Back in 1935, the United States Congress decided that the first Sunday of August would be National Friendship Day. Even though the holiday was initially a marketing strategy for Hallmark cards, it has become increasingly popular worldwide.
How to celebrate National Friendship Day
Why friendship is so meaningful
Even though life would certainly be dull without our friends, it’s still easy to overlook how essential friendships are in our lives. You can’t lead a fulfilling life without a healthy network of friends. Moreover, friends are crucial to your physical and mental health – having a close friend group decreases your risk of health issues like diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
In addition to your quality of life, having good friends can also increase the length of your life, since feelings of loneliness can negatively impact longevity. The effects of positive friends reach beyond science and biology. Consider the emotional support, confidence, and motivation you get from true friends.
Friendships should be cherished, and staying in touch with friends shouldn’t feel like a chore. This August, it’s time to celebrate and appreciate your friends. Let’s show you how.
Buy your friends a gift or a treat
Who said you had to wait until Valentine’s Day to get flowers and chocolate from someone special? This National Friendship Day, buy your friends their favorite indulgent treats and snacks or a bunch of flowers to make them feel special and cherished. If you have time, put together care packages customized to each friend’s personality and taste.
Plan a special day at home
Celebrating your friends doesn’t have to break your bank. If you want something more affordable than planning a getaway, spend time with your friends at home. Go the extra mile and host the perfect dinner party with fancy invitations. Alternatively, opt for something more relaxing and let your friends show up in their pajamas or sweatpants for a movie night.
Catch up with old friends
Some bonds are so strong they can’t be broken by time apart or distance. Still, it’s easy for life to get in the way of our relationships. Dedicate time to calling, texting, or writing letters to the friends you’ve lost touch with along the way. Find out how your old and new friends are doing. If you can, lend them a hand in some way.
Make new friends
Let’s be honest, it’s getting increasingly difficult to make new friends and keep them. If you’ve switched to online casino slots and games, you’re probably socializing less than you did in traditional casinos.
Let’s face the truth. Maybe you don’t have as many friends as you should. Don’t wallow in your loneliness, get proactive and change that. Sign up to volunteer for interesting projects and join social clubs. Invest time in new hobbies with other people and actually start accepting invitations when you receive them.
Play online casino games together
There’s nothing more uniting than learning a new skill or hobby with friends. If you’re looking for a unique skill that will come in handy in the future, teach your friends how to play casino card games. If you don’t have the cards or tools to play at home, go online for a wider variety of games. If your friends are after a classic and authentic casino experience, try live dealer games. For something more modern, try online slots with an immersive theme your friends will connect with.
We recommend the Jimi Hendrix or the Guns ‘N Roses slot for rock music lovers. Movie lovers will appreciate blockbuster slots like Jumanji, Ghostbusters Plus, and King Kong. And if a sports game is on, up the ante and introduce your friends to online sports betting on our app.
Give the gift of great online gaming with BetMGM
The best friends in the world deserve the best casino games. When you create an account with BetMGM, you get access to the hottest slots, casino dice games, live dealer casino games and virtual sports in one app. Plus, you and your friends will get a National Friendship Day gift from us, a welcome offer deposit match and numerous exciting promotions. Join us to start playing for real money on your mobile devices.
