Happy Friendship Day Wishes: Inspiring Friendship Day Quotes And Messages

Medically reviewed by Corey Pitts, MA, LCMHC, LCAS, CCS
Updated December 12, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Happy Friendship Day wishes can remind your friends how much you value your bond with them. Whether heartfelt or irreverent and playful, sending a friend a message can enable you to celebrate the significance of friendship and its role in your life. Whether you plan to craft your own message or send quotes that speak to you, the suggestions below can help you celebrate Friendship Day. If you struggle to make or maintain friendships, consider speaking to a therapist to learn healthy communication skills and ways to relate to others.

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Why we celebrate Friendship Day in August

Friendship Day originally came about as a marketing strategy for Hallmark cards in the 1930s. However, the concept of Friendship Day inspired Congress to mark the role of friendship in influencing our lives in 1935. 

In 2011, the United Nations declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship to honor the way that "friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities." However, many countries, including the United States, celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August.

Ushering in August with Friendship Day

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines friendship as a voluntary and mutually satisfying relationship between individuals in which those involved are concerned with meeting each other's interests and needs, typically through shared experiences. Starting the month of August by celebrating Friendship Day can honor the unique role of friendship in imbuing our lives with joy, support, and camaraderie. 

Celebrating Friendship Day 

There may be many ways to celebrate friendship and Friendship Day, which may include sending wishes, spending time together, giving thoughtful gifts, having a get-together online, and honoring the spirit of friendship by treating people you encounter at work or elsewhere in a friendly way. 

Ways to celebrate Friendship Day

Some tips for celebrating friendship include the following: 

  • Inviting your friend to do something special on that date or planning to do something in the near future
  • Spending time volunteering in your community with friends
  • Making and sending a card with a personalized message or quote
  • Sending flowers or a gift to a friend

Friendship Day quotes

Many friends choose to send each other quotes about friendship on Friendship Day, as the sentiments expressed in these quotes can encapsulate their thoughts and feelings about friendship. You can also add to these quotes with your own personalized messages. 

Inspiring Friendship Day quotes 

Consider using the following quotes to express your feelings to your friends.

“Time doesn't take away from friendship, nor does separation.” — Tennessee Williams

“Two things you will never have to chase: True friends and true love.” — Mandy Hale

“A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” — Lois Wyse

“A messy house is a must - it separates your true friends from other friends. Real friends are there to visit you, not your house!” — Jennifer Wilson

“A friend is someone with whom you dare to be yourself.” — Frank Crane

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” — Anais Nin

“But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, all losses are restored and sorrows end.” — Shakespeare

"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

"Regard as your most faithful friends, not those who praise everything you say or do, but those who criticize your mistakes." — Isocrates

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Celebrating Friendship Day wishes with humor

Sharing amusing experiences, inside jokes, and lighthearted moments with old and new friends alike on Friendship Day can strengthen the relationship, invite trust, and make for lasting memories. Shared laughter often suggests that friends share similar perspectives and ways of viewing things. Laughter can also relieve stress and serve as a coping mechanism during challenging times, further strengthening the bond between friends.

Friendship Day wishes with humor

If laughter is a quality you value in your friendships, the following quotes may be fitting for Friendship Day.

"I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell — you see, I have friends in both places." — Mark Twain

“‘Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected.” — Charles Lamb

"A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they’re not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they’re not so bad.” — Arnold H. Glasgow

"It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter." — Marlene Dietrich

"Happy Friendship Day, dear friend" — The value of close friends

Having a best friend or lifelong friend who you can confide in and share experiences with can come with many benefits for well-being, provide a sense of belonging, and offer support in navigating life's challenges. Research indicates that having people to confide in can significantly lower the risk of depression

"Happy Friendship Day, dear friend" – Ideas for messages for close friends

Below are a few ideas for sending messages to your best friends or close friends on Friendship Day:

  • Send a handwritten message on a card that touches on the value of the friendship. To help you get started, consider writing a list of things you appreciate about your friend and the times you've spent together, and draw from this list to help you craft your message. 
  • Consider sending or dropping off a small gift, such as a handmade item, a book, a candle, or a framed photo of yourself and your friend.
  • Send a card and an invitation to your friend to spend some time together. For example, you might include tickets to a show or movie.

Happy Friendship Day: Sentiments for newer friends

Studies suggest that people tend to underestimate the value of reaching out to friends or acquaintances to display affection or to show you are thinking of them. However, even brief interactions can boost our sense of social connection and well-being. 

Reaching out to a newer friend with a Friendship Day message may pave the way for a stronger connection, inspiring more interactions in the future.

Messages for newer friends on Friendship Day

When considering messages for newer friends or acquaintances on Friendship Day, the following tips may be helpful:

  • Consider your relationship and what might be appropriate to your friend's style and how well you know them.
  • Express gratitude for any element of the relationship that speaks to you. For example, you can write, "Thanks for being there when I needed a chat,” on your card. 
  • Give a personal compliment by mentioning something you genuinely appreciate about them, such as their support or silly jokes that help you make it through the day. 
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Considering therapy for enhanced friendships and mental health 

The many demands of our busy lives can sometimes present challenges to maintaining bonds with true friends. If you believe you could benefit from finding new ways to be a friend to yourself and others, it might be beneficial to speak with a therapist. 

If in-person sessions aren’t convenient or accessible, online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp can enable you to attend sessions with a licensed therapist from your home. You can connect with your therapist by phone, video, or online chat, depending on your comfort level and preferences.

Addressing underlying mental health challenges may empower you to be a better friend. A growing body of research suggests that online therapy tends to be just as effective as its in-person counterpart for treating a variety of mental health disorders.

Takeaway

Celebrating Friendship Day can offer a way for friends to express how much they value their bond and the other person's presence in their lives. Sending an old friend (or a new friend) a Happy Friendship Day message can reinforce the role of friendship in a fulfilled life. Sometimes, mental health challenges can impact your friendships, though. If you’re struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, or another concern that’s impacting the quality of your relationships, working with a licensed therapist in person or online may offer the support and guidance you deserve.
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