El Día del Amigo (Friend’s Day) is one of the highlights of everybody’s social calendar in Argentina. Although the event is celebrated on 20th July in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Spain and Chile, in reality, the celebrations go on for at least a week! Normally, big groups of friends flock the restaurants and bars to raise a glass to the importance of friendship.
This occasion does verge on the limits of cheesiness as everyone’s social media feeds are bombarded with appreciation posts and heart emojis… However, there is a meaningful story behind the creation of this holiday.
The Invention of El Día del Amigo
So, you might be wondering who came up with the idea of El Día del Amigo and why? The founder of the Día del Amigo, Enrique Ernesto Febbraro, was an Argentine dentist, psychologist, musician and professor among other professions. On 20th July 1969, Febbraro, along with the rest of the world, was glued to his television watching Neil Armstrong land on the moon. He decided that this was a pivotal moment in human history which united the world and erased divisions of race, culture and language. As a high-up member of the Argentinean masonry, Febbraro felt that every 20th July should be dedicated to friendship.
He, therefore, sent thousands of letters to different people from around the world inviting them to take part in International Friendship Day. To his great delight, he received 700 replies and he continued to spread the message of friendship until the Día del Amigo was made official by decree in Buenos Aires in 1979. He was later nominated to receive two Noble Prizes for his selfless efforts to promote peace and positivity. Although the thinker passed away in 2008, Argentineans continue to commemorate Febbraro’s life as one of the ‘great friends of Argentina’.
When do different countries celebrate Friendship Day?
Although the message of friendship is the same, not all countries celebrate Friendship Day on the same date. International Friendship Day was established by the United Nations in 2011 and is celebrated 10 days later than in Argentina – on 30th July.
Paraguay is one of the countries which hosts the most Friendship Day celebrations. Whereas in Bolivia, the Día del Amigo takes place on 23rd July. In Colombia, it’s the second Saturday of every March and in Peru, it’s the first Saturday of July. But in Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador, friendship is celebrated on Valentine’s Day.
Cheers to Friendship!
Whether you’re celebrating the Día del Amigo this year virtually over Zoom or social media, or together with friends or in a restaurant, let’s raise a glass to international friendship!
Here’s some ideas for places to visit with friends in Argentina:
