World Hello Day, celebrated on November 21, promotes peace through simple greetings. Initiated in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, it encouraged people to greet at least ten individuals, promoting dialogue about violence. This day is supported by leaders such as Colin Powell and Desmond Tutu, who advocate resolving conflicts through communication.
World Hello Day 2024 is celebrated on November 21, 2024. This year’s theme is “Hello Peace”. The day focuses on peace through interpersonal communication by requiring one person to greet at least ten people on that particular day. This initiative assumes that greeting people can help resolve conflicts instead of using violence.
History and meaning
World Hello Day was founded in 1973 by brothers Brian and Michael McCormack during the Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Israel. The founders wrote more than 1,360 letters in many different languages to world leaders, asking them to resolve conflicts not by using force but through dialogue. Since its inception, the day has been celebrated in 180 countries, emphasizing the importance of personal communication in serving world peace.
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Celebration
Encourage participants to:
- To say hello to at least ten people in a day, preferably to strangers.
- To reconnect with anyone they may have lost touch with.
- Organize or conduct online discussions and seminars on how communication leads to peace.
Affect
Reminding the world of the beneficial power of greetings to help network and build good relationships between different cultures is World Hello Day. It illuminates how this small action can ultimately unite people and create a more peaceful world by bridging the gap between individuals and communities.
Celebrations of notable figures
World Hello Day has been endorsed by several notable figures such as:
Nobel Peace Prize Laureates: 31 Nobel Peace Prize laureates have recognized the importance of World Hello Day as a means of communication towards achieving peace. This included influential leaders and activists in dialogue with those who supported the war.
Public figures and celebrities: Several authors, entertainers and public figures have endorsed this day, specifically:
- Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, emphasized that saying “hello” can lead to deeper understanding between peoples and nations.
- Desmond Tutu was a South African Anglican bishop and social rights activist who is best known for his actions in the anti-apartheid movement.
- Mother Teresa was a great humanitarian and became a devotee of peace.
These endorsements from a variety of people underscore the global appeal of World Hello Day and its message of establishing peace through simple acts of greeting and communication. Quite significantly, a number of organizations and community leaders globally have endorsed this initiative to convey the message of promoting interpersonal connection as a non-violent means of resolving conflicts. Also read | International Men’s Day 2024: Theme, Start Date and Information about the Six PillarsAlso read | National Singles Day 2024: History, Celebrations, and Events
