World Hello Day

World Hello Day is a holiday that is celebrated by over 180 countries all over the world and has the purpose of not only making people aware of the need for better communication to sow the seeds of peace but to bridge the cultural barriers between the people of all nationalities. It has been celebrated on November 21rd every year since 1973 and is celebrated by millions of people worldwide.

History

World Hello Day was originally created in 1973 by Arizona State University graduate Brian McCormack and Harvard graduate Michael McCormack as a direct response to the Arab-Israeli war officially know as the Yom Kippur War. Gathering all the money they had at the time, these two brothers bought postage and sent out letters to as many world leaders as they could and asked them to support this new holiday. Within the first 12 months of their campaign, they received the support of over fifteen different countries. In the last 42 years, they have managed to gather the support of an additional one hundred and sixty-five countries.

Today, this day is used by ordinary people – as well as world leaders – from all around the world to settle their differences with communication rather than conflict. The McCormack brothers have also received strong support for their holiday from writers, entertainers and Nobel Laureates from all over the globe.

Customs, Traditions And Celebrations

The only real custom associated with World Hello Day is the practice of saying ‘hello’ to friends, families and strangers. People who want to celebrate this holiday should take the time to say hello to at least 10 people they encounter throughout the day – particularly strangers. People should also take the time to learn how to say hello in a couple of different languages and then put that into practice sometime during the day.