World Hello Day is a holiday celebrated by over 180 countries worldwide and aims not only to raise awareness of the need for better communication to sow the seeds of peace but also to bridge cultural barriers among people of all nationalities. It has been celebrated on November 21st every year since 1973 and is celebrated by millions of people worldwide.

History

World Hello Day was created in 1973 by Arizona State University graduate Brian McCormack and Harvard graduate Michael McCormack as a direct response to the Arab-Israeli conflict, officially known 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, asking them to support this new holiday. Within the first 12 months of their campaign, they received support from 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 through communication rather than conflict. The McCormack brothers have also received strong support for their holiday from writers, entertainers, and Nobel Laureates from across the globe.

Customs, Traditions And Celebrations

The only real custom associated with World Hello Day is the practice of saying ‘hello’ to friends, family, and strangers. Those who want to celebrate this holiday should make an effort to greet 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 knowledge into practice sometime during the day.