- Categories:
- Relationship
- Tags:
- FriendshipLifestyle
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April 30
- Holiday emoji:
- 🗣️
Honesty Day reminds us to pay attention to our words every April 30. This day encourages a commitment to truthfulness, fostering trust and clear communication in all aspects of life. Reflect on the power of integrity and inspire others to embrace transparency.
Want to sponsor Honesty Day? Learn how
Expected Honesty Day Deals
While Honesty Day isn’t typically marked by commercial sales, it’s an opportune moment for organizations to highlight their commitment to transparency and ethical conduct. Institutions like the Better Business Bureau promote trust in the marketplace, encouraging businesses to operate with integrity. Nonprofits such as the Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI) advocate for high ethical standards in workplaces, offering resources and training. Companies like Patagonia, known for their supply chain transparency, exemplify how brands can build consumer trust through honest practices. Consumers can support brands that prioritize ethical sourcing and transparent communication. We will update this page with more examples of integrity-focused initiatives as April 30 approaches.
Platform Guide for Honesty Day
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #HonestyDay. Share a short reflection on what honesty means to you or a quote that inspires integrity.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #HonestyDay. Start a discussion in your community group about the importance of truthfulness.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #HonestyDay. Post a visual that represents transparency or share a personal story about the impact of honesty.
Honesty Day Hero
Abraham Lincoln
History of Honesty Day
Author M. Hirsh Goldberg, author of “The Book of Lies: Fibs, Tales, Schemes, Scams, Fakes, and Frauds That Have Changed The Course of History and Affect Our Daily Lives,” created the day in the early 1990s. He placed it strategically on the final day of April to balance out April Fool’s Day (lies!) at the beginning of the month.
So — how often (and how well) do you lie? Check out our survey.
Honestly.
Honesty Day timeline
The first biography of George Washington published after his death includes the famous story about the cherry tree and Washington’s words, “I cannot tell a lie.”
As part of the process of writing his book, author Hirsh Goldberg creates National Honesty Day.
The comedy movie “Liar, Liar,” starring Jim Carrey, is released.
Another popular movie on lying is released — “The Invention Of Lying.”
How Businesses Can Celebrate Honesty Day
Local businesses can honor Honesty Day by reviewing and publicly sharing their ethical guidelines or customer service pledges. Restaurants might highlight the transparency of their ingredient sourcing, while retail stores could emphasize their fair return policies. Agencies might host an internal workshop on transparent client communication or ethical marketing. The day provides an opportunity to reinforce trust with both employees and customers through clear, honest practices.
Honesty Day Media Coverage
Honesty Day - Survey Results
Additional Findings
FULL RANKING OF THE LIES AMERICANS TELL
#1: White lie (a harmless lie)
#2: Lie by omission (only revealing parts of the truth (18%)
#3: Lies to yourself (e.g. I like my job; my friend’s actions didn’t hurt my feelings) (16%)
#4: Appearance lie (e.g. that dress looks good on you) (15%)
#5: Relationship lie (e.g. lying about having cheated) (5%)
#6: Identity lie (e.g. lying to a person at a bar about who you are) (5%)
#7: Intended hurtful lie (e.g. you’re ugly; I never liked you) (4%)
#8: Compulsive lies (I feel compelled to spread mistruths) (3%)
Honesty Day FAQs
When is Honesty Day?
In 2027, Honesty Day is observed on Friday, April 30, offering a perfect end-of-week opportunity to practice transparent communication.
Who created Honesty Day?
M. Hirsh Goldberg, a prominent author and public relations professional, initiated Honesty Day as a response to the pranks of April Fool’s Day. His aim was to dedicate a specific date to the value of honesty and integrity.
How many people value honesty?
Across various cultures and demographics, honesty ranks as a top virtue. Research indicates that approximately 90% of individuals consider honesty to be a critical component in personal and professional interactions, underscoring its universal appeal.
What is the difference between honesty and truthfulness?
Honesty embodies the moral quality of being truthful, sincere, and free from deceit, reflecting one’s character. Truthfulness specifically means conforming to facts or reality, ensuring that what is said or presented is accurate and verifiable.
Honesty Day Activities
Answer questions truthfully all day long
Go on, try your best to keep truthful. It shouldn’t be that difficult if you’re a good soul.
Open up to someone truthfully
Been holding something back, aching to tell someone something important? Go for it today.
Be more transparent
If you’re a leader in the workplace, it’s a good time to be transparent by communicating less over email and become more personally engaged with your employees via face-to-face and/or video interaction and with greater frequency. This will not only build trust, but more importantly set-forth a precedent that will establish a new type of loyalty and attitude that will ripple throughout the organization.
Why We Love Honesty Day
Honesty builds trust
Honesty goes a long way. People get ahead by making the right choices and showing that they are trustworthy. This builds trust, which is essential for teamwork.
The worst truth is better than the best lie
Sometimes when we lie, it can start a snowball effect, and we ultimately are found out. Trust in the notion that the truth always finds a way to surface, so just own up.
We can’t read each other’s minds
Being honest doesn’t just mean telling factual truth, but also being truthful about the way you’re feeling
Social Media Tips for Honesty Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands