Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

2K Shares
2K Shares
WedJul 17

World Emoji Day – July 17, 2024

Communication in the Internet Age now goes far beyond pressing send on a simple text message. Check your social media feeds or text messages… how many smiley faces, flying hearts, avocados, and unicorns do you see? These iconic little Japanese images, known as emoji, are more popular on the internet today than ever before—so naturally, they have their own special day. Recognized on July 17, World Emoji Day is a holiday that validates our obsession over these ubiquitous graphic icons. While sometimes they may seem silly, according to various psychologists and researchers, they may play a vital role in the way we communicate today. In fact, Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2015 was the “😂” emoji. Light up your friends’ phones with all the emojis you want today — it’s a healthy obsession. 😉

World Emoji Day timeline

1862
Great Accident

“The New York Times” is responsible for the first use of an emoticon — ‘:)’ — when they misprint a transcribed copy of President Abraham Lincoln’s speech.

March 30, 1881
Typographical Art

The first intentional use of emoticons is published by the American satirical magazine “Puck.”

May 1997
Buddy Icons

AIM introduces its Buddy Icons, small images or icons conveying feelings.

1999
Emojis are Created

The first emoji is created by Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita.

2010
Emoji Expands

Unicode adopts emojis, adding new ones such as cat faces.

2014
Emoji Represent!

198 flags are added to the emoji selection.

World Emoji Day Activities

  1. Have an emoji-only conversation

    Challenge your emoji knowledge by having an emoji-filled message stream with your best friend. See how well you can understand each other using only these delightful icons. Who knew you could have a whole conversation without any words?

  2. Create your own emojis

    You can turn your favorite photos into shareable emojis using various apps and online tools. You can finally turn your favorite photo of your dog or cat into an emoji (since we already know you send too many pictures of them anyway)!

  3. Wear your favorite emoji

    Create your own customized emoji-filled t-shirt or purchase one through a vendor online (check out Amazon for some ideas). Your favorite emoji can become your new favorite t-shirt.

World Emoji Day: The 10 Most Underrated Emojis You Need To Start Using

Why We Love World Emoji Day

  1. They've become a new universal language

    Language comes in many forms and one of most ancient types of language is visual symbols. Emojis are unique in that they are visual symbols that help enhance our written language. They can replace words or whole phrases and still be understood.

  2. We love getting "emoji"-tional

    Emojis were originally created as a way to symbolize emotions with pictures. Similar to punctuation, they express emotion through irony or humor and even suggest tone of voice or body language in text-based communication. They trigger emotional responses in people, which can cause us to be more empathetic. Basically, as we become better in identifying our emotions, we also become better at sensing others' emotions. Looks like "emoji-tional empathy" is trending.

  3. They help us when words fail us

    Emojis help us better understand something visually when things can get lost in translation through words. In the Internet Age, they help us communicate better and faster. Let's admit it, they're cute and kind of addicting to use but they serve a much greater purpose. They improve our capacity to communicate effectively with others and make our intended meaning be known. When in doubt, emoji it out!

World Emoji Day dates

YearDateDay
2024July 17Wednesday
2025July 17Thursday
2026July 17Friday
2027July 17Saturday
2028July 17Monday

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.