World Gratitude Day is celebrated on September 21 annually. This day aims to remind us of the importance of expressing gestures of thanks and appreciation. Understandably, sometimes we can get caught up in our busy lives and neglect to show how grateful we are for the people around us. Many people believe that once you commit a simple act of kindness for someone, you don’t need to manifest that kind of kindness repeatedly. But if you do, it makes the world a better place. After all, it’s your world, and you have to live in it!
History of World Gratitude Day
Appreciation is a worldwide practice today and a personal one that we can all use to improve our lives — but it goes back to 1965. World Gratitude Day was invented by Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual leader and meditation teacher. It was conceived at a Thanksgiving dinner in the United Nations’ meditation room.
At the dinner, Chinmoy suggested the idea of a global holiday of gratitude. Each person at the dinner pledged to hold an event in their home country every year on that holiday, and they all spent the rest of the evening discussing how they might spread the word about this new holiday. The following year, in 1966, many countries observed the first annual World Gratitude Day on September 21, and the day has been celebrated annually ever since.
In 1977, the Spiritual League, a group of Chinmoy’s followers who ran the meditation room at his New York headquarters, requested that a resolution be passed recognizing World Gratitude Day. Representatives from the Headquarters were in attendance to honor Chinmoy during the special ceremony.
World Gratitude Day timeline
World Gratitude Day is conceived at a Thanksgiving dinner in the United Nations' meditation room.
Many countries observe the first annual World Gratitude Day on September 21.
A special ceremony to honor Chinmoy is held, with representatives from the New York Headquarters attending this celebration.
World Gratitude Day FAQs
What are the benefits of gratitude?
Gratitude promotes happiness by giving people more positive emotions and making them savor good experiences. Gratitude helps people savor good moments, appreciate life, deal more effectively with bad experiences, improve their health, and build more rewarding relationships.
What is the gratitude symbol?
The official gratitude symbol consists of a simple spiral center, three circular dots on the lower exterior of the spiral, and a hook-like shape at the bottom of the spiral.
Is gratitude a skill?
It may take some work, but expressing your gratitude to another person can be a genuine way to make that person feel good about themselves. It can lead you along the path to becoming a good friend.
World Gratitude Day Activities
Write and send thank you notes
One of the easiest ways to show gratitude is by writing letters, cards, or emails to important people in your life. You can write about anything that comes to mind — your favorite memories together, what they taught you, how much they mean to you, e.t.c. Don't worry if it's not eloquent — be sincere and honest with your appreciation.
Show gratitude to everyone
Show gratitude to everybody you meet today, and tell them it's World Gratitude Day. Appreciate the people who contribute to your life in different ways. It could be the mail carrier, the telephone technician, the trash collectors, or even the chef and waiters at your favorite restaurant.
Appreciate yourself
You're not perfect, but you can be thankful for the good things about yourself. Write down all of your good traits or actions. They don't have to be big things. They can be simple or complex. If no one appreciates you for who you are today, you were grateful for and kind to yourself.
5 Benefits Of Gratitude
It makes us happier
By simply journaling for five minutes a day about what we are grateful for, we can increase our overall happiness by 10%.
It enhances our positive emotions
When we feel grateful, we are less likely to feel envious of others — grateful people experience a wider variety of emotions, and they are more likely to bounce back from difficult experiences.
It makes people like us
More grateful people have access to a broader social network, more friends, and better relationships.
It reduces impatience
People who are more appreciative of what they have tend to be less dissatisfied and more aware of opportunities during economic decisions, leading to better decisions and less pressure to seek immediate gratification.
It reduces your blood pressure
If you want to lower your blood pressure, try counting your blessings daily.
Why We Love World Gratitude Day
It is an opportunity for self-reflection
World Gratitude Day gives us a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect, and consider the positive things in our life. It allows us to think about what we're grateful for or even change something about ourselves for the better. After all, it's your world, and you have to live in it! You can choose to live in a way that makes your life happier.
It’s a good time to express gratitude
It is a day for expressing gratitude and being kind to each other. Many people believe that once you commit a simple act of kindness for someone, you don't need to repeatedly manifest that kind of kindness. However, according to traditions, performing kind acts every day can eventually lead you to find inner peace and happiness.
It’s a time to understand the importance of being grateful
We should practice gratitude. People are happier when appreciated, and businesses thrive when customer service is excellent. Indeed, gratitude is a parent of all virtues. World Gratitude Day helps more people understand the importance of acknowledging and being grateful to others.
World Gratitude Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | September 21 | Sunday |
2026 | September 21 | Monday |
2027 | September 21 | Tuesday |
2028 | September 21 | Thursday |
2029 | September 21 | Friday |