World Hello Day

Categories:: Cultural
Tags:: Friendship
Where:: World
Date change rule:: Every November 21
Holiday emoji:: 🤝

World Hello Day arrives every November 21, championing personal communication as a vital tool for preserving peace. Join over 180 countries in this secular observance by simply greeting 10 people. Engage in conversations, foster understanding, and contribute to a more peaceful world.

Deals
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Social
Hero
History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
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Expected World Hello Day Deals

As a day focused on promoting peace through communication, World Hello Day inspires community engagement rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the United Nations and Rotary International often highlight their global peace initiatives, encouraging donations and volunteerism. Educational institutions might host dialogue sessions, while local community centers could organize ‘meet and greet’ events. Companies like Microsoft and Google, whose platforms facilitate global communication, may share stories of connection. We encourage individuals to support peace-building non-profits and participate in local efforts that foster dialogue and understanding.

Platform Guide for World Hello Day

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #WorldHelloDay. Share a positive message or a story about a meaningful connection you made.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #WorldHelloDay. Post a video greeting in multiple languages or share an inspiring quote about peace.

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #WorldHelloDay. Discuss the importance of clear communication in professional settings and global collaboration.

World Hello Day Hero

Brian and Danae Heath

Brian and Danae Heath founded World Hello Day in 1973 in response to the Yom Kippur War. Their simple idea—that a friendly greeting could foster peace—was a direct appeal for world leaders to use communication, not force, to resolve conflicts. They sent letters to government officials worldwide, explaining their concept and encouraging participation. Their initiative quickly gained international support, demonstrating the profound impact of a small gesture in promoting global understanding and non-violence.

History of World Hello Day

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 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 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.

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.

World Hello Day is an opportunity for everyone, all throughout the globe, to make an effort at reaching out to one another, taking steps towards world peace. The primary means to achieving this personal connection is by simply saying, ‘hello!”

World Hello Day timeline

2020

Hello anniversary

World Hello Day celebrates its 48th anniversary.

1973

Greeting for peace

World Hello Day is created by Arizona State University graduate Brian McCormack and Harvard graduate Michael McCormack as a direct response to the Arab-Israeli war

1877

“Hello” on the telephone

The use of hello as a telephone greeting is credited to Thomas Edison as he expresses his surprise with a misheard ‘Hullo.’

1826

Hello, with a different meaning

Hello as a word is initially used to attract attention and not as a word of greeting, according to the Oxford English Dictionary

World Hello Day FAQs

When is World Hello Day?

World Hello Day 2026 falls on Saturday, November 21. It’s an annual opportunity to actively promote peace through simple, personal communication.

How many countries observe World Hello Day?

World Hello Day is a widely recognized observance, celebrated by people in approximately 180 countries across the globe. This widespread participation underscores its universal message of peace.

What is the purpose of World Hello Day?

The primary purpose of World Hello Day is to illustrate the importance of personal communication in fostering and preserving peace. It encourages individuals to engage with others as a means of resolving conflicts and building connections.

How can individuals participate in World Hello Day?

Individuals can easily participate by simply greeting 10 people on November 21. This act of reaching out is intended to promote personal communication and demonstrate its power in building bridges.

World Hello Day Activities

Greet others enthusiastically
Send out a positive, cheerful greeting today, and try to make it a habit most days. This way, you will most like get a cheerful, positive greeting in return! It’s always a nice feeling to receive a kind hello in the mornings, even at work. Not only will you make other people’s day, but you will also feel great for being kind!
Learn greetings in different languages
There are so many different ways to say hello around the world, making our world so beautiful and diverse. For example, did you know that ‘assalamu alaikum’ means ‘peace be upon you’ in Arabic? This is a common greeting amongst most Arab and Muslim countries. The Hawaiian word aloha holds great cultural significance. Not only is it used as a greeting and a farewell, the word also embodies the ideas of love, compassion and peace In Mongolia, Zolgokh is a traditional formal greeting. Two people hold both their arms out, and the younger person's arms are placed under the elder person's and grasp their elbows to show support for their elder.
Call friends from your past
Haven’t spoken to a friend in a long time? Perhaps a high school buddy or a friend you made during college days? On World Hello Day, make an effort to call and say hello to someone you haven’t in a long time. Life gets busy and sometimes it’s hard to keep in contact, so making the first move to greet a person you once had a special bond with is a great way to celebrate the day!

5 Amazing Facts About Saying Hello

Hello first used to get attention
The word was initially used to attract attention and not as a word of greeting — according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest written record of the word was in 1826 in the Norwich Courier.
It was coined as a telephone greeting
Everyone knows that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, but it was his rival Thomas Alva Edison — who had more rivals than most — who coined ‘hello’ as the official telephone greeting.
The greeting was a social leveler
In the 19th century, it was considered rude and unpolished to talk to anyone without being formally introduced. Hence, the use of “hello” as a telephone greeting, readily became a social leveler.
A firm greeting
The first published phone book by the District Telephone Company of New Haven, Connecticut in 1878, included strict “How To” sections and it authoritatively instructed users to begin their phone conversations with “a firm and cheery” hello.
Other countries use similar words
Many other countries use greetings that sound a lot like hello — hallo in Afrikaans, halo in Indonesian, halò in Gaelic and halló in Icelandic, to name a few!

Why We Love World Hello Day

Teaching us the beauty of hello
Have you ever thought about the importance of greeting someone? What our world would be like without saying hello? Communication is a basic human concept and the act of greeting someone, no matter in what language or country you are from, is a beautiful thing.
A reminder of peace
Hello. A simple hello can break boundaries and promote peace across the world. Peace can be a charged subject, especially for war torn areas of the world. Be sure to be sensitive to each other’s position on the subject. Consider discussing with different people what peace means to them. What are their symbols of peace? What can individuals do to promote peace throughout the world?
Sharing culture
World Hello Day gives us a chance to share some of our own cultures and teaching eachother how to say hello in our native languages. Make sure to go out of your way to ask someone from a different country or culture what their way of greeting is. It gives us a great perspective on the world around us, and realize the countless ways there are to say hello!