WORLD HELLO DAY
World Hello Day, on November 21st, recognizes the role communication plays for preserving peace. The day also encourages world leaders to use communication rather than force to settle conflicts.
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to say hello. It’s one little word that means a whole lot. Hello shows that you are friendly. It shows that you want to connect with someone. Saying hello is a great way to start a conversation. Generally, when you say hello to someone, they say it back.
Hello provides a way to communicate with everyone from family members to co-workers. You can even greet strangers you pass by on the sidewalk or in the hallway. Saying hello with a smile is a great way to brighten someone’s day. It’s incredible how one little word brings so much goodness to the world.
Fun Facts About the Word Hello
- Hello is often one of the first words a baby says.
- Thomas Edison was the first to say hello upon receiving a phone call.
- Hello is believed to derive from the word hail, which dates back to the Middle Ages.
- Hello is related to other words that mean health.
- The word was first used in the 1800s but was used to express surprise.
- Hola, Bonjour, Guten tag, Ciao, Namaste, Salaam, Ohayo, Jambo, and Nay hoh, are all ways to say hello in other languages.
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldHelloDay
Participants are encouraged to say hello to 10 different people on this day. Don’t just reserve this word for co-workers, friends, and family members. You can also say hello to strangers. Perhaps you’ll be sharing an elevator or shopping in the same aisle at the grocery store. When saying hello, keep track of how many people say it back. Also, try to gauge how they feel when you say hello. Are they pleasantly surprised? Maybe saying hello will even help you make a new friend. If you have not spoken to someone in a long time, text or call with a simple hello. It might just help bring peace to the relationship.
Share this day on social media with #WorldHelloDay.
WORLD HELLO DAY HISTORY
World Hello Day began in 1973 as a simple response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel. The conflict was called the Yom Kippur War. Two brothers, Brian McCormack and Michael McCormack, founded World Hello Day. They mailed 1360 letters in 7 languages to encourage world leaders to participate. Today it is a global expression of peace in 180 countries.