Smile! It’s World Smile Day
Updated: Jun. 03, 2016
We all recognize that bright yellow happy face, but do we know the meaning of it? Created in 1963 by
We all recognize that bright yellow happy face, but do we know the meaning of it? Created in 1963 by Massachusetts commercial artist, Harvey Ball, it was originally designed to represent good cheer and good will on the planet.
In 1999, however Ball declared the first Friday in October as World Smile Day after growing concern that his symbol was becomming over-commercialized. What was created to be a sign of good seemed to be lost in it’s constant repetition all over the marketplace.
Bell believed that we should all donate at least one day of the year to smiling and acts of kindness. “The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we,” says the program’s website.
How will you make someone smile today?
-Jessica Harding, associate web editor
