World Smile Day

It’s safe to say that everyone today has seen that all too familiar yellow “smiley” face online. What many don’t know is the origin of that symbol.  Created in 1963 by Harvey Ball in Worcester, Massachusetts.

As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day®. He thought that everyone should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world.

The smiley face knows no politics, no geography, and no religion and it was Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, it should be purely about a symbol of kind acts.

Harvey declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day®. Ever since that first World Smile Day® held in 1999, it has continued every year in Smiley’s hometown of Worcester, MA, and around the world.

Now go put a smile on someone’s face today!