World Hello Day is November 21

A World Wide Holiday to Promote Global Peace

Nov 15, 2009 Jocelyn Kerr

World Hello Day started in 1974 as a world peace movement. The message? Greet ten strangers to promote global peace.

According to the official World Hello Day website, this world peace movement started as a way to promote global peace after the Arab-Israeli War began in 1973. World Hello Day is an exercise in communication; its goal is to strengthen our personal relations with others.

When is World Hello Day?

World Hello Day happens every year on Nov. 21. The founders of World Hello Day ask that everyone in the world say hello to ten people during the day. Of course, it's always nice to greet more people, but ten is the number they suggest.

Say hello to strangers on the street, people in the elevator, store clerks, or anyone who makes eye contact. The message of World Hello Day is simply to open the lines of communication between people. Social courtesies like saying hello are sometimes lacking in modern life, especially in cities, so this is one way to remind people to be courteous to each other.

By saying hello for one day, people may be inspired to say hello more often. Before long, neighborhoods and communities are talking more and people are connecting.

How Can Saying Hello Promote World Peace?

Brian and Michael McCormack, the founders of World Hello Day, state on their website that saying hello "demonstrates the importance of personal communication for preserving peace."

They go on to write that 31 Nobel Peace Prize winners have endorsed World Hello Day, and these Nobel laureates support the concept as an effective way for everyone in the world to help create international peace. The World Hello Day website also contains letters of support from politicians, celebrities, and sports figures.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation's website lists several health benefits to performing good deeds. One study they reference is from a 1991 book by Allan Luks, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others. In his study, more than 3,000 volunteers reported that doing good deeds produced a euphoric rush. This "helper's high" as Luks called it, reduced stress and lead to feelings of well-being.

Even something as simple as saying hello to strangers could potentially induce this "helper's high", especially if it also helps promote global peace.

Say Hello This Nov. 21

Saying hello to ten people might seem like a small gesture to promote world peace, but the very act of being considerate can multiply. Not only is it good for a community, but as part of a global peace movement it might also open the door to international peace.

The copyright of the article World Hello Day is November 21 in International Affairs is owned by Jocelyn Kerr. Permission to republish World Hello Day is November 21 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Promote World Peace on World Hello Day