History and importance of International Day of Happiness

History and importance of International Day of Happiness

The United Nations started to celebrate the International Day of Happiness in 2013 but a resolution for the same was passed on July 12, 2012.

The International Day of Happiness is observed every year all over the world on March 20 to highlight the importance of happiness in the diurnal lives of people. The theme of International Day of Happiness for this year is “Happiness For All, Forever” which implies the significance of happiness for people all over the world. The day recognises happiness as the most important need in any human’s life and links it to the overall well-being of humans. The day also aims to establish the important role that happiness must play while setting public policy objectives as through the day happiness is intrinsically related to equitable economic growth which will thereby lead to sustainable development and overall well-being of all people.

History of the day

The United Nations started to celebrate the International Day of Happiness in 2013 but a resolution for the same was passed on July 12, 2012. This resolution was first initiated by Bhutan which emphasised on the importance of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s, thereby adopting the Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.

Since 1972, the tiny country of Bhutan has lived and governed under a political philosophy of “Gross National Happiness.” This ideology is based on the Buddhist concept that happiness can and should be accessible to all. It focuses on four “pillars:” good governance, sustainable socioeconomic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. Not surprisingly, it was on Bhutan’s suggestion that the United Nations entertained the concept of an International Day of Happiness.

Following the unanimous resolution for its enactment in June 2012, the first International Day of Happiness was celebrated worldwide on March 20, 2013. Through its recognition, the U.N. promotes the principle that general human happiness should be a primary consideration in our approach to all public policy and economic objectives. It stresses the notion that progress cannot be measured in economic terms alone. Well being and happiness are fundamental human goals and are equally essential to a complete measurement of “human progress.”

International Day of Happiness – Date of issue – 10 March-2015 ( San Marino)

However, the overall happiness of a society is not completely reliant on the compassion of political leaders and institutions. It starts at an individual level. With the help of the social organizations such as CHEERS and Action for Happiness, infectious and inspiring acts of joy and “positive psychology” are promoted worldwide on this designated day and encouraged throughout the year.