On the 1st of March every year, we celebrate World Compliment Day. It’s a day specially dedicated to showing appreciation and casting out a net of positivity via heartwarming compliments. This special day invites us to convey our respect and acknowledgment to people around us, from colleagues and friends to beloved family members.
Through such celebrations across the globe, the aim is to foster a connected environment filled with happiness, making the world a much friendlier place to live for all.
History of World Compliment Day
World Compliment Day has its roots in the Netherlands back in 2001, initiated by a recognition professional named Hans Poortvliet. His aim was to infuse the world with a sense of positivity and gratitude. He understood the significant effect of compliments, not only on the receiver but also on the one who gives.
In the beginning, the event was marked as National Compliment Day within the Netherlands. The objective was to make it the most positive day in the country by encouraging every individual to give at least one compliment. The day gained considerable traction, leading to the creation of a dedicated website and inclusion in diaries and calendars.
As the day continued to touch more lives and spread cheer, it earned recognition on an international scale. On March 1, 2011, the day was rechristened World Compliment Day. The occasion brought global attention to the act of expressing appreciation and reinforced bonds among communities worldwide.
Despite the worldwide recognition, the official organizers insist it’s not commercially driven. They do not want it to turn into another commercial holiday like Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, where gifts are a mandate. Instead, World Compliment Day has become a movement in its own right with numerous corporations and establishments recognizing it and fostering a culture of gratitude among their staff and patrons.
World Compliment Day Timeline
Compliment as a Gift
Proverbs 25:11 reads 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver', illustrating the value of a well-placed compliment.
Harnessed in Self-Improvement
Dale Carnegie popularised the use of compliments as a psychological tool in his book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People.'
National Compliment Day
National Compliment Day was introduced in the Netherlands by Hans Poortvliet.
European recognition
Many European countries started recognizing Compliment Day alongside the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Compliments & Social Media
Social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook have further allowed for compliments to be exchanged publicly, often in the form of 'likes' or positive comments.
World Compliment Day
The 'National Compliment Day' was extended to 'World Compliment Day' to promote positivity and appreciation on a global scale.
Ideas to Celebrate World Compliment Day
Compliment Jar
Prepare cute little jars filled with written compliments for each of your friends or colleagues. You can write positive attributes you admire about them. They'll appreciate this heartfelt token of appreciation. You can even encourage them to pass on the compliment jar to spread the positivity.
Compliment Board
Design a board or a wall in your office, school, or even at home where everyone can paste a post-it compliment for anyone they appreciate. It will become a tangible display of all the positivity that might go unsaid.
Random Compliment Messages
Prepare anonymous compliment messages, put them in envelopes, and place them in random places, where they are easily noticeable, such as library desks, park benches or bus seats. The finder will get a surprise sprinkle of positivity.
Personalized Compliment Cards
Create handwritten or digital compliment cards mentioning something specific and positive about the person. These small tokens of appreciation will not only make someone's day but also strengthen your relationships.
Compliment Cookies
Bake cookies or muffins and write compliments on top with icing. A sweet treat complemented with a sweet compliment will surely make anyone's day better.
7 Interesting Facts About Compliments
Compliments can Boost Self-esteem
When we receive a genuine compliment, it can significantly boost our self-esteem and confidence, making us feel valued and appreciated.
The Power of Complimenting in Relationships
Regularly complimenting your significant other can strengthen your relationship. It fosters a sense of admiration and deepens romantic connections.
Favors Effective Brain Functioning
According to research, receiving compliments light up the same two regions (the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum) in the brain as receiving cash.
Boosts Workplace Motivation
In a professional setting, giving praise for good work or ideas can increase productivity and motivation. A study has shown that workgroups with a positive-to-negative interaction ratio greater than 3-to-1 are significantly more productive.
The Power of Specific Compliments
Specific compliments are more impactful than general ones. For example, instead of saying 'You're great,' saying 'You did a great job organizing this event' has more impact.
The Art of Accepting Compliments
Accepting a compliment graciously without batting it away or downplaying it is an important communication skill that many people find difficult to master.
Role in Social Bonding
Compliments play a vital role in social bonding and help in establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships.
World Compliment Day FAQs
Next World Compliment Day Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 1st | Wednesday |
| 2024 | March 1st | Friday |
| 2025 | March 1st | Saturday |
| 2026 | March 1st | Sunday |
| 2027 | March 1st | Monday |
| What is the pattern? | Every March 1st | |
World Compliment Day Word Search
- Appreciation
- Kindness
- Compliment
- Praise
- Positivity
- Recognition