International Day of Friendship Jul 30, 2025

What do giant handshakes painted on the ground have to do with friendship? Quite a lot, actually. Celebrated every July 30, the International Day of Friendship reminds us that tackling global challenges, like poverty, violence, and injustice, starts with something surprisingly simple: human connection. That"s exactly what artist Saype had in mind with "Beyond Walls," a series of massive, biodegradable land-art murals featuring interlinked hands. Symbolizing unity and solidarity, these works have stretched across five continents. At Expo 2020 Dubai, Saype"s 11th installation covered over 16,000 square feet of grass in Al Forsan Park. It formed a striking black-and-white handshake that could only be fully appreciated from above, as seen here. The piece, made with eco-friendly paint, was unveiled on Switzerland"s National Day, supported by the Swiss Pavilion.

© VALENTIN FLAURAUD/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jul 30, 2018Children at play for International Day of Friendship
Jul 30, 2019A long, erratic commute
Jul 30, 2020International Day of Friendship
Jul 30, 2021Working for that cliffside view
Jul 30, 2022Milford Sound/Piopiotahi rainforest in New Zealand
Jul 30, 2023Palouse farmland, Washington state
Jul 30, 2024San Gimignano, Siena Tuscany, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
Sep 3, 2019In the Most Serene Republic
Aug 7, 2019Nubble Island’s only industry
Jan 29, 2023Blackbird in Essex, England
Apr 10, 2022Siblings Day
Feb 2, 2023Groundhog Day
May 11, 2023Henningsvær Stadion, Norway
May 24, 2019Not your average sandcastle
Aug 23, 2018Riding the bore tide at Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
Feb 26, 2023Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Aug 14, 2023World Lizard Day
Feb 23, 2020An icy extravaganza
Apr 18, 2020National Park Week begins
Jun 12, 2024Big Bend National Park anniversary
Apr 30, 2023International Jazz Day
Nov 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Feb 21, 2025Champaka Sarasi, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Apr 4, 2026Black grouse males, Estonia
Mar 9, 2022Flower of Life symbol drawn in snow
Jul 11, 2025World Population Day
Aug 4, 2021A special day for a special cat
Oct 22, 2021Jasper Dark Sky Festival
May 24, 2023Old Fortress, Corfu, Greece
Sep 21, 2018A tower of light
Feb 5, 2019Welcome to the Year of the Pig
Jul 15, 2019Marine Day in Japan
Jul 12, 2022Bay Marker Lookout, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia
Mar 21, 2019The power of the forest
Feb 2, 2025Groundhog Day
Apr 26, 2018National Park Week: Guadalupe Mountains National Park