Celebrate Happiness Today

March 20 might not spring to mind as a major date in your calendar. But you might be missing a joyful tradition: it’s International Day of Happiness. The United Nations (UN) created it in 2013, believing that being happy is a basic human aim—something everyone should have a real chance to enjoy. Some countries, like Finland, take this idea seriously enough to top global happiness charts year after year. Others, like Mexico and Costa Rica, are joining the happy ranks with strong family ties and community spirit.

What does that mean for you? Perhaps it’s a nudge to see if there are ways, big or small, to make your day—and someone else’s—a little brighter. Below, we dig into why this day exists, how the UN’s push for well-being affects real lives, and why we might want to swap a greeting like “Happy Happiness Day!” instead of a typical Monday grunt.

Why March 20 Is About Happiness

A few years ago, the UN passed a resolution saying happiness is important enough that the world should celebrate it once a year. This was not a random gesture. The world faces poverty, conflict, and climate extremes, so a dose of optimism is sometimes missing. By naming an International Day of Happiness, leaders wanted people to do something special—even if only for a day—to remember that there’s more to living than gross income or endless work hours.

What does the UN do?
In the background, the UN also encourages governments to shape policies that improve well-being, reduce inequality, and keep the planet healthy. They link it to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the Earth, and make sure no one is left behind. It might seem like big talk, but the idea is that if the economy does well, communities can do better, and that can raise our contentment with life.

The Newest World Happiness Rankings

Each year, a report comes out ranking countries by how happy their citizens are, usually based on how people rate their own lives on a scale of 0 to 10. The 2025 edition included some interesting shifts:

1. Finland: Takes first place for the eighth year in a row. Observers often point to its strong welfare policies and closeness to nature. They also say the culture values time spent in local saunas or forest walks, which can help reduce stress.
2. Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands: Also near the top, showing again how Nordic nations typically score well on trust in institutions, equality, and a sense of community.
3. Costa Rica and Mexico: They joined the top 10 for the first time. Researchers think strong family bonds play a part. Another factor might be a cultural knack for finding everyday joys, even without huge wealth.
4. United States and United Kingdom: Both slid down a bit, ranking 24th and 23rd, respectively. The data hinted at rising stress levels, social tensions, or concerns over health and finances. Experts mention that big incomes don’t always mean big happiness.

A surprising find: People are kinder to strangers than many suspect. In a “lost wallet” test, about double the amount of wallets were returned compared to what people predicted. John F. Helliwell, from the University of British Columbia, said that people are happier in places where they think neighbors genuinely care. It suggests we might see the world as more cynical than it truly is.

Isn’t Happiness Overly Simple?

Some worry that focusing on happiness for one day is fluffy or trivial. But many psychologists and economists see it as a serious measure of a country’s well-being. We know that folks who report higher levels of happiness often have better overall health, strong social ties, and a brighter outlook. On the flip side, gloom can lead to lower productivity and more stress. So, it’s not just a personal feeling—it can shape communities and economies.

A fundamental human goal: The original UN resolution said that focusing on happiness goes hand in hand with reducing poverty, cutting down inequality, and being kind to the Earth. If leaders look at “Gross National Happiness” the way Bhutan famously does, or measure it alongside the usual money-based indicators, it might steer them to do more to help everyone lead more balanced, fulfilling lives.

How We Measure Happiness

For a long time, measuring happiness was guesswork. Jeremy Bentham, an English thinker in the 1700s, floated the idea that if happiness was humankind’s main aim, governments should track it. Today, studies and surveys do just that:

• Cantril Ladder: People imagine a ladder numbered from 0 (worst life) to 10 (best life) and place themselves on a rung.
• Satisfaction with Life Scale: This uses a few statements about your life, and you pick how much you agree.
• Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): People rate how often they feel certain positive or negative emotions.

Though it’s all self-reported and subject to quirks, experts have found consistent results across countries. People can reliably say if they’re content, stressed, or somewhere in between.

Finland Tops the Chart—Again

Think about Finland’s example. For eight years, it’s been number one. Yes, it has a strong economy, but beyond that, residents value nature, family time, and minimal showiness around wealth. Many enjoy weekly saunas—almost 90% do so—and see it as both social bonding and a mental refresh.

Some say the big secret is trust. Finns seem to trust one another and their institutions. That sense of security and community fosters day-to-day confidence. And if they trust each other, they’re more likely to hand in lost wallets or help strangers. This, ironically, forms a loop: trust fosters happiness, and happiness fosters more trust.

Warmth in Latin America

A highlight this year is that Costa Rica and Mexico jumped into the top 10. They are not rich countries in the same sense as, say, Luxembourg. But surveys reveal that family closeness, celebrating cultural traditions, and a knack for positivity keep folks’ spirits high. Even with economic challenges, people often find support networks in their extended families. This sense of “we’re in this together” can act like a shield from total despair.

Making This Day Count: March 20

So how do we greet each other on the International Day of Happiness? Some joke, “Happy Happy Day!” Others might simply say, “I hope you find extra joy today.” The important part is not the phrase, but the spirit behind it.

Ways to Honor It:

1. Show Gratitude: Write down a few things you’re thankful for. Studies find that noticing small blessings lifts mood and can reduce anxiety.
2. Spread Kindness: Do a small good deed. Return a lost wallet. Pay for someone’s coffee. A simple gesture can ripple far beyond your circle.
3. Join a Community Effort: If you’re feeling disconnected, see if there’s a group celebrating or volunteering in your neighborhood. The UN suggests making local gatherings or online meetups about health, mindfulness, or anything that draws people together.
4. Push for Policy: If you’re part of a civic or school board, ask: “Could we consider well-being metrics in how we evaluate success?” Even small towns can embed happiness surveys into feedback forms.
5. Unplug: The UN often talks about mental well-being. Taking a break from social media or stressful news can provide mental space to reflect on the positive.

Remember the Big Picture

While it’s fun to rank countries by happiness, the day is more about a global reminder that each person’s contentment, health, and joy matter. The UN and many charities hope that focusing on happiness can shift decision-makers away from purely economic growth to also considering life quality and fairness.

H. E. Ban Ki-moon’s Vision: The former UN Secretary-General once said we should look at how to join forces and solve global issues by focusing on well-being. That could mean rethinking how we handle taxes, build roads, or run public health. Are we picking solutions that raise everyone’s mood and help the planet?

Sustainability: The 17 Sustainable Development Goals tie neatly to happiness. Reducing poverty, giving good education, protecting oceans—these all lead to a world where people can relax, breathe cleaner air, and find stable work. Over time, that fosters deeper happiness than just having a bigger paycheck.

The Wallet Study

One detail that stands out in the 2025 report is that people underestimate how kind strangers can be. Researchers “lost” wallets intentionally in various places. The number of returned wallets was far higher than onlookers guessed. John F. Helliwell said this shows that a sense of trust and community runs deeper than many assume. That has big effects on happiness, since living where people help each other can dramatically improve everyday morale.

Additional Surprising Bits

• Sharing Meals: One part of the report says dining together is strongly linked to well-being. Perhaps that’s because it fosters conversation, belonging, and a break from daily hustle.
• Households of Four or Five: The study found that in some places, families or friend groups living together in groups of four or five had the highest happiness. Possibly because responsibilities (like paying bills and doing chores) get shared, leaving folks less stressed.

Many experts say the trick is to keep happiness alive even after March 20. That can be done by building real relationships, supporting public goods (like parks or community events), and not being afraid to measure how happy we are as a society. The point is not to ignore serious problems, but to approach them with empathy, trust, and solutions that raise well-being for everyone.

A call to care: Let’s not forget, if we value happiness as a right, we should also reach out to those who might be lonely or in distress. On this day, a small text or phone call could mean the world to someone who’s isolated. If you have the means, consider donating to mental health resources or volunteer in community groups tackling poverty or the environment.

Next Steps

1. Celebrate: If you’re reading this on March 20, share a cheerful greeting with a coworker or neighbor. “Hey, it’s Happiness Day—hope you find a bit of joy!”.
2. Learn: Glance at the World Happiness Report or find local well-being data. Where does your city or region rank? Are people satisfied with schools, health care, and job options?
3. Act: Start a gratitude log. Try going around the dinner table once a week and saying one good thing that happened. Or if you’re a teacher, run a small “gratitude moment” in class.
4. Stay Engaged: Over the coming year, the UN and partner groups host events on well-being. Check if your local community is doing a mindful walk, a yoga session, or a fundraiser for mental health. You might find new friends or new insights.

Final Thought

So what is the right greeting for the International Day of Happiness? Perhaps something simple like “Wishing you real joy today.” Behind the slogans lies a profound truth: being happy isn’t silly or selfish. It’s a core part of human life, worth celebrating and protecting. By caring about each other’s well-being—and by pushing leaders to take note—maybe we can shape a future where more folks, from Finland to Mexico to your hometown, can wake up feeling a sense of satisfaction and hope. Let’s keep the spirit of happiness going, not just on March 20, but throughout the year.