A smile is one of the simplest ways to brighten someone's day, including your own. National Smile Day, on May 31, celebrates the power of smiling and encourages people to share kindness and joy. Smiles are recognized across cultures, help build connections and can even lift our mood. It's a perfect day to smile at strangers, compliment a friend or do something that makes someone else smile.
History of National Smile Day
Smiling is a universal human expression. Babies begin to smile socially at around six weeks old. Researchers, including Charles Darwin in the 1800s, studied facial expressions and suggested that smiling is shared across cultures.
In 1963, American graphic artist Harvey Ball created the yellow smiley face for an insurance company in Worcester, Massachusetts, to boost employee morale. He was paid $45 and never trademarked the design, which became one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Ball later founded World Smile Day, celebrated on the first Friday in October.
The smiley face inspired the emoticon 🙂 in 1982, proposed by computer scientist Scott Fahlman, and later emoji. Who created National Smile Day on May 31 is not documented.
Why National Smile Day Matters
Smiling can help create positive social interactions and make people seem more approachable.
Research suggests smiling may be linked with improved mood, though scientists continue to study the effect.
Smiles are contagious; seeing someone smile often makes others smile too. Spreading kindness can have a ripple effect in communities.
Smiles also help build trust. A warm smile can put a nervous patient, customer or new classmate at ease, and many professions, from nursing to teaching, rely on friendly expressions to create a welcoming atmosphere. Taking care of your teeth and gums helps keep your smile healthy, too, so regular dental check-ups are part of the celebration.
How to Celebrate National Smile Day
- Smile at strangers: share a friendly smile with people you meet.
- Compliment someone: make another person smile.
- Watch something funny: enjoy a comedy or funny video.
- Do a kind deed: perform a random act of kindness.
- Visit the dentist: take care of your smile.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, start a 'smile wall' where coworkers post compliments or good news, or surprise the team with a treat. In classrooms, students can draw smiley faces with kind messages for classmates, learn about Harvey Ball, or create a kindness challenge. At home, families can share jokes at dinner, write notes that make each other smile, or do a kind deed for a neighbor. Even a small gesture can make someone's day.
Fun Facts About National Smile Day
- Babies start smiling socially at about six weeks old.
- Harvey Ball created the smiley face in 1963.
- Scott Fahlman proposed the 🙂 emoticon in 1982.
National Smile Day FAQs
When is National Smile Day?
National Smile Day is May 31.
Who created the smiley face?
Harvey Ball, in 1963.
Is smiling contagious?
Seeing someone smile often prompts others to smile too.
When is World Smile Day?
The first Friday in October.