National Smile Day is on Monday, May 31, 2027, and it falls on May 31 every year. It’s a simple invitation to smile more, and to give other people a reason to smile. A kind word or small favor can make someone’s day.
When Is National Smile Day?
It’s always May 31. It’s an unofficial day. World Smile Day is a separate observance held in October.
Who Started National Smile Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: the smiley face
The yellow smiley face was drawn in 1963 by graphic artist Harvey Ball in Worcester, Massachusetts, History.com reports. The State Mutual Life Assurance Company hired him to lift employee morale after a merger. He was paid just $45.
Neither Ball nor the company copyrighted the design, so it spread freely. In 1971, Philadelphia store owners Bernard and Murray Spain copyrighted a version with the slogan “Have a happy day.” In 1972, French journalist Franklin Loufrani trademarked his own version, called “Smiley.”
Does Smiling Make You Happier?
A little. In 2019, psychologists analyzed 138 studies involving more than 11,000 people, ScienceDaily reports. They found that smiling was linked to feeling slightly happier, and scowling to feeling slightly angrier.
The effects were small and varied. “We don’t think that people can smile their way to happiness,” lead author Nicholas Coles said. The study appeared in Psychological Bulletin.
So the day isn’t about forcing a grin. It’s about the everyday moments, like a joke with a friend or a thank-you from a stranger, that make smiles real.
How to Celebrate National Smile Day
- Do a small kindness: hold a door, pay a compliment or leave a thank-you note.
- Call someone: reach out to a friend or relative you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Share a laugh: watch a comedy, swap funny stories or look through old photos.
- Smile at strangers: a friendly look at the grocery store or on a walk can brighten a day.
- Draw smiley faces: leave sticky notes with smiles and kind messages for coworkers or family.
- Thank someone who makes you smile: tell them specifically what they do.
- Book a dental checkup: look after the smile you have, and brush twice a day.
- Volunteer: helping others is one of the surest ways to share a smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the smiley face?
Graphic artist Harvey Ball drew it in 1963 for an insurance company in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was paid $45.
Is National Smile Day the same as World Smile Day?
No. National Smile Day is May 31. World Smile Day is held in October.
Can smiling really improve your mood?
Slightly. A 2019 review of 138 studies found small effects, so smiling can help but isn’t a cure-all for a bad mood.