It seems that every other day or week or so while cruising our social media feeds, we see that the current date is now dubbed the ‘International Day of [insert celebration]‘. Have you ever stopped to wonder why these days exist?
While gathering information ahead of July 30th’s International Day of Friendship, I came across an explanation through the United Nations (UN) “International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity…”
So why friendship of all things? The UN notes that friendship can be a powerful advocacy tool, “Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.“
The literary world is an incredible source of innumerable friends, whose worlds and adventures provide valuable insights, lessons, and a diverse lens from which we can consider our connections to humanity. Our University of Alberta Library’s social media team offered up their favourite literary friends, as well as the quirks and qualities that make them so special.
Sonya Leung,
Information Services Specialist
Literary Friend: Luna Lovegood; Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
Luna is my birthday twin, Feb 13 and a fellow Ravenclaw. Luna seems like she would be chill to hangout with and her self awareness in her teenage years means there would be little drama as an adult.
Meredith Bratland,
Strategic Communications Manager
Literary Friend: Miss Honey & Matilda; Matilda by Roald Dahl.
Illustration: Quentin Blake
I just love Matilda’s friendship with her teacher Miss Honey. Miss Honey really sees who Matilda is and listens to her opinions with respect. Miss Honey’s approach then allows Matilda to thrive.
Sometimes you have to see yourself through your friend’s eyes in order to give yourself the same compassion.
Eva Romanick,
Information Services Specialist
Literary Friend: Anne Elliot; Persuasion by Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s Anne Elliot has been like a sister to me since my early university years. I like her character best because she is quiet, plain, thoughtful and lost in good intentions. I understand her, and I feel her.
It is such a beautiful process reading how Anne discovers herself; how she realizes she cannot be everything for anyone, without being someone for herself as well.
Junelle Mah,
Information Services Specialist
Literary Friend: Skippyjon Jones; series by Judy Schachner
I have a soft spot for kids books and siamese cats, and to my absolute delight I found the perfect combination of the two in a window display at a Victoria, BC bookshop. Skippyjon is a vibrant and michievious little kitten whose wild imagination not only takes him on incredible adventures, but also gets him in a wee bit of trouble with his mama, Junebug Jones.
Life as an adult gets quite heavy, so in gifting and then reading these books to my nieces and nephews I get to whisk us away to a whimsical world; to places where kitties can talk, where kiddos can invigorate their imaginations, and where Auntie gets to talk in funny voices as much as she likes.
Thanks for the read and a big shout out of gratitude to our social media team for their input.
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