World Emoji Day
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Overview
World Emoji Day is an annual celebration of emojis, observed globally on July 17th. The date was specifically chosen because it is the date displayed on the calendar emoji (ποΈ) in Apple's iOS, a detail that was subsequently adopted by other platforms. The day encourages people to use and appreciate emojis as a form of communication, reflecting on their impact on digital interactions. It's often marked by new emoji announcements, discussions about their cultural significance, and general appreciation for these small digital icons.
Origin and story
The first set of emojis was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita for NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet platform in Japan, predating smartphones.
The specific date of July 17th for World Emoji Day was chosen by Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge in 2014, inspired by the date shown on Apple's calendar emoji (ποΈ).
Quick facts
- DateJuly 17
- TypeKindness / Community
- Great forCommunity groups, Friends, Coworkers
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
July 17 wasn't picked at random β it's hidden in plain sight on your phone. The π calendar emoji has always shown this exact date, and that Easter egg is the entire reason World Emoji Day lands here.
Find the hidden date on your own phone
Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge created World Emoji Day in 2014 after noticing Apple's calendar emoji displayed July 17 β a nod to the date Apple's iCal application launched at Macworld Expo in 2002. Check your own phone's calendar emoji to see the same date.
Trace emoji back to Japan
Long before smartphones, the first emoji set was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita for NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet platform in Japan. Read the official World Emoji Day FAQ for more on how a niche Japanese feature became a global language.
Say something in emoji only
Send a message, a status update, or a comment using nothing but emoji today, and see how much (or how little) gets lost without words.
Helpful resources: World Emoji Day FAQ (World Emoji Day)
Fun facts
- The first set of emojis was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita for NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet platform in Japan, predating smartphones.
- The specific date of July 17th for World Emoji Day was chosen by Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge in 2014, inspired by the date shown on Apple's calendar emoji (ποΈ).
- The word 'emoji' comes from the Japanese words 'e' (η΅΅, 'picture') and 'moji' (ζε, 'character'), literally meaning 'picture character' and is not related to the English word 'emotion'.
Sources and attribution
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is World Emoji Day?
- It is observed on July 17 each year.
- What is World Emoji Day?
- World Emoji Day is an annual celebration of emojis, observed globally on July 17th. The date was specifically chosen because it is the date displayed on the calendar emoji (ποΈ) in Apple's iOS, a detail that was subsequently adopted by other platforms. The day encourages people to use and appreciate emojis as a form of communication, reflecting on their impact on digital interactions. It's often marked by new emoji announcements, discussions about their cultural significance, and general appreciation for these small digital icons.
- How do people celebrate World Emoji Day?
- Check the date hidden in your phone's calendar emoji (it's why the holiday falls on July 17), and try sending a message using only emoji.
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