International Day of Happiness – what happiness means around the world

The 12th International Day of Happiness takes place on 20 March 2024.

The day was originally created by the United Nation’s General Assembly who said that happiness was a “fundamental human goal”.

Defining happiness is not as easy as you might think though. The emotion is expressed in very different ways around the world due to people’s unique cultures. BBC Bitesize takes a look at some of the ways that happiness is felt, expressed or encouraged in three different communities around the world.

Why global happiness is so important

Cultures around the world express happiness in different ways, but with one shared ideology – that it is an important emotion to feel. When individuals are happy, they are more likely to live better and healthier lifestyles.

Happiness improves both our mental and physical health, improves our ability to manage stressful situations and enables us to remain active - a 2016 study in Lithuania showed that people with a positive mindset were 33% more likely to be physically active for 10 of more hours per week.

Additionally, a University of Warwick study in 2014 found that happiness enabled people to be 12% more productive in the workplace while research in the Netherlands in 2008 found that happiness helped us to think more creatively and solve problems much easier.

As well as helping individuals, happiness benefits those around us. It improves the way we communicate with others, therefore, strengthening relationships with friends and family. When people are happy, they are also more likely to be considerate of other and perform acts of kindness.

Southern Africa – Ubuntu

In countries across the south of Africa, many communities practise the culture of ubuntu, which they view as the best way of promoting kindness. Ubuntu is a term that translates to “I am, because you are”.

Known by different names across the continent, Ubuntu is the most commonly used name, popularised by the Zulu community of South Africa. It encourages compassion and mindfulness, expressed through fairness, acts of forgiveness and sympathy.

While the concept has been in use since the 1840s, it was made famous by people such as former South African President Nelson Mandela and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Tutu was a firm believer that the ubuntu culture rejects selfishness. He said: “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world.”

Japan – Omotenashi

A country famous for promoting kindness is Japan, which practises thoughtfulness through its culture of omotenashi. This Japanese philosophy is generally translated as hospitality, although the word covers many aspects of everyday life.

Omotenashi is the belief that we should care for each other through politeness and generosity, therefore making other people’s lives happier, more peaceful and more comfortable.

In Japan, this culture is practised in various ways such as bowing when greeting guests, giving neighbours gifts and having taxis with automatically opening doors. It differs from a general service industry approach, often done without the expectation of tipping or additional payments.

Instead, omotenashi is intended to seem invisible to the customer, an approach where other's people's needs should be anticipated and fulfilled in advance. As the word has no literal English translation, it is often said to be difficult to describe, but something that you know when you experience it - with heartfelt actions and kindness at its centre.

Hygge - Denmark

For many years, Denmark has remained one of the happiest countries in the world according to the annual World Happiness Report. The report ranks countries based on social and cultural environments and behaviours against any risks, such as widespread ill-health, discrimination or low income. Among the factors for Denmark's repeated high scores is their strong sense of community.

Hygge culture is also a key way of life for Danish people. Hygge is a word that first came to use in the 19th Century. While it doesn't have a direct translation into English, it loosely represents a feeling of coziness and ‘wellbeing’, used today to describe a comfortable and peaceful way of life.

Many people argue that hygge culture is the cause for Danish people’s happiness, because it encourages relaxation, togetherness and comfort. Hygge can be expressed in many ways including through spending time with loved ones, eating food you enjoy or watching your favourite show.

Danish people not only use hygge to make themselves happy, but also to welcome and embrace others. The powerful effects of this culture has led to other communities around the word to use hygge culture to improve their own happiness and wellbeing.

This article was published in 2021 and last updated in 2024