When:
ποΈ July 17
Where:
π Everywhere
Since:
2014
π πβοΈπ
created by Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge in 2014.
A Celebration of Digital Expressions ππ«°
On World Emoji Day, let your fingers do the talking as we celebrate the joy of digital hieroglyphics and let your messages shine brighter than a disco ball!
This is the one day where you can communicate an entire Shakespearean play using just smileys and pizza slices.
World Emoji Day, celebrated annually on July 17, unites people around the world in a shared appreciation for these expressive little icons that speak volumes without saying a word. It’s a day where we celebrate the power of emojis to convey emotions, ideas, and a universal language that transcends borders and cultural barriers.
Emojis are not mere pictures but an intricate art form of visual communication where one picture can speak the proverbial 1000 words.
They are small, vibrant symbols used to express a range of emotions, actions, objects, and ideas in a single character. From smileys and animals to food and objects, emojis have become an essential part of our everyday communication, transcending language barriers and adding a touch of fun to our digital interactions.
So get ready to paint the digital canvas with a rainbow of emotions on World Emoji Day!
Defining Emojis π―β¨
Emojis, often called emoticons, are graphical symbols used in digital communication to represent emotions, ideas, objects, animals, and more.
The term “emoji” is derived from two Japanese words: “e,” meaning “picture,” and “moji,” meaning “character.” Initially, emojis were popularized in Japan in the late 1990s and have since gained worldwide popularity in the realm of mobile communications.
Today, there are thousands of emojis available, and they are used in all sorts of ways, from expressing emotions to sharing information.
Smilies vs. Emojis: Is There a Difference? πβ¨οΈ
While the terms “smilies” and “emojis” are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle distinction between the two.
Smilies typically refer to the original emoticons made using text characters, such as π to represent a smiling face, originated in the early days of text-based communication. Because there once was a time when fonts did not have emojis.
Fonts were not quite as standardized as they are now and most fonts did not bother much about using letters, numbers, punctuation and maybe some ANSI building blocks. (ANSI was the old school way of making those awesome graphics like those in vintage games like Pac Man and when Mario was still a nameless character in Donkey Kong.)
Emojis, on the other hand, are graphical representations of various symbols, emotions, objects, and more, designed to enhance digital communication.
Emojis expanded upon the concept of smilies, offering a wider range of expressive symbols with colorful and detailed designs integrating in font characters. Which is a very official way of making clear that emojis are not just for fun, but are an actual part of our communication.
Thanks to typing shortcuts the line between smilies and emojis have blurred so far that usually when we type a π we get an π.
Yet, some people still prefer the charm of vintage emoticons. Β―\_(γ)_/Β―
The Font That Winged It π¦π₯οΈ
In the past decades where fonts were not as standardized as they are becoming nowadays, itβs hard to say when we first got access to one-character smiley faces instead of having to type out several punctuation marks. But one font type was quite notable for also providing symbols amongst the usual basic variety of mere writing.
Wingdings entered the stage of computer keyboards in the early 1990ies as part of the original set of fonts bundled with Microsoft Windows, surprising users with its eccentric visual language.
This iconic font was created by the collaboration of Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes with the intention of bridging the gap between typography and symbol-based communication. The font’s unique blend of whimsical imagery, ranging from smiling faces to telephones and musical notes, added a playful touch to written communication.
One of Wingdings’ most profound influences lies in its impact on emoji history. Before the widespread adoption of dedicated emoji sets, Wingdings offered a glimpse into the world of pictorial expression. Its symbolic characters served as precursors to the beloved emojis we know and adore today, igniting the imagination of those who sought to transcend the limitations of text-based communication.
The wingding emojis were the first smiley icons that were available for use in text messages on some mobile phones in 1997.
From Smiley Faces to Digital Icons π π±
The first emojis as we know them today were created by Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese designer who was working for NTT DoCoMo, a telecommunications company.
Kurita took inspiration from Chinese symbols, symbolic representations like those used in manga and icons like those used in street signs and such. In 1999 the first set of 176 emojis became available for use on mobile phones.
The introduction of emojis on mobile devices revolutionized digital communication, eventually leading to their standardization by the Unicode Consortium and their global popularity.
Emojis still continue to evolve, with new additions introduced regularly, reflecting our ever-expanding digital expressions.
The Origins of World Emoji Day πΈπ
World Emoji Day was created by Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia, on July 17th, 2014.
The event was established to celebrate the impact of emojis on our digital culture, promote understanding and appreciation of their versatility, and foster emoji-themed events and discussions worldwide.
The date itself holds a special significance as it represents the iconic calendar emoji that depicts July 17th.
Yays and Nays of Using Emojis πΌπ€
Benefits of Emojis:
- Visual appeal:
The colorful and eye-catching nature of emojis makes messages more engaging and brings joy, humor, and playfulness to digital interactions. - Empathic communication:
Emojis add emotional depth and context to text-based conversations, helping to convey tone and intent. - Universal language:
Emojis transcend language barriers, allowing people from different cultures to connect and understand each other better. - Express creativity:
Emojis provide a platform for personal expression and creativity in digital communication.
Drawbacks of Emojis:
- Overuse:
Excessive use of emojis can overshadow the actual content of the message and hinder effective communication. - Misinterpretation:
Emojis can sometimes be misinterpreted, as their meaning may vary depending on cultural context or individual interpretation. - Lack of Universality:
Different platforms or devices may display emojis differently, leading to potential confusion or compatibility issues.
How to Celebrate the Emoji Magic π±π
Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of visual communication on World Emoji Day!
Here’s how you can attend this vibrant event:
- Dress up in your favorite emoji style and go on a joyful emoji-themed adventure in your daily life.
- Host a virtual emoji-themed trivia night and challenge your friends to guess the emoji movie titles or decode popular emoji phrases.
- Create your own emoji masterpiece by painting or sculpting your favorite emojis to showcase your creative flair.
- Host an emoji-inspired potluck, where each dish represents a different emoji. Who knew spaghetti could be so expressive?
- Create emoji-inspired treats, such as smiley face cookies or emoji-shaped cupcakes.
- Challenge friends to an emoji-only conversation, communicating solely through a series of expressive symbols.
- Organize an emoji-themed scavenger hunt in your neighborhood or community, hiding emoji clues for others to find.
- Share your favorite emojis and their significance on social media, using hashtags like #WorldEmojiDay, #EmojiParty and #ExpressWithEmojis.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, World Emoji Day is a great opportunity to have some fun and appreciate the power of these little pictures.
ππ Where words fail, emojis prevail! ππ«‘
Unleash your inner emoji artist and let your virtual conversations bloom with color, creativity, and a whole lot of β€οΈ
And, if anyone asks you why you’re celebrating World Emoji Day by throwing a giant dance party where everyone communicates solely through emoji dance moves, just say Wild Calendar gave you permission.
May your texts be filled with smiles, hearts and a sprinkle of cupcakes!
Happy World Emoji Day! ππ
Disclaimer:
Wild Calendar absolves itself of any responsibility for any uncontrollable dance-offs or accidental misinterpretations due to excessive emoji usage, but we fully support your creative and joyful celebration activities.
#WorldEmojiDay #EmojiDay
