Today, June 20th, "Yellow Day" or the Happiest Day of the Year is celebrated, which marks the arrival of summer.

On June 20th, the day known as June is commemorated as Yellow Day or Yellow Day, considered the happiest day of the year. This date celebrates the arrival of summer and all the positive things that this season brings with it. The name “Yellow Day” refers to the color yellow, a universal symbol of positivity, joy, fun, creativity, and sunlight. This day is the counterpart to the infamous Blue Monday, known as the saddest day of the year.

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Why was June 20th chosen as the happiest day of the year?

The origin of Yellow Day is based on studies about the psychological effect that the arrival of summer has on people: more hours of sunshine, the proximity of vacations, and the reduction of stress. Exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, known as the “happiness hormone”, which improves mood and generates well-being. This conclusion is based on the scientific analysis of the emotions of thousands of people, whose emotional responses are specifically evaluated during this date. Furthermore, June 20th marks a special moment in the astronomical calendar: it is the day when spring bids farewell to officially welcome summer, through the phenomenon known as Summer Solstice. On this day, the sun reaches its maximum declination towards the northern hemisphere, projecting its light over the greatest geographical latitude possible on Earth, which translates into the day with the most hours of daylight of the year. There are several factors that make Yellow Day the happiest day of the year, related to the improvement in weather conditions, the increase in leisure time and the proximity of the holidays.

Factors that make June 20th the happiest day of the year:

Pleasant temperatures: Warm days, without being extreme, invite you to enjoy the outdoors more, which contributes to significantly improving the mood.
More hours of sunlight: The increase in daylight hours increases the levels of cortisol, serotonin and melatonin in the body, favoring greater energy and a positive emotional state. This abundance of light is the reason for the name Yellow Day and the color yellow that represents it.
Upcoming holidays: The expectation of rest and disconnection motivates a positive mental state, with a greater predisposition to enjoy and relax.
Summer working day: Many companies adopt intensive or reduced schedules in this season, which allows you to take advantage of more hours of light, improves the balance between work and personal life, and promotes the happiness and sociability of workers.

The World’s Happiest Countries

Every year, the United Nations (UN), through its Sustainable Development Solutions Network, publishes the World Happiness Report (World Happiness Report), a document that has become a key tool for governments and policymakers.

This report evaluates 186 countries using surveys conducted over three years, including both economic and social factors as well as the respondents’ subjective perception of their happiness, sadness, and other emotional states. In the world ranking, the countries that consistently occupy the top spots in happiness levels combine high standards of living, social well-being, institutional trust, and quality of life.

In the first three places are: