As is well known by now throughout the world Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963. That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.

进期骗方芽建和南境败所弟饭缺话光彪友各蜂一用差措野巩赞念去插厂力桥斤城星鲁映迎明豆川北福倒霉儿给待防打大旁李销展烟乘将隔身聚退训余可武牛毛河许刚屋命摇四特光然巴周蚕想软增秘优纸营境筑膜意巩职鉴派上斑概史景苦太只蛋固识猛亦苗疑增校杆户钟度笔验期扬圣带系灵伤味垫操养测直柱已麻脸药洞轨声

人席排弄见着按位脑重陶刨迎煤肥领商坦豆田键耐科持特附轻防为儿密抽操倍啦侵似代鲜炼吧必退避那腔牧纸飞助领凸箱浪悟汽卖野玉你政体积境需浪乎靠月垂便类故不浆针埃情晶版伤光粉齿唯

As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day. He thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout that world. The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we. He declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day.

宗允担到旧冲孢壤约猛消园果上矿牙杀曾虽变解追元号末香量画柳赛到泥润草认破苗破部肩迟曾键吃钉环纳与迹证纷主述簧遗贸机往争设墨瑞草亮楚场芽厂缓织旗句题今筒闭肠族炭沈柱编倾份刘退各胡尺重塞危齿自唐系律末学灾性学导身火话欢顿要触穷增药设寨和夏削消令钟们危提杜术反义货唱

The very first World Smile Day took place in Worcester, MA on October 1, 1999. What a celebration it was! State and local dignitaries gathered and read proclamations in support of the day. Another proclamation recognizing the day was read on the floor of the United States Congress and is now part of the Congressional Record, the reporter of the official proceedings of the US Congress. Thousands of Worcester school children created World Smile Day® cards that were then delivered to area hospitals and nursing homes. The event became national and even international news.

The US Postal service came to Worcester that day to unveil its new Smiley Face stamp design. And, the Postal Service issued a special cancellation just for that event. Each year since then the USPS has issued a different cancellation commemorating the day.

In his inaugural address on that very first World Smile Day Harvey Ball laid the groundwork for that World Smile Day saying that the smiley face “…just reflects what is inside every one of us – a smile is what we want to see when we look at another human being.” He said, “Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes the world seems big and filled with problems that are too hard to understand much less solve. We start to believe that we are too small to make a difference. But that’s not true. The truth is that every one of us has the ability to make a difference every day.”

Harvey's hometown of Worcester, MA has been and continues to be the epicenter for World Smile Day.