Tokens of Friendship (5) – Monumental Tokens of Frienship
Friendship Day celebrations occur on different dates in different countries. The first World Friendship Day was proposed for 30 July 1958. On 27 April 2011 the General Assembly of the United Nations declared July 30 as official International Friendship Day. However, some countries, including the USA and India, celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August.
When we care about a friend, it seems natural to have the urge to show it to them by means of a gift or token. This week I bring you Tokens of Friendship.
The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986. (Info Source)
Christ the Redeemer
Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
The Portuguese name for this statue is Cristo Redentor. The Christ monument is awe-inspiring in person.
Some sources on the internet say it is a gift from France. I am so glad I stumbled upon this page from Lonely Planet’s Rio de Janeiro guidebook. So here you go- Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), Brazil’s largest monument is not a git from France as popular urban legend has it. Many organizations helped make the statue a reality, including several individuals who went door-to-door asking for contributions. It was built to commemorate Brazil’s 100 years of Independence. So in a way we can say the Christ the Redeemer is a token of friendship, love and gratitude from Brazil’s own people. This gift took 10 years to build and it really is a gift that keeps on giving as more than 600,000 people visit it every year to bask in its grandeur and to savour the majestic scenery from Corcovado (Hunchback Mountain).
View some spectacular photos of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado
Height comparison of notable statues
1. Spring Temple Buddha 153 m (China)
2. Statue of Liberty 93 m (USA)
3. The Motherland Calls 91 m (Russia)
4. Christ the Redeemer 39.6 m (Brazil)
5. Statue of David 5.17 m (Italy)
(sculpture 5.17 m + plinth = approximately 7.7 m)
There are many monumental tokens of Friendship around the world but for some reason it is not that easy finding images and information relating to them on the internet. I wish to just share a few images of sculptural gifts of peace and friendship that are mounted at the Nagasaki Peace Park in Japan.
In 1978 the city of Nagasaki established a “Peace Symbols Zone” on both sides of the park and invited donations of monuments from countries round the world. The following monuments can be seen in the park:
- “Relief of Friendship” from Porto, Portugal (Nagasaki’s sister city), 1978
- “Joy of Life” from Czechoslovakia, (donated to Nagasaki in 1980). The bronze statue 260 cm in height was made by Czech sculptor Jan Hána (1927–1994) in 1975.
- “A Call” from Bulgaria, 1980
- “Monument of People’s Friendship” from the former German Democratic Republic, 1981
- “Protection of Our Future” from the city of Middelburg, The Netherlands (Nagasaki’s sister city), 1983
- “Statue of Peace” from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1985
- “Maiden of Peace” from the People’s Republic of China, 1985
- “Flower of Love and Peace” from Poland, 1986
- “Hymn to Life” from the City of Pistoia, Italy, 1987
- “Sun Crane of Peace” from the Republic of Cuba, 1988
- “Monument of Peace” from Santos, Brazil (Nagasaki’s sister city), 1988
- “Infinity” from Ankara, Republic of Turkey, 1991
- “Constellation Earth” from St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (Nagasaki’s sister city), 1992
- “Triumph of Peace over War” from the City of San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1996
- “Cloak of Peace”, by Te Korowai Rangimarie from New Zealand, 2006.
Bronze sculpture by Paul Granlund [1925-2003] donated by the citizens of sister city St. Paul, Minneasota (USA). “The seven human figures represent the continents. The interdependence of the figures symbolizes global peace and solidarity.”
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“Maiden of Peace”
A Gift from the People’s Republic of China
dedicated in 1985.
DAILY DOSE OF ART 
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